ARLINGTON,TX – On September 27,2009,the Dallas Cowboys christened their new $1.3 billion AT&T Stadium with a decisive 24-17 victory over the Carolina panthers, marking the franchise’s first-ever win within the stadium’s walls. The game signified more than just a home-field advantage; it represented a new era for the cowboys and their fanbase.
The inaugural AT&T Stadium contest held meaningful weight for a Cowboys organization eager to establish dominance in their state-of-the-art facility. Facing a formidable Panthers team, Dallas relied on a balanced attack led by quarterback Tony Romo and running back Marion Barber, who was among a group of players-including Terry Glenn, Julius Jones, and Jason Witten-who defined that era of cowboys football.
During that same 2009 game, defensive end Greg Ellis tied the Cowboys’ rookie record with three sacks against the Panthers on Christmas Eve, showcasing the team’s defensive prowess. The Cowboys’ postseason history with Carolina also includes a 1996 playoff game started by Troy Aikman, and a later contest featuring Quincy Carter as the Dallas starter.
Interestingly, michael Bates, who ranks seventh all-time in NFL kickoff return yards with 9,110, spent the bulk of his career with the Panthers but briefly played a regular-season game for the cowboys. Throughout the Cowboys-Panthers rivalry, Terence Newman has recorded the most career interceptions against Carolina.
Following a 2003 win over the Panthers, then-first-year Dallas coach Bill Parcells delivered an emotional statement, declaring, “You can’t call them losers anymore,” a sentiment that resonated with a team striving to shed a history of underperformance. The Cowboys’ victory over the Panthers in 2009 not only inaugurated AT&T Stadium but also signaled a turning point for a franchise determined to reclaim its place among the NFL’s elite.
