When people search for Cowboys vs Jets, they are usually looking for information about the NFL matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets. The Cowboys play in the NFC East, while the Jets play in the AFC East. Because they belong to different conferences, they do not meet every season. Their regular-season series has included 12 meetings, with Dallas leading 7–5 according to the Cowboys’ official series history.
This matchup is interesting because the two teams have very different identities and histories. Dallas is one of the NFL’s most widely recognized franchises, while New York’s Jets have their own important place in league history. Their games have produced both comfortable victories and close finishes. The most recent regular-season meeting listed by NFL.com was on September 17, 2023, when the Cowboys defeated the Jets 30–10.
Quick Answer
Cowboys vs Jets refers to an NFL matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. Dallas plays in the NFC East, while New York plays in the AFC East. They have met relatively infrequently because they are in different conferences. Dallas currently leads their regular-season series 7–5, based on the official Cowboys series history.
Why Do People Compare the Cowboys and Jets?
People compare the Cowboys and Jets because both are famous NFL franchises based in major U.S. markets, but they have different conference affiliations, division rivals, and historical paths.
The Dallas Cowboys are members of the NFC East. Their regular division opponents include the New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders.
The New York Jets are members of the AFC East, alongside the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots.
Since the teams are in different conferences, a Cowboys-Jets game is not a yearly division matchup. The NFL’s scheduling system determines when interconference teams meet.
First Word: Cowboys
The Cowboys refers to the Dallas Cowboys, an NFL team based in Dallas, Texas.
The team was established in 1960 and competes in the NFC East. The Cowboys play their home games at AT&T Stadium.
When you see phrases such as:
- Cowboys vs Jets
- Cowboys game
- Dallas Cowboys
- Cowboys schedule
- Cowboys score
the word Cowboys is referring to Dallas’s NFL team.
The name can also be used in other contexts. A cowboy can mean a person who works with cattle, but in an NFL article, Cowboys normally means the Dallas football team.
What Does Cowboys Mean in an NFL Context?
In an NFL context, Cowboys is the team nickname for Dallas.
For example:
The Cowboys defeated the Jets.
This means the Dallas Cowboys defeated the New York Jets.
Second Word: Jets
The Jets refers to the New York Jets, an NFL team based in the New York metropolitan area.
The Jets were established in 1960 and compete in the AFC East. Their home stadium is MetLife Stadium.
You may see the team described in several ways:
- New York Jets
- Jets
- NY Jets
- NYJ
- Jets football
All of these can refer to the same NFL team when the context is football.
For example:
The Jets lost to the Cowboys.
Here, Jets means the New York Jets.
Cowboys vs Jets Comparison Table
| Feature | Dallas Cowboys | New York Jets |
|---|---|---|
| Team nickname | Cowboys | Jets |
| Location | Dallas, Texas | New York metropolitan area |
| Conference | NFC | AFC |
| Division | NFC East | AFC East |
| Established | 1960 | 1960 |
| Home stadium | AT&T Stadium | MetLife Stadium |
| Head coach in 2026 | Brian Schottenheimer | Aaron Glenn |
| Main term used | Cowboys | Jets |
| Regular-season series | Dallas leads 7–5 | New York trails 5–7 |
The current 2026 team information lists Brian Schottenheimer as Dallas’s head coach and Aaron Glenn as New York’s head coach.
When Should You Use Each Team Name?
The correct choice depends on which team you are talking about.
Use “Cowboys” for Dallas
Use Cowboys when discussing the Dallas NFL team.
Examples:
- The Cowboys are playing tonight.
- Dallas Cowboys fans watched the game.
- The Cowboys scored a touchdown.
- The Cowboys are preparing for their next opponent.
Use “Jets” for New York
Use Jets when discussing the New York NFL team.
Examples:
- The Jets are preparing for their next game.
- New York Jets fans followed the score.
- The Jets made an important defensive play.
- The Jets are members of the AFC East.
Use “Cowboys vs Jets” for the Matchup
Use Cowboys vs Jets when talking about a game between the two teams.
For example:
Cowboys vs Jets is an interconference NFL matchup.
The word vs means “versus” and shows that two teams are competing against each other.
10+ Examples of Cowboys vs Jets
- The Cowboys defeated the Jets in a 2023 regular-season game.
- Fans searched for the Cowboys vs Jets score after the game.
- The Cowboys and Jets play in different NFL conferences.
- Dallas is represented by the Cowboys.
- New York is represented by the Jets.
