How many times have the Dallas Cowboys played the Super Bowl? 

Detractors of the Dallas Cowboys ponder why the team has been unable to reach the Super Bowl in nearly three decades. Those who support "American's Team" could, in turn, wonder what's taking so long for their haters' squads to catch up.

Though the Cowboys won't be back in the Super Bowl...courtesy of a highly publicized 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Wild Card round on Sunday...the team has appeared in eight such games, tied with Denver and Pittsburgh for the second-best invitation rate in NFL history (behind New England's 11). Dallas has emerged victorious in five of them, tied with their Sunday adversaries from the Bay Area for, again, the runner-up tally.

In what will surely warm fans of the starred helmets' hearts, SK looks back on Dallas' prior Super Bowl appearances as the next edition approaches...

The Cowboys' prior eight appearances

Super Bowl V: Baltimore 16, Dallas 13

The Cowboys were once known as a team that couldn't win big games to go to the Super Bowl...sound familiar? But they finally broke through after the 1970 season, topping Detroit and San Francisco for the opportunity to partake in the first Super Bowl since the AFL-NFL merger was made official. What ensued was a game now referred to as the "Blunder Bowl," one that featured 11 turnovers. The last was deadly for Dallas, as Craig Morton's interception to Mike Curtis set up the first game-winning field in Super Bowl history, one booted by Jim O'Brien from 32 yards out to give the Colts their first Super Bowl triumph. Despite the loss, linebacker Chuck Howley earned MVP honors, and became, to date, the only representative from the losing team to earn the award.

Super Bowl VI: Dallas 24, Miami 3

Dallas finally broke through in 1972, dominating a Dolphins team later destined for perfection. In the midst of a dominant defensive effort (only the 2018-19 Patriots have likewise matched the Cowboys' feat of not allowing their Super Bowl opponent to visit the end zone), they set records for most first downs (23) and rushing yards (252), the latter mark headlined by 95 yards and a score from Duane Thomas. Roger Staubach took home MVP honors after watching Morton from the bench in the year prior, firmly establishing his hold on the team's franchise quarterback role.

Super Bowl X: Pittsburgh 21, Dallas 17

It was only appropriate that America's Team would partake in a celebration of the country's Bicentennial. Though the defending champions from Pittsburgh were heavily favored, the Cowboys put up a strong fight and even led 10-7 at the halftime break. But two further Steeler touchdowns, including a 64-yard score for MVP Lynn Swann, doomed Dallas to defeat and allowed the Steel City dynasty to continue.

Of note, the Cowboys became the first wild-card team in NFC history to appear in the Super Bowl and nearly had a chance to win the game on one last possession, though Staubach's would-be winner to Percy Howard was intercepted by Glen Edwards. Howard nonetheless became a Cowboys legend in the sense that his 34-yard touchdown, one that allowed them to be so close in the first place, wound up becoming the only reception of his NFL career.

Super Bowl XII: Dallas 27, Denver 10

The Doomsday Defense lived up to its name and then some when they returned to the big game two years later. So dominant were the Cowboys' defensive efforts that the unit yielded not one, but two, MVPs. Harvey Martin and Randy White (who united for three of Dallas' nine sacks), in fact, only shared the award because the NFL barred voters from nominating the entire Dallas defense for the honor.

The Cowboys forced eight turnovers, limited Denver to 156 yards and allowed former comrade Morton, the Broncos starter, to only one completion that netted both positive yardage and a non-turnover. The turnovers led to the 17 Cowboy point that created the winning margin.

On offense, Tony Dorsett and Robert Newhouse united for 121 yards on the ground and sandwiched scoring through very different touchdowns: Dorsett scored the opener from three yards out while Newhouse found Golden Richards for a 29-yard six-point pass on a halfback option.

The Cowboys' latter appearances are dominated by triumphs in the 1990s

Super Bowl XIII: Pittsburgh 35, Dallas 31

Dallas was more than prepared for a rematch with the mighty Steelers, but controversial intervention from the officials...once again, sound familiar?...help claw away at their chances for an upset. A questionable pass interference call in the fourth quarter, with the Cowboys trailing 21-17, placed the Pittsburgh offense (already anchored by a recording-breaking passing yardage performance from Terry Bradshaw) at the cusp of the Dallas red zone. Two plays later, a call that actually went in the Cowboys' favor...a delay of game against the Steelers...actually doomed them, as it negated a Hollywood Henderson sack that would've forced the Steelers into a field goal. A Franco Harris touchdown run surfaced instead, leading to a stretch of 14 unanswered Pittsburgh points that sealed their third Super Bowl of the 70s. Though Dallas rallied late, their ultimate missed opportunity came in the late stages of the second quarter: down 21-14, tight end Jackie Smith dropped a would-be tying touchdown on third-and-goal, forcing the Cowboys to settle for a field goal...effectively creating the lasting four-point deficit on the final scoreboard. Though Smith created a Hall-of-Fame career with the St. Louis Cardinals, it was the drop in Dallas that would ultimately come to define his NFL endeavors.

Super Bowl XXVII: Dallas 52, Buffalo 17

The 27th Super Bowl is often defined by Leon Lett's infamous blunder, as his showboating antics while running back a Frank Reich fumble created by a Jim Jeffcoat sack cost the Cowboys a touchdown when Bills receiver Don Bebee swatted the exposed ball away from the defender. All that accomplished, however, was keeping Dallas away from a Super Bowl record for points, as they capped off their first Super Sunday appearance in 14 years in style. Defense once again ruled the day for the resurgent Cowboys, who once again created the winning margin off turnovers. Troy Aikman, the face of Dallas' new rebuild under head coach Jimmy Johnson, led the way with 301 total yards and four passing scores. With the win, Johnson became the first head coach to earn both a Super Bowl and collegiate national championship.

Super Bowl XXVIII: Dallas 30, Buffalo 13

Together with the Cowboys, the Buffalo Bills created the first-ever Super Bowl rematch in consecutive season. For two quarters, it looked like the Bills would finally get the 1990s Super Bowl monkey off their backs with a 13-6 lead at halftime. But, stop us if you've heard this one before, the Dallas defense ensured yet another championship. In the first minute of the third quarter, Lett found unsung redemption by forcing a Thurman Thomas fumble that James Washington took back 46 yards for a tying score, commencing a run of 24 unanswered Dallas points. It was legendary rusher Emmitt Smith that ruled the day, giving the Cowboys a permanent lead on a 64-yard scoring drive in which he accumulated all but three yards. Smith wound up earning MVP honors for his efforts, which included 158 total yards and one more fourth quarter score that sealed Dallas' deal.

Super Bowl XXX: Dallas 27, Pittsburgh 17

Dallas' most recent Lombardi Trophy hoist may be one of the most tumultuous championship treks in history: the season was labeled with rumored in-fighting between the team's legendary offensive leaders, namely Aikman, and head coach Barry Switzer, another college legend who succeeded the ousted Johnson, who left after the latter Buffalo win. Nonetheless, Johnson's team managed to rally under Switzer to cement their status as a 1990s dynasty, getting long-awaited revenge on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the finale at Sun Devil Stadium. Thrust into an underdog's role, the Steelers put up a respectable effort and even had a chance to win it in the final stages. But an errant pass from quarterback Neil O'Donnell helped Larry Brown make millions: the cornerback, chosen in the 12th of round of 1991's draft, earned two interceptions, including one on the Steelers' final meaningful drive of the game to help the Cowboys earn their then-record-tying Super Bowl victory. Shortly after, Brown signed a deal with Oakland that afforded him $12.5 million over five years with $3.5 million guaranteed.