Where is the Cowboys Homefield Advantage?

In every sport, playing at home is the preferred option. However recent years, the Dallas Cowboys have not benefited from Homefield Advantage.

Why do the Dallas Cowboys seem to play much better on the road than at home? In every sport, playing at home is much better than playing on the road.  The players can sleep in their own bed and not have to worry about getting on a plane.  Not to mention the fact that they can perform with the support of their own fans right behind them.  

For the Dallas Cowboys, they play in the crown jewel of the sports venues, AT&T Stadium.  It hosts much more than Cowboys football.  AT&T Stadium has hosted Super Bowl XLV in February 2011, the 2010 NBA All-Star Game, the 2014 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Final Four, the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship, and numerous other events.

 It will host the 2018 NFL Draft in April as well.    Despite having the support of the greatest fanbase and playing the greatest stadium, the Dallas Cowboys have struggled at home.  It appears as though the Cowboys play much better on the road. The Cowboys should have an advantage playing at home, but it certainly does not appear that way.

Since AT&T Stadium opened in 2009, the Dallas Cowboys are only 38-36 at home (including playoffs).  This also includes one of their worst home stretches in team history when in 2015 when they lost seven in a row at home. They clearly have not repeated the success the team had at old Texas Stadium so far.  

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Being dominant at home is one of the keys to success

One of the most well known Homefield Advantages in all of sports is that of the Seattle Seahawks.  For the better part of this decade, the Seahawks have dominated the NFC, especially at home.

 In the “Russell Wilson era” (2012-present) the Seahawks are an unreal 42-10 (including playoffs) at home.  This includes two Super Bowl runs and one championship  Teams dread having to head to the pacific northwest to take on the Seahawks in front of their 12th Man.  

Their fans know how to disrupt opposing offenses with noise.  To say Seahawks fans are loud would be an understatement.  They almost regularly cause minor earthquakes beneath their stadium as a result of the noise.  Now, noise does not represent loyalty, but the 12th Man shows up each and every week, something that does not seem to happen in Arlington.

Cowboys fans are second to none.  Except obviously in home game attendance.  Far too many times do we see opposing teams “takeover” AT&T Stadium.  Most infamously in Week 1 of 2014, one could not help but notice the sea of red as the 49er faithful came to town. 

Later on that season, Tony Romo noted in a press conference that he had to use a silent snap count at home against the Houston Texans.  No team should ever have to use a silent snap count at home.  I personally see it as an embarrassment to the rest of the fanbase.  Others may not see it that way but what good is playing at home if the home fans are not going to be there to support them?

Next: No Dez Bryant Equals Big Problems for Dallas

This is a call to action for Cowboys Nation.  Let’s give the team the Homefield Advantage they deserve.