Game summaries
Week 1: at New York Giants
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- NYG Tynes 22 yd field goal (4 plays 3 yards 1:20)
- DAL Ogletree 10-yard pass from Romo Bailey kick (7 plays 78 yards 2:33)
Third quarter
- DAL Ogletree 40-yard pass from Romo Bailey kick (9 plays 80 yards 4:36)
- NYG Bradshaw 10-yard run Tynes kick (9 plays 77 yards 5:13)
- DAL Bailey 33 yd field goal (8 plays 65 yards 4:31)
Fourth quarter
- DAL Austin 34-yard pass from Romo Bailey kick (8 plays 92 yards 7:06)
- NYG Bennett 9-yard pass from Manning Tynes kick (12 plays 79 yards 3:21)
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
The Cowboys opened its 2012 campaign at MetLife Stadium in the Annual Kickoff Game against their NFC East foe, the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. After a scoreless first quarter, the Giants picked up the season's first points as kicker Lawrence Tynes kicked a 22-yard field goal in the second quarter. Dallas would close out the half with quarterback Tony Romo finding wide receiver Kevin Ogletree on a 10-yard touchdown pass.
In the third quarter, the Cowboys added onto its lead Romo hooked up with Ogletree again with a 40-yard touchdown pass. New York answered with a 10-yard run from running back Ahmad Bradshaw, yet Dallas responded in kind with a 33-yard field goal from kicker Dan Bailey. The Cowboys pulled away for good in the fourth quarter with Romo connecting with wide receiver Miles Austin on a 34-yard touchdown pass. The Giants closed out the game with quarterback Eli Manning completing a 9-yard touchdown pass to former Dallas tight end Martellus Bennett.
With the win, the Cowboys began the season at 1–0.
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
Game information |
First quarter
- SEA Hauschka 21-yard field goal. (11:51)
- SEA Johnson Blocked punt recovered at DAL 3. Touchdown. (10:28)
Second quarter
- DAL Austin 22-yard pass from Romo. Bailey PAT good. (12:20)
- SEA Hauschka 25-yard field goal. (2:00)
Third quarter
- SEA McCoy 22-yard pass from R. Wilson. Hauschka PAT good. (5:12)
Fourth quarter
- SEA Lynch 3-yard run. Hauschka PAT good. (8:01)
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
With the huge loss, the Cowboys fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Three: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Buccaneers |
7 |
0 |
0 | 3 | 10 |
Cowboys |
7 |
3 |
0 | 6 | 16 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 81,984
- Referee: Robert Dalton
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
Hoping to rebound from their tough road loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the Cowboys returned to Arlington to host their home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a team that they had blown out a year before. This game, however, was a close one throughout. In the first quarter, Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo tossed an interception to Aqib Talib, which set up for a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman to tight end Luke Stocker for Tampa Bay to take the first lead. Dallas would immediately respond after a Sean Lee interception set up Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray for an 11-yard touchdown run to tie the game. Shortly before the half, kicker Dan Bailey booted a 32-yard field goal for Dallas to take the lead, 10–7. After a scoreless third quarter, Dallas pulled away with Dan Bailey knocking in a pair of field goals, one from 26 yards and another from 22 yards to make the game 16–7. Tampa Bay attempted a furious rally to take the game back after a 28-yard field goal by Connor Barth, but Dallas would recover the following onside kick and effectively took a knee to end the game.
With the victory, Dallas improved their season to 2–1.
Week 4: vs. Chicago Bears
Week Four: Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bears |
0 |
10 |
14 | 10 | 34 |
Cowboys |
0 |
7 |
3 | 8 | 18 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
With the loss, the Cowboys enter their bye week with 2–2. Dallas quarterback Tony Romo had a horrifically forgettable game, tossing 5 interceptions, including 2 that were run back for touchdowns by the ferocious Bears defense.
Week 6: at Baltimore Ravens
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
With the loss, the Cowboys fell into 2–3 and dropped to 0–4 all-time against the Ravens. Horrible clock management by head coach Jason Garrett on the final drive left Dallas' kicker with a 50+ yard field goal attempt that he pushed wide as time expired.
Week 7: at Carolina Panthers
Week Seven: Dallas Cowboys at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cowboys |
0 |
3 |
10 | 6 | 19 |
Panthers |
0 |
7 |
0 | 7 | 14 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 73,981
- Referee: Ron Winter
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
The Cowboys beat the Panthers for the first time in five years to improve to a .500 record.
Week 8: vs. New York Giants
Week Eight: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Giants |
13 |
10 |
0 | 6 | 29 |
Cowboys |
0 |
10 |
14 | 0 | 24 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 3:25 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 62 °F (17 °C), sunny skies (retractable roof open)
- Game attendance: 94,067
- Referee: Scott Green
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
With the loss, the Cowboys fell to 3–4 on the season and 0–4 at Cowboys Stadium against the Giants. A late go-ahead touchdown catch by Dez Bryant was overturned on review as it showed that as Bryant's hand came down to brace his landing, barely a tip of one finger came down on the end line, thus ruling him out of bounds.
Week 9: at Atlanta Falcons
Week Nine: Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cowboys |
6 |
0 |
0 | 7 | 13 |
Falcons |
0 |
6 |
0 | 13 | 19 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta
- Date: November 4
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EST/7:20 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 70,840
- Referee: John Parry
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
During this game, Jason Witten's 7 receptions brought him to a franchise record of 754, surpassing Michael Irvin's previous record of 750.[2]
With the loss, the Cowboys fell to 3–5.
