You’d think a team that finished last season with a 9-7 record and failed to make the playoffs wouldn’t get much love from the television networks. That would be true if we were talking about the Buffalo Bills or New Orleans Saints.
But the Dallas Cowboys don’t fall into that category – and they never have.
The 2009 NFL schedule was released last week and the Cowboys will make no less than five appearances in prime time games this season.
Whether you like them or not, the Dallas Cowboys have consistently produced the highest television ratings of any NFL franchise. For a team that already gets the lions share of media coverage, Dallas’ added exposure in prime time games only adds to the Cowboys mystique.
Dallas’ first prime time game features the Cowboys hosting the New York Giants on September 20, the first of three appearances on NBC’s Sunday Night Football. The game will be the Cowboys home opener to be played at Dallas’ new $1.2 billion stadium.
The following week Dallas will host the Carolina Panthers on September 28 in the Cowboys only appearance on Monday Night Football.
Dallas’ other prime time games will be on Sunday night November 8 when the Cowboys travel to Philadelphia, the annual Thanksgiving Day game against Oakland on November 26 and a Sunday night game against the Washington Redskins on December 27.
Dallas will also make one appearance on the NFL Network when the Cowboys travel to New Orleans to take on the Saints in a Saturday night contest on December 19.
Visit the Cowboys official site for a look at the entire 2009 schedule.
