Death, taxes ... and the Dallas Cowboys bowing out early in the playoffs.
It's been 29 years since the Dallas Cowboys beat Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers, 38-27, in the 1995 NFC Championship Game, before beating Bill Cowher's Pittsburgh Steelers, 27-17, in Super Bowl XXX.
That's the last time Dallas has made it as far as a conference championship game. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more disappointing playoff stretch for any franchise than the Cowboys' over this time.
They've endured 13 playoff exits since then, including a stunning blowout loss to the Packers on Sunday. Here's a number and fact for each one, to sum up the postseason agony for America's Team.
1. Teams worth $9 billion in sports (2023 Cowboys)
There's ONE team worth $9 billion in sports. It's just the 2023 Cowboys, according to Forbes. They've been the most valuable NFL franchise for 15 straight years. They say money can't buy you happiness. Well, it can't buy you a championship either.
2. Cowboys' times with No. 1 seed since 1996
Dallas has had the No. 1 seed TWO times since 1996. In 2007, it went one-and-done against the Giants and Terrell Owens got emotional defending Tony Romo during an infamous postgame interview, saying "That's my quarterback." In 2016, the Cowboys lost after Aaron Rodgers' iconic sideline throw to Jared Cook set up the game-winning field goal.
3. Dez Bryant catches in 2014 divisional round loss at Packers
Dez Bryant had THREE catches in the Cowboys' 26-21 divisional round loss at Lambeau Field in 2014. It would have been four if replay review didn't overturn his controversial no-catch. Had the catch stood up, Dallas could have taken the lead in the final minutes of the game. Safe to say Dallas wants to put its last three playoff games vs. the Packers (2014 , 2016, 2023) in the rearview mirror.
4. Teams with losing record as playoff favorite since 1996
The Cowboys are 5-6 as a favorite in the postseason since 1996, one of four teams with a losing record as a playoff favorite over that span (Browns, Giants, Chargers). Dallas' six losses as a favorite? 1996 at Panthers, 1998 vs. Cardinals, 2007 vs. Giants, 2016 vs. Packers, 2021 vs 49ers and Sunday vs. Packers
5. Dak Prescott playoff losses
Dak Prescott is now 2-5 in his playoff career, tied for the worst record by any QB in playoff history (min. 5 starts) along with Alex Smith and Billy Kilmer.
6. Teams without a conference title game since 1996
SIX teams have failed to play in a conference title game since 1996: the Cowboys, Texans, Browns, Lions, Dolphins and Commanders. Not exactly the franchises you would normally associate Dallas with. The Cowboys are the only team in that group with a winning record in the regular season over that span.
7. Cowboys lost three straight playoff games as favorite of at least seven points
This playoff exit was especially disappointing given the Cowboys were 7.5-point favorites vs. the Packers. The Cowboys are the first team since the 1970 merger to lose three straight playoff games as a favorite of at least seven points. They lost to the Cardinals in 1998, Giants in 2007 and Green Bay on Sunday. A bonus No. 7: The Cowboys have lost seven straight games in the divisional round, the longest streak by any team since the merger. They won't have to worry about extending that this year.
8. Cowboys playoff one-and-dones since 1996
The Cowboys have gone one-and-done EIGHT times since 1996. That's a lot of quick exits. The only team with more in that span is the Colts with 10. Dallas' most painful early exit was a 21-20 loss in Seattle in the 2006 wild card round when Tony Romo mishandled a snap on the Cowboys' potential go-ahead 19-yard field goal attempt.
9. Seconds left after Dak Prescott's slide in playoff loss to 49ers
There were NINE seconds left on the clock after Dak Prescott's slide against the 49ers in a 23-17 wild card playoff loss two years ago. Prescott was bumped by an official as Dallas scrambled to spike the ball with no timeouts left, to no avail. Executed properly and the Cowboys would have had one play left at San Francisco's 24-yard line to win the game. That's been close enough for other teams -- namely the 49ers in "The Catch II" -- to score last-second game-winning touchdowns in the postseason.
10. Dak Prescott career interceptions vs. the Packers
Green Bay continues to have Dak Prescott's number. He has 10 career interceptions in six starts (1-5 record) vs. the Packers, his most career picks against any team. He hasn't even thrown 10 interceptions against any of his NFC East rivals.
11. Micah Parsons jersey number
Despite having No. 11 on defense, the Cowboys allowed 48 points. The only team to allow more at home in the postseason was Washington in the 1940 NFL Championship game (lost 73-0 to the Bears).
12. Cowboys wins this season
The Cowboys went 12-5 for a third straight season but have nothing to show for it. They are the first team in NFL history with three straight 12-win seasons without a Conference Championship game.
13. Cowboy' consecutive playoff appearances without a conference championship game
The Cowboys have made THIRTEEN straight playoff appearances without a trip to a conference championship game. Dallas' early exit streak has gone on for such a long time that it's now the longest drought of its kind in playoff history. Yes, no other team has gone this many consecutive playoff trips without at least reaching an AFC or NFC title game.