- The Cowboys belong to the NFC East.
- The Jets belong to the AFC East.
- Cowboys vs Jets is not a regular divisional rivalry.
- The Jets and Cowboys have met several times since their first meeting in 1971.
- Dallas won the first Cowboys-Jets meeting 52–10 in 1971.
- The Cowboys won 30–10 against the Jets in their 2023 meeting.
- The Cowboys vs Jets matchup can be described as an interconference game.
- NFL fans may check both teams’ schedules before a Cowboys vs Jets game.
- The Cowboys and Jets have had games decided by both large and narrow margins.
Common Mistakes About Cowboys vs Jets
Mistake 1: Calling the game a division rivalry
The Cowboys and Jets are not division rivals.
Dallas is in the NFC East, while New York is in the AFC East.
Mistake 2: Thinking they play every season
They do not normally meet every year. NFL scheduling determines when teams from different conferences face each other.
Mistake 3: Confusing the Jets with the Giants
The New York Jets and New York Giants are two different NFL teams.
The Jets are in the AFC East, while the Giants are in the NFC East.
Mistake 4: Using “Dallas Jets”
The Jets are not a Dallas team. The correct team names are:
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Jets
Mistake 5: Assuming “Cowboys” always means people who work with cattle
The word cowboys has a general meaning, but in a sports article, it usually refers to the Dallas Cowboys.
Memory Trick
A simple way to remember the matchup is:
Cowboys = Dallas
Jets = New York
Think:
Dallas Cowboys vs New York Jets
You can also remember their conferences:
Cowboys → NFC East
Jets → AFC East
So if you see Cowboys vs Jets, think Dallas vs New York, not two teams from the same division.
American vs British English
The team names Cowboys and Jets do not change between American and British English.
However, some football vocabulary can differ.
In American English, football usually means the sport played in the NFL. In British English, football usually means soccer.
Therefore, someone in Britain may say American football to make the meaning clear.
The team names themselves remain the same:
- Dallas Cowboys
- New York Jets
- Cowboys vs Jets
Similar Words and Related Terms
Several football terms commonly appear alongside Cowboys vs Jets.
Matchup
A matchup is a game or contest between two teams or players.
The Cowboys-Jets matchup attracted attention.
Opponent
An opponent is the team or player you are competing against.
The Jets were the Cowboys’ opponent.
Rival
A rival is a team that competes regularly against another team, often with added historical importance.
The Cowboys and Jets have played each other many times, but they are not division rivals.
Conference
An NFL conference is a major league grouping. The NFL has two conferences:
- AFC
- NFC
Division
Each conference is divided into four divisions. The Cowboys are in the NFC East, while the Jets are in the AFC East.
Score
The score tells you how many points each team has earned.
For example:
Cowboys 30, Jets 10.
That means Dallas scored 30 points and New York scored 10.
FAQs:
Are the Cowboys and Jets in the same division?
No. The Cowboys are in the NFC East, while the Jets are in the AFC East. They are therefore not division rivals.
Who leads the Cowboys vs Jets series?
The Dallas Cowboys lead the regular-season series 7–5 based on the official Cowboys series history.
When did the Cowboys and Jets first play?
The Cowboys and Jets first met on December 4, 1971. Dallas won that game 52–10.
Who won the most recent Cowboys vs Jets game?
The Cowboys defeated the Jets 30–10 on September 17, 2023, according to NFL.com.
Are the Cowboys and Jets rivals?
They have a history of playing competitive games, but they are not traditional division rivals because they play in different conferences and divisions.
What does “vs” mean in Cowboys vs Jets?
Vs is short for versus, meaning that the Cowboys and Jets are competing against each other.
Where do the Cowboys and Jets play?
The Cowboys play at AT&T Stadium, while the Jets play at MetLife Stadium.
Remember This
Cowboys = Dallas Cowboys = NFC East
Jets = New York Jets = AFC East
Cowboys vs Jets = Dallas vs New York
The two teams were both established in 1960, but they belong to different conferences. Their regular-season series is not an annual division matchup.
Conclusion
The phrase Cowboys vs Jets simply describes an NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets. Understanding the team names, conferences, divisions, and series history makes it much easier to follow articles, scores, schedules, and statistics about the matchup.
Although the Cowboys and Jets do not play each other as regularly as teams within the same division, their meetings have created memorable moments. For a quick reminder, Cowboys means Dallas, Jets means New York, and “vs” means the two teams are facing each other.
