The 2007 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 48th in the National Football League (NFL), their 19th under the ownership of Jerry Jones, their 37th playing their home games at Texas Stadium, their first season under offensive coordinator Jason Garrett and their first season under head coach Wade Phillips. The Cowboys won the NFC East for the first time since 1998, and finished the regular season tied for the best record in the NFC (13–3) and earned a first-round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs, both for the first time since 1995.
However, they were upset by division rival and eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants 21–17, a team that they had swept in the regular season. With the loss, it extended the Cowboys’ drought of playoff wins to eleven seasons and tied the NFL record of six consecutive playoff games lost. 13 players were named to the Pro Bowl, an NFL record (since tied by the 2019 Baltimore Ravens).
Offseason
Head coach Wade Phillips entered the first year of his contract with the Cowboys. He was hired on February 8, 2007, after former head coach Bill Parcells decided to retire.
Signings On March 5, the Cowboys signed tackle Leonard Davis, formerly with the Cardinals, to a 7-year, $50 million contract. On March 6, the Cowboys signed quarterback Brad Johnson, formerly with the Vikings, to a 3-year, $7.5 million contract. On March 23, the Cowboys signed safety Ken Hamlin, formerly with the Seahawks, to a 1-year, $2.5 million contract.
Departures On March 1, the Cowboys released quarterback Drew Bledsoe, center E.J. Whitley, and tight end Ryan Hannam. On August 26, The Cowboys released Jamel Richardson
Free agents heading into the 2007 season RFA: Restricted free-agent, UFA: Unrestricted free-agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent
Position Player Free agencytag Date signed 2007 team DE Stephen Bowen ERFA DE Kenyon Coleman UFA March 6 New York Jets OT Marc Colombo UFA March 9 Dallas Cowboys WR Patrick Crayton RFA April 5 Dallas Cowboys S Abram Elam ERFA New York Jets LB Ryan Fowler RFAThe Cowboys tendered Fowler giving them the right to match any offer that another team may have for Fowler. Tennessee Titans LB Junior Glymph RFAThe Cowboys tendered Glymph giving them the right to match any offer that another team may have for Glymph. If the Cowboys decide not to match the offer, they will receive a seventh round pick. K Martín Gramática UFA March 5 Dallas Cowboys C Andre Gurode UFA February 20 Dallas Cowboys C Al Johnson RFA March 7 Arizona Cardinals CB Nathan Jones RFAThe Cowboys tendered Jones giving them the right to match any offer that another team may have for Jones. If the Cowboys decide not to match the offer, they will receive a seventh round pick. LS L.P. Ladouceur ERFA P Mat McBriar RFA February 28 Dallas Cowboys SS Tony Parrish UFA OG Cory Procter ERFA DE Jeremiah Ratliff ERFA CB Jacques Reeves RFAThe Cowboys tendered Reeves giving them the right to match any offer that another team may have for Reeves. If the Cowboys decide not to match the offer, they will receive a seventh round pick. LB Al Singleton UFA
2007 draft class
Notes The Cowboys traded their first-round (No. 22 overall) selection to the Cleveland Browns for 2007 second-round (No. 36 overall) and 2008 first-round (No. 22 overall) selections. The Cowboys traded their second, (No. 36 overall) third (No. 87 overall) and fifth-round (No. 159 overall) selections in exchange for the Philadelphia Eagles' first-round (No. 26 overall) selection. The Cowboys traded their second (No. 53 overall) and sixth-round (No. 195 overall) selections to the Browns in exchange for third, (No. 67 overall) fourth (No. 103 overall) and sixth-round (No. 178 overall) selections. The Cowboys traded their sixth (No. 200 overall) and seventh-round (No. 234 overall) selections to the Browns in exchange for Dallas' original sixth-round (No. 195 overall) selection. The Cowboys traded tight end Sean Ryan to the New York Jets for a seventh-round (No. 212 overall) selection. The Cowboys traded linebacker Scott Shanle to the New Orleans Saints for a seventh-round (No. 237 overall) selection.
