The 2006 season marked the first time in ten seasons that the Cowboys had defeated an eventual Super Bowl Champion (Indianapolis) during the regular season. During each season since then, the Cowboys have faced the winner, and in the case of the Giants in 2007, Dallas played the winner a total of three times, including a playoff game.

With the Saints’ win over the Colts last night, the Cowboys have now improved their record against eventual Super Bowl winners to 9-17. Dallas also went 0-3 against eventual champions in the years prior to the first Super Bowl (1960-1965).

The Cowboys have lost to the eventual Super Bowl winner in the playoffs nine times.

Here is an updated look at the all-time record:

The all-time record:

Pre-Super Bowl
1960– vs. Philadelphia, L 25-27
1964– vs. Cleveland, L 16-20
1965– vs. Green Bay, L 3-13

Regular Season
1973– vs. Miami, L 7-14
1979– vs. Pittsburgh, L 3-14
1980– vs. Oakland, W 19-13
1981– vs. San Francisco, L 14-45
1982– vs. Washington, W 24-10
1983– vs. L.A. Raiders, L 38-40
1985– vs. Chicago, L 0-44
1986– vs. N.Y. Giants, W 31-28
1986– vs. N.Y. Giants, L 14-17
1987– vs. Washington, L 7-13
1987– vs. Washington, L 20-24
1989– vs. San Francisco, L 14-31
1990– vs. N.Y. Giants, L 7-28
1990– vs. N.Y. Giants, L 17-31
1991– vs. Washington, L 31-33
1991– vs. Washington, W 24-21
1994– vs. San Francisco, L 14-21
1996– vs. Green Bay, W 21-6
1998– vs. Denver, L 23-42
2000– vs. Baltimore Ravens, L 0-27
2003– vs. New England, L 0-12
2006– vs. Indianapolis, W 21-14
2007- vs. N.Y. Giants, W 45-35
2007- vs. N.Y. Giants, W 31-20
2008- vs. Pittsburgh, L 20-13
2009- vs. New Orleans, W 24-17

Playoffs
1966– vs. Green Bay (NFL Championship), L 27-34
1967– vs. Green Bay (NFL Championship), L 17-21
1970– vs. Baltimore Colts (Super Bowl V), L 13-16
1975– vs. Pittsburgh (Super Bowl X), L 17-21
1978– vs. Pittsburgh (SuperBowl XIII), L 31-35
1981– vs. San Francisco (NFC Championship), L 27-28
1982– vs. Washington (NFC Championship), L 17-31
1994– vs. San Francisco (NFC Championship), L 28-38
2007- vs. N.Y. Giants (Divisional Round), L 21-17

* * *

When the Cowboys beat the Saints in December, it marked the fourth time that Dallas had beaten a team that had been undefeated as late as November. In each of those four seasons, the team that the Cowboys beat eventually won the Super Bowl. Here’s a look:

December 5, 1982: Dallas 24, Washington 10

This game was not entirely analogous, given that the game took place shortly after the strike of 1982 ended. The Redskins were 4-0 when they faced the 3-1 Cowboys, but a 24-10 loss gave Washington its first defeat. This was also Washington’s last loss, as the Redskins won eight straight to win the title.

November 24, 1991: Dallas 24, Washington 21

Few gave the 6-5 Cowboys a chance to beat the 11-0 Redskins, but the Cowboys rode a strong first half and a big play by Michael Irvin in the fourth quarter to beat Washington. The Redskins finished 14-2 before winning Super Bowl XXVI.

November 19, 2006: Dallas 21, Indianapolis 14

The 5-4 Cowboys looked like no match for the 9-0 Indianapolis Colts, but the Cowboys stole the game with two Marion Barber touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Colts only managed a 12-4 record but beat the Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

December 19, 2009: Dallas 24, New Orleans 17

The Cowboys ended the Saints’ bid for a 16-0 season, but New Orleans still looks like the best team in the NFC. The Saints finished the season at 13-3 but then won the NFC title on their way to a 31-17 win over Indianapolis in Super Bowl XLIV.