# 2016 Dallas Cowboys season
The 2016 [Dallas Cowboys](https://www.edgepedia.org/dallas-cowboys) season was the [National Football League](https://www.edgepedia.org/national-football-league) franchise's 57th season, in which Dallas finished 13-3, won the [NFC East](https://www.edgepedia.org/nfc-east), and earned the NFC's top playoff seed behind a rookie quarterback-running back combination of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott before losing 34-31 to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional round.[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) • [3](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/k3i9j2zypk8dmlsbsxfm.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Record | 13-3 (0.813), 421 points scored, 306 allowed, +115 net points; 7-1 at home, 6-2 on the road[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg) |
| Division result | NFC East champion; 9-3 in conference play, 4-0 against the NFC's other divisions[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg) |
| Win streak | After losing the opener, Prescott led the Cowboys on a club-record 11-game win streak to a franchise-tying 13-3 record[3](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/k3i9j2zypk8dmlsbsxfm.pdf) |
| Rookie backfield | Week 1 start by an all-rookie quarterback and running back was the franchise's first such lineup since 1969[4](https://www.nfl.com/news/dallas-cowboys-in-good-hands-with-rookie-qb-dak-prescott-0ap3000000696822) |
| Pro Bowl | Prescott and Elliott became the first rookie duo in franchise history to make the Pro Bowl in the same season[5](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/how-attitude-approach-helped-rookie-pro-bowlers-prescott-elliott-make-his-423921) |
| Playoffs | Lost the NFC Divisional game at home to Green Bay, 34-31, on January 15, 2017[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| Draft | Prescott selected in the fourth round, 135th overall, out of Mississippi State; Elliott with the fourth overall pick[3](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/k3i9j2zypk8dmlsbsxfm.pdf) • [6](https://as.com/us/us/2016/09/08/nfl/1473350313_713550.html) |
## How the season began
Dallas entered the season with its quarterback situation unsettled. [Tony Romo](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-romo), the incumbent starter, was injured, and [Kellen Moore](https://www.edgepedia.org/kellen-moore), slotted as the third quarterback when training camp opened, suffered a leg injury midway through camp that moved Prescott, a fourth-round draft pick, into the backup role behind Romo.[7](https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players-roster/dak-prescott/logs/2016/reg/) With Romo unavailable, Prescott started from Week 1 alongside Elliott, the running back Dallas had taken with the fourth overall selection in the draft.[6](https://as.com/us/us/2016/09/08/nfl/1473350313_713550.html)
The opener went to the [New York Giants](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-giants), 20-19, on September 11.[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) Starting an all-rookie offensive backfield in Week 1 was a franchise first since 1969, and Prescott was only the 38th rookie quarterback to start his team's opener in the modern era described by NFL.com's account.[4](https://www.nfl.com/news/dallas-cowboys-in-good-hands-with-rookie-qb-dak-prescott-0ap3000000696822)
## The 11-game winning streak
**From 0-1 to 11-1.** After the opening loss, Dallas won eleven consecutive games, a club record, beginning with a 27-23 win at Washington on September 18 and running through a 17-15 win at Minnesota on December 1 that lifted the team to 11-1.[3](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/k3i9j2zypk8dmlsbsxfm.pdf) • [2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) The streak included wins over Chicago (31-17), San Francisco (24-17), [Cincinnati](https://www.edgepedia.org/cincinnati) (28-14), Green Bay (30-16), Philadelphia (29-23), [Cleveland](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland) (35-10), [Pittsburgh](https://www.edgepedia.org/pittsburgh) (35-30), Baltimore (27-17), and a 31-26 Thanksgiving win over Washington on November 24.[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys)
The run carried the Cowboys to the NFC East Division crown and a franchise-tying 13-3 record.[3](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/k3i9j2zypk8dmlsbsxfm.pdf) The two remaining losses came in close road and home games against the Giants, 10-7 on December 11, and in the Week 17 finale at Philadelphia, 27-13 on January 1, after the division and top seed had been secured.[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys)
## Prescott and Elliott
The two rookies drove the offense. Prescott, who began camp third on the depth chart behind Romo and Moore, set a team record with 11 games of a 100.0 passer rating during the 2016 season.[5](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/how-attitude-approach-helped-rookie-pro-bowlers-prescott-elliott-make-his-423921) • [8](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/qavh9acawtx8ynyxp8tc.pdf) Elliott ran behind an offensive line built through draft selections and led the league in rushing yards during the season's first half, according to a DallasCowboys.com report at midseason.[9](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/phillips-actually-defense-s-success-is-no-surprise-with-one-key-improveme-418616)
In December the pair became the first rookie duo in franchise history to make the [Pro Bowl](https://www.edgepedia.org/pro-bowl) in the same season.[5](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/how-attitude-approach-helped-rookie-pro-bowlers-prescott-elliott-make-his-423921) Through the first five games of the season, both had started every game because of Romo's injury, and the Spanish-language sports daily AS noted that the pair had done something no other rookie tandem in league history had: a passer over 1,000 passing yards and a runner over 500 rushing yards in that span.[10](https://as.com/us/us/2016/10/10/nfl/1476119552_169736.html)
