After the departure of long time Cowboys favorites defensive end/linebacker DeMarcus Ware and defensive tackle Jason Hatcher to free agency, and a season-ending knee injury to middle linebacker Sean Lee during organized team activities in late May, the Dallas Cowboys were one of the most heavily admonished and second-guessed NFL franchises through the entire preseason and well into the regular season.

Adding injury to the many insults hurled at Jerry Jones, quarterback Tony Romo and the Cowboys organization in general, Romo did not play well during two preseason starts after receiving only a small percentage of snaps throughout training camp, due to his continuing recovery from off-season surgery to repair a herniated intervertebral disc in his lower back.

A humiliating turnover led to defeat for Dallas, which appeared to prove all the Cowboys' critics right, that Jerry Jones should have selected quarterback Johnny "Football" Manziel in the first round of the NFL 2014 draft to eventually replace Romo.

Following a win against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16 (and after the Philadelphia Eagles' loss to the Washington Redskins), the Cowboys clinched the NFC East title, putting them in the playoffs for the first time since 2009.

Plenty of milestones were established by the 2014 Cowboys team, topped by DeMarco Murray's record-setting rushing season.

However, the Green Bay Packers defeated them 26–21, handing the Cowboys their first road loss and ending their season.

The biggest deficit overcome by a Rams opponent was 23 points by the Green Bay Packers in 1982, and the Denver Broncos had a 21-point rally in 1982.

Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey set a franchise record by making his 28th field goal in a row on a 40-yarder in the third quarter.

Cowboys kicker Chris Boniol hit 27 straight field goals in 1996. at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

After 4 weeks of regular season play, DeMarco Murray found himself in elite company with his 149-yard 2 touchdown performance against the Saints, joining Jim Brown, O. J. Simpson and former Cowboy Emmitt Smith as the only players to rush for 100 or more yards, while scoring a touchdown, in the first four games of a season.

After hauling in a 34-yard completion from Tony Romo mid-way through the third quarter, Cowboys TE Jason Witten surpassed 10,000 receiving yards for his career, making him only the 3rd tight end in NFL history to do so.

Five days after Seattle's loss at home to the Cowboys, the Seahawks traded WR Percy Harvin to the New York Jets for an undisclosed draft selection.

It was reported that the surprisingly sudden move by Seattle was due in large part to Harvin refusing to return to the game in the fourth quarter.

With the win over the Giants, the Cowboys improved to a league-best 6–1 on the season, moving into sole possession of first place in the NFC East due to the Eagles having a bye week.

Weeden had a rough time of it against the stingy Cardinals defense, throwing two interceptions and only managed to compile 183 yards through the air.

The Cardinals also managed to hold DeMarco Murray under the 100-yard mark, the first team to do so in 2014. at Wembley Stadium, London, England

Tony Romo's return was a successful one, as the Cowboys went across the pond and posted a comfortable win over one of the worst teams in the league.

With the win, Dallas improved to 8–3 on the season, setting up a showdown with the 8–3 Eagles for first place in the NFC East on Thanksgiving Day.

Giants rookie wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. finished his historic night with 10 catches for 146 yards and two scores.

Rapper and New York City native Jay Z attended the game and was seen having a brief conversation with Jerry Jones on the field prior to kickoff.

This was somewhat of an event due to Jay Z's agency, Roc Nation, signing on as Dez Bryant's representation earlier in the month.

For the second consecutive year, Dallas and Philadelphia split the season series with the road team winning all four games.