2007 Undrafted free agents + 2007 undrafted free agents of note Player Position CollegeRichard BartelQuarterbackTarleton StateMatt MooreQuarterbackOregon State
Rosters Opening training camp roster Dallas Cowboys 2007 opening training camp roster Quarterbacks Matt Baker Richard Bartel Brad Johnson Matt Moore Tony Romo
Running backs Deon Anderson FB Marion Barber III Jackie Battle Alonzo Coleman Oliver Hoyte FB Julius Jones Lousaka Polite FB Tyson Thompson
Wide receivers Miles Austin Patrick Crayton Terry Glenn Sam Hurd Mike Jefferson Terrell Owens Jerard Rabb Jamaica Rector Jamel Richardson Isaiah Stanback Jerheme Urban
Tight ends Adam Bergen Tony Curtis Anthony Fasano Rodney Hannah Jason Witten Andy ThornOffensive linemen Flozell Adams T Joe Berger G Marc Colombo T Trey Darilek C Leonard Davis G/T Steve Franklin G Doug Free T Andre Gurode C Kyle Kosier G James Marten T Pat McQuistan G/T Cory Procter G Matt Tarullo G Robert Turner T
Defensive linemen Remi Ayodele NT Stephen Bowen DE Chris Canty DE Ola Dagunduro NT Jason Ferguson NT Jason Hatcher DE Jay Ratliff DE Marcus Smith DE Marcus Spears DE Montavious Stanley NT Linebackers Akin Ayodele ILB Kevin Burnett OLB Bobby Carpenter ILB Greg Ellis OLB/DE Junior Glymph OLB Dedrick Harrington ILB Bradie James ILB Alex Obomese OLB Blair Phillips ILB John Saldi OLB Anthony Spencer OLB DeMarcus Ware OLB/DE
Defensive backs Alan Ball CB Damarius Bilbo S Courtney Brown CB Quincy Butler CB Keith Davis SS Abram Elam SS Aaron Glenn CB Ken Hamlin FS Anthony Henry CB Nate Jones CB Terence Newman CB Jacques Reeves CB Joey Thomas CB Pat Watkins FS Roy Williams SS
Special teams Nick Folk K Martín Gramática K L. P. Ladouceur LS Mat McBriar P Sam Paulescu P Reserve lists Currently vacant
Rookies in italics 86 active, 0 inactive
Week one roster Dallas Cowboys 2007 week one roster Quarterbacks Brad Johnson Tony Romo
Running backs Deon Anderson FB Marion Barber III Oliver Hoyte FB Julius Jones Tyson Thompson
Wide receivers Miles Austin Patrick Crayton Terry Glenn Sam Hurd Terrell Owens Isaiah Stanback
Tight ends Tony Curtis Anthony Fasano Jason WittenOffensive linemen Flozell Adams T Joe Berger G Marc Colombo T Leonard Davis G Doug Free T Andre Gurode C Kyle Kosier G James Marten T Pat McQuistan T Cory Procter C/G
Defensive linemen Stephen Bowen DE Chris Canty DE Jason Ferguson NT Jason Hatcher DE Jay Ratliff NT/DE Marcus Spears DELinebackers Akin Ayodele ILB Kevin Burnett ILB Bobby Carpenter ILB Greg Ellis OLB/DE Bradie James ILB Justin Rogers OLB Anthony Spencer OLB DeMarcus Ware OLB/DE
Defensive backs Courtney Brown CB Keith Davis SS Ken Hamlin FS Anthony Henry CB Nathan Jones CB Terence Newman CB Evan Oglesby CB Jacques Reeves CB Pat Watkins FS Roy Williams SS
Special teams Nick Folk K L. P. Ladouceur LS Mat McBriar P Reserve lists Martín Gramática K (IR)
Practice Squad Alan Ball CB Richard Bartel QB Quincy Butler CB Alonzo Coleman RB Rodney Hannah TE Mike Jefferson WR Khari Long OLB Marcus Smith DE
Rookies in italics 53 active, 1 inactive, 8 PS
Final roster Dallas Cowboys 2007 final roster Quarterbacks Brad Johnson Tony Romo
Running backs Marion Barber Oliver Hoyte FB Julius Jones Tyson Thompson KR
Wide receivers Miles Austin KR Patrick Crayton PR Terry Glenn Sam Hurd Terrell Owens Isaiah Stanback KR
Tight ends Tony Curtis Anthony Fasano Jason WittenOffensive linemen Flozell Adams T Joe Berger G Marc Colombo T Leonard Davis G Doug Free T Andre Gurode C Kyle Kosier G James Marten T Pat McQuistan T Cory Procter C/G
Defensive linemen Stephen Bowen DE Chris Canty DE Jason Hatcher DE Tank Johnson NT Jay Ratliff NT Marcus Spears DELinebackers Akin Ayodele ILB Kevin Burnett ILB Bobby Carpenter ILB Greg Ellis OLB Bradie James ILB Justin Rogers OLB Anthony Spencer OLB DeMarcus Ware OLB