## Defense
The defense complemented the efficient offense with a distinctive early-season mark: through seven games Dallas was the only team in the league that had not allowed a 100-yard rusher or a 100-yard receiver.[9](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/phillips-actually-defense-s-success-is-no-surprise-with-one-key-improveme-418616) It did so while missing personnel, with starting cornerback [Orlando Scandrick](https://www.edgepedia.org/orlando-scandrick) injured for four games, defensive end [DeMarcus Lawrence](https://www.edgepedia.org/demarcus-lawrence) suspended for four games, and ongoing suspensions for defensive end [Randy Gregory](https://www.edgepedia.org/randy-gregory) and middle linebacker Rolando McClain.[9](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/phillips-actually-defense-s-success-is-no-surprise-with-one-key-improveme-418616) Pro Football Focus's analysis of the run defense described an aggressive front that deterred opposing offensive coordinators from running the ball.[11](https://www.pff.com/news/pro-just-how-good-was-the-dallas-cowboys-run-defense-in-2016)
## Playoffs
As the NFC's top seed, Dallas hosted Green Bay in the Divisional round on January 15, 2017, and lost 34-31.[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) The game was a shootout decided in the final minute, and the Associated Press later described it as [Aaron Rodgers](https://www.edgepedia.org/aaron-rodgers)'s divisional win over the top-seeded Cowboys in Prescott's rookie year, one of two playoff victories Green Bay has taken in Dallas.[12](https://apnews.com/article/ddbe3473fc1faaa07ef831ed7f3c1299) The loss ended a season in which Dallas had matched its best regular-season record of the franchise's recent era at 13-3.[1](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg) • [3](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/k3i9j2zypk8dmlsbsxfm.pdf)
## Regular-season results
| Week | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York Giants | L 19-20[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 2 | at Washington | W 27-23[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 3 | Chicago Bears | W 31-17[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 4 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 24-17[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 5 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 28-14[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 6 | at Green Bay Packers | W 30-16[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 7 | Bye | [2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 8 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 29-23[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 9 | at Cleveland Browns | W 35-10[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 10 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 35-30[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 11 | Baltimore Ravens | W 27-17[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 12 | Washington (Thanksgiving) | W 31-26[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 13 | at Minnesota Vikings (Thursday) | W 17-15[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 14 | at New York Giants | L 7-10[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 15 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 26-20[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 16 | Detroit Lions (Monday) | W 42-21[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| 17 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 13-27[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
| Divisional | Green Bay Packers | L 31-34[2](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys) |
## References
1. [2016 NFL League Standings, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/standings/league/2016/reg)
2. [NFL 2016 Dallas Cowboys Schedule, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/schedules/2016/by-team/dallas-cowboys)
3. [Dallas Cowboys 2016 Season media guide, DallasCowboys.com](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/k3i9j2zypk8dmlsbsxfm.pdf)
4. [Dallas Cowboys in good hands with rookie QB Dak Prescott, NFL.com](https://www.nfl.com/news/dallas-cowboys-in-good-hands-with-rookie-qb-dak-prescott-0ap3000000696822)
5. [How Attitude, Approach Helped Rookie Pro Bowlers Prescott, Elliott Make History, DallasCowboys.com](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/how-attitude-approach-helped-rookie-pro-bowlers-prescott-elliott-make-his-423921)
6. [pronósticos 2016 conferencia nacional de la nfl](https://as.com/us/us/2016/09/08/nfl/1473350313_713550.html)
7. [Dak Prescott 2016 game logs, DallasCowboys.com](https://www.dallascowboys.com/team/players-roster/dak-prescott/logs/2016/reg/)
8. [2016 Dallas Cowboys Statistics, NFL media guide PDF](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/cowboys/qavh9acawtx8ynyxp8tc.pdf)
9. [Phillips: Actually, Defense's Success Is No Surprise, DallasCowboys.com](https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/phillips-actually-defense-s-success-is-no-surprise-with-one-key-improveme-418616)
10. [Prescott y Elliott, los rookies récord que enamoran a Dallas, AS](https://as.com/us/us/2016/10/10/nfl/1476119552_169736.html)
11. [Just how good was the Dallas Cowboys run defense in 2016?, Pro Football Focus](https://www.pff.com/news/pro-just-how-good-was-the-dallas-cowboys-run-defense-in-2016)
12. [Jordan Love and the Packers pull a wild-card stunner, Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/ddbe3473fc1faaa07ef831ed7f3c1299)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Rugby and other football codes › National Football League › NFL teams and franchises › NFL team seasons 2010 to 2019*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license