Cowboys Countdown to Kickoff: Day 23 revisits what makes a game iconic in franchise history

The Dallas Cowboys are closing in on kickoff, and Yahoo Sports is marking the calendar with a 100-day countdown of what it considers the franchise’s most iconic games. On Day 23 of the series, the project continues its focus on moments that go beyond simple box-score production, using a broader set of criteria tied to how games resonate within the Cowboys organization and the NFL at large.

Rather than relying on a single measuring stick, the countdown is constructed around multiple dimensions. The series says it weighs how large the game was for the franchise, how memorable the contest proved to be, and whether anything unusual unfolded during the matchup. It also includes games connected to NFL lore, Cowboys firsts, and contests where Dallas asserted clear dominance.

That multi-criteria approach matters because “iconic” can mean different things to different fans. A defining Cowboys moment is not always the one with the most yards or the longest winning streak. Sometimes it is the game that sets a tone for a season, introduces a signature player, or becomes the kind of event people reference years later when talking about the team’s identity.

The countdown is also positioned as a lead-in to the start of the 2026 season, with the series designed to take readers up to the opening game. Each day functions like a curated portal back into the franchise’s past, and the publication notes that the series will link each entry so fans can catch up on any days they missed.

For readers, Day 23 is less about a single outcome and more about the method behind the ranking. The Cowboys have played thousands of games since the franchise’s earliest era, so the list’s value depends on whether it captures the variety of Cowboys history: statement wins, bizarre swings, and high-leverage stages that helped shape how the team is remembered.

Looking ahead, the remaining days of the countdown will effectively serve as a preview of which eras and storylines the series views as most consequential. If the list continues to use the same framework, expect the entries to spotlight not only classic matchups, but also games that became part of the broader league conversation, whether for dramatic events or for “firsts” that defined a turning point.