Defensive backs Alan Ball CB/S Courtney Brown SS Keith Davis SS Ken Hamlin FS Anthony Henry CB Nate Jones CB/KR Terence Newman CB/PR Evan Oglesby CB Jacques Reeves CB Pat Watkins FS Roy Williams SS
Special teams Nick Folk K L. P. Ladouceur LS Mat McBriar P Reserve lists Deon Anderson FB (IR) Jason Ferguson NT (IR)
Practice Squad Remi Ayodele NT Richard Bartel QB Quincy Butler CB Alonzo Coleman RB Rodney Hannah TE Mike Jefferson WR Marcus Smith DE Tyson Smith LB
Rookies in italics 53 active, 2 inactive, 8 practice squad
Schedule
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 Indianapolis Colts W 23–10 1–0 Texas Stadium Recap 2 Denver Broncos W 31–20 2–0 Texas Stadium Recap 3 at Houston Texans L 16–28 2–1 Reliant Stadium Recap 4 at Minnesota Vikings L 14–23 2–2 Hubert H. Humphrey MetrodomeRecap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.comrecap 1 September 9 New York Giants W 45–35 1–0 Texas Stadium Recap 2 September 16 at Miami Dolphins W 37–20 2–0 Dolphin Stadium Recap 3 September 23 at Chicago Bears W 34–10 3–0 Soldier Field Recap 4 September 30 St. Louis Rams W 35–7 4–0 Texas Stadium Recap 5 at Buffalo Bills W 25–24 5–0 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap 6 October 14 New England Patriots L 27–48 5–1 Texas Stadium Recap7 October 21 Minnesota Vikings W 24–14 6–1 Texas Stadium Recap 8Bye 9 November 4 at Philadelphia Eagles W 38–17 7–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 10 November 11 at New York Giants W 31–20 8–1 Giants Stadium Recap 11 November 18 Washington Redskins W 28–23 9–1 Texas StadiumRecap 12 November 22 New York Jets W 34–3 10–1 Texas Stadium Recap 13 Green Bay Packers W 37–27 11–1 Texas Stadium Recap 14 December 9 at Detroit Lions W 28–27 12–1 Ford Field Recap 15 December 16 Philadelphia Eagles L 6–10 12–2 Texas Stadium Recap 16 at Carolina Panthers W 20–13 13–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 17 December 30 at Washington Redskins L 6–27 13–3 FedExField Recap
Standings
Regular season
Week 1: vs. New York Giants
The Cowboys began their 2007 campaign at home against their NFC East rival New York Giants. In the first quarter, Dallas trailed early as QB Eli Manning completed a 60-yard TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress to give New York an early 6–0 lead (botched hold on PAT). Afterwards, the Cowboys got on the board with rookie kicker Nick Folk getting a 31-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Dallas took the lead with RB Marion Barber getting an 18-yard TD run, while QB Tony Romo completed an 18-yard TD pass to TE Jason Witten. Afterwards, the Giants would end up trailing by one at halftime, as Manning & Burress hooked up with each other again on a 4-yard TD pass, while kicker Lawrence Tynes got a 44-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Dallas responded with Romo completing a 22-yard TD pass to WR Terrell Owens. New York would climb back with Tynes kicking a 48-yard field goal, but the Cowboys answered with Romo running into the end zone from 9 yards out. In the fourth quarter, the Giants managed to try to come back with Tynes' 24-yard field goal, yet Dallas would reply with Romo & Owens hooking up with each other again on a 47-yard TD pass. Just when it looked like New York was drawing closer with Manning's 9-yard TD pass to RB Derrick Ward (with a failed 2-point conversion) and his 10-yard TD pass to Burress, the Cowboys sealed the win with Romo completing a 51-yard TD pass to WR Sam Hurd.
With the win, Dallas began its season at 1–0.
Scoring summary Q1 – NYG – 13:42 –60-yard TD pass from Eli Manning to Plaxico Burress (PAT failed) (NYG 6–0) Q1 – DAL – 6:36 – Nick Folk 31-yard FG (NYG 6–3) Q2 – DAL – 9:49 – Marion Barber 18-yard TD run (Folk kick) (DAL 10–6) Q2 – DAL – 4:01 – 18-yard TD pass from Tony Romo to Jason Witten (Folk kick) (DAL 17–6)