Week 10: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week Ten: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cowboys |
7 |
3 |
7 | 21 | 38 |
Eagles |
7 |
0 |
10 | 6 | 23 |
at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST/3:25 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 69,144
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman and Pam Oliver
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- DAL- Dan Bailey, 30-yard field goal, 3:50 (DAL 10–7)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
With the win, the Cowboys improved to 4–5.
Week 11: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week Eleven: Cleveland Browns at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Browns |
7 |
6 |
0 | 7 | 0 | 20 |
Cowboys |
0 |
0 |
3 | 17 | 3 | 23 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 81,936
- Referee: Ed Hochuli
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel and Dan Dierdorf
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
After being down 13–0 against the Browns in the first half, the Cowboys outscored the Browns 20–7 to send the game into overtime. The Cowboys kicked the game-winning field goal and improved to 5–5 on the season and 2nd place in the NFC East.
Week 12: vs. Washington Redskins
- Thanksgiving Day game
Week Twelve: Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Redskins |
0 |
28 |
0 | 10 | 38 |
Cowboys |
3 |
0 |
10 | 18 | 31 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 3:25 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 90,166
- Referee: Bill Leavy
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver and Erin Andrews
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
With the loss to their long-time rival the Washington Redskins during a Thanksgiving Day showdown, the Cowboys dropped to 5–6 on the season and 6–1 against the Redskins on Thanksgiving. Along with the loss, the Cowboys also lost 2 key defensive players for an extended period of time. Cornerback Orlando Scandrick broke his left hand, but the team was still hopeful that he would be able to return before the end of the season. But of the three injuries suffered during the game, Bruce Carter's was probably the most devastating. Carter dislocated his left elbow during the game and was out for the rest of the season after having surgery. At that point, the Cowboys had lost 4 starters on defense due to injuries, and were on their 3rd and 4th string middle linebackers after losing both Carter and Sean Lee for the season. Also the Cowboys lost starting receiver Miles Austin to a hip strain caused by linebacker London Fletcher in the back of the end zone. Although he did not return to the game, he was cleared to play for the Cowboys' week 13 game.
Week 13: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week Thirteen: Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Eagles |
7 |
10 |
7 | 9 | 33 |
Cowboys |
0 |
10 |
7 | 21 | 38 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 7:20 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 81,851
- Referee: Jeff Triplette
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
- DAL- Dan Bailey, 39-yard field goal, 13:39 (PHI 7–3)
- PHI- Bryce Brown, 5-yard run, Alex Henery XP good, 6:11 (PHI 14–3)
- DAL- DeMarco Murray, 1-yard run, Dan Bailey XP good, 0:41 (PHI 14–10)
- PHI- Alex Henery, 43-yard field goal, 0:00 (PHI 17–10)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
- DAL- Miles Austin, 27-yard pass from Tony Romo, Dan Bailey XP good, 13:41 (TIE 24–24)
- PHI- Alex Henery, 43-yard field goal, 9:51 (PHI 27–24)
- DAL- Dez Bryant, 6-yard pass from Tony Romo, Dan Bailey XP good, 5:35 (DAL 31–27)
- DAL- Morris Claiborne, 50-yard fumble return, Dan Bailey XP good, 3:50 (DAL 38–27)
- PHI- Damaris Johnson, 98-yard punt return, two-point conversion attempt failed, 0:31 (DAL 38–33)
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
Week 14: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week Fourteen: Dallas Cowboys at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cowboys |
3 |
7 |
0 | 10 | 20 |
Bengals |
10 |
3 |
6 | 0 | 19 |
at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati
- Date: December 9
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 38 °F (3 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 63,590
- Referee: Bill Vinovich
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick, and Laura Okmin
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
- CIN- Josh Brown, 25-yard field goal, 9:26 (CIN 16–10)
- CIN- Josh Brown, 52-yard field goal, 6:50 (CIN 19–10)
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
Week 15: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Fifteen: Pittsburgh Steelers at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Steelers |
0 |
10 |
7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
Cowboys |
3 |
7 |
7 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 3:25 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 72 °F (22 °C), clear skies (retractable roof open)
- Game attendance: 95,595
- Referee: Clete Blakeman
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz and Phil Simms
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
Week 16: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week Sixteen: New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | OT | Total |
Saints |
7 |
10 |
7 | 7 | 3 | 34 |
Cowboys |
0 |
14 |
3 | 14 | 0 | 31 |
at Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: December 23
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 92,570
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston and Tony Siragusa
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
The loss dropped Dallas to 8–7 and mathematically eliminated them from gaining a wild card spot. However, if they were to beat the Washington Redskins in week 17, Dallas would win the NFC East.
Week 17: at Washington Redskins
Week Seventeen: Dallas Cowboys at Washington Redskins – Game summary
|
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Cowboys |
0 |
7 |
0 | 11 | 18 |
Redskins |
0 |
7 |
7 | 14 | 28 |
at FedExField, Landover, Maryland
- Date: December 30
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EST/7:20 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 37 °F (3 °C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 82,845
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya
Game information |
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
|
|
With the loss, Dallas ended the season with an 8–8 record, and missed the playoffs for the third straight season. The Cowboys loss marks their third season finale loss in the last five seasons where they faced a win-or-go-home situation for the playoffs. All those season finale games came against NFC East opponents. In 2008, they lost 44–6 to the Philadelphia Eagles failing to clinch a wild card spot. In 2011, they lost 31–14 to the New York Giants failing to win the NFC East title. The loss also brought their record in Week 17 games to 2–11 since 2000.