<P> Dallas started off the 2007 season with a bang . They began the season with a 12--1 start, including winning their first five games . Their only loss during that time span came against New England, who went undefeated that season . Despite dropping two of their last three regular season games, the Cowboys clinched their first number 1 NFC seed in 12 years, which also granted them a first round bye and home field advantage throughout the playoffs . The Cowboys lost in the divisional round 21--17 to the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants . </P> <P> In the tumultuous 2008 season, the Cowboys started off strong, going 3--0 for the second straight year, en route to a 4--1 start . However, things soon went downhill from there, after quarterback Tony Romo suffered a broken pinkie in an overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals . With Brad Johnson and Brooks Bollinger playing as backups, Dallas went 1--2 during a three - game stretch . Romo's return showed promise, as Dallas went 3--0 . However, injuries mounted during the season with the team losing several starters for the year, such as Kyle Kosier, Felix Jones, safety Roy Williams and punter Mat McBriar, and several other starters playing with injuries . Entering December, the 8--4 Cowboys underperformed, finishing 1--3 . They failed to make the playoffs after losing at Philadelphia in the final regular season game which saw the Eagles reach the playoffs instead . </P> <P> On May 2, 2009, the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility collapsed during a wind storm . The collapse left twelve Cowboys players and coaches injured . The most serious injuries were special teams coach Joe DeCamillis, who suffered fractured cervical vertebrae and had surgery to stabilize fractured vertebrae in his neck, and Rich Behm, the team's 33 - year - old scouting assistant, who was permanently paralyzed from the waist down after his spine was severed . </P> <P> The 2009 season started on a positive with a road win against Tampa Bay, but fortunes quickly changed as Dallas fell to a 2--2 start . In week five, with starting wide receiver Roy Williams sidelined by injury, receiver Miles Austin got his first start of the season and had a record setting day (250 yards receiving and 2 TDs) to help lead Dallas to an overtime win over Kansas City . Following their bye week, Dallas went on a three - game winning streak including wins over Atlanta and NFC East division rival Philadelphia . Despite entering December with a record of 8--3, Dallas lost its slim grip on 1st place in the division with losses to the New York Giants and San Diego . Talks of past December collapses resurfaced, and another collapse in 2009 seemed validated . However, the Dallas team surged in the final three weeks of the season with a 24--17 victory at the Superdome, ending New Orleans' previously unbeaten season in week 15 . For the first time in franchise history, Dallas posted back - to - back shutouts when they beat division rivals Washington (17--0) and Philadelphia (24--0) to end the season . In the process, the Cowboys clinched their second NFC East title in three years as well as the third seed in the NFC Playoffs . Six days later, in the wild - card round of the playoffs, Dallas played the Eagles in a rematch of week 17 . The Cowboys defeated the Eagles for the first Cowboys' post-season win since the 1996 season, ending a streak of six consecutive NFL post-season losses . Dallas ended their playoff run after a hard divisional playoff loss to the Minnesota Vikings . </P>

When was the last time the cowboys went to super bowl