It wouldn’t quite be Christmas on this blog if I didn’t post one of the videso from Dallas Cowboys’ Christmas ’86, which I first posted a few years ago (and which YouTube had deleted from my own account at least three times).

As for the holiday itself, while the Cowboys have played nearly every Thanksgiving Day since 1966, they have only played four times on Christmas Day. The results are mixed: wins during two Super Bowl seasons, a loss during a very bad season, and a loss just before the playoffs.

December 25, 1971: Dallas 20, Minnesota 12

The first time the Cowboys played on Christmas Day was in the first round of the 1971 playoffs. The Cowboys jumped out to a 20-3 lead before holding off a Minnesota comeback. The Cowboys were Super Bowl champions three weeks later.

December 25, 1995: Dallas 37, Arizona 13

The Cowboys’ 37-13 win over the Cardinals will be remembered for two reasons. First, it marked the game when second WR Kevin Williams came to life, catching 9 passes for 203 yards and 2 TDs. Second, the win gave the Cowboys a boost of confidence that propelled the team to a win in Super Bowl XXX.

December 25, 2000: Tennessee 31, Dallas 0

Few Cowboy fans probably remember this one, and for good reason. Starting quarterback Anthony Wright completed 5 of 20 passes for 35 yards and 2 interception (and yes, he played the entire game).

December 25, 2006: Philadelphia 23, Dallas 7

Christmas and profanity should have nothing to do with one another, but that was not the case in many households when the Cowboys tanked a game against the Eagles leading up to the 2006 playoffs. Nobody on the Dallas offense had a good game, and the loss called into doubt whether the Cowboys were ready for the playoffs.