Absolutely love watching American football. But it's tough when Sunday games kickoff at 3am on a Monday in Australia. Watching the game by yourself on the couch with coffee before heading to work is a little different to Sundays in a sports bar with beer, wings and your mates.
Which begs the question I get asked regularly;
As a teenager in the early 90's I watched a lot of late night TV that included David Letterman and Jay Leno.
Expat American, the late great talk show host Don Lane would host an NFL highlights package well after midnight on a Tuesday. It included a gem like this which covered what would be my future endeavor running Gridiron Victoria:
Don was a larger than life personality who did wonders for the sport in Australia, especially for me as he continually broadcasted the Cowboys who were dominating the league at the time. Naturally I gravitated towards the team of the moment and this love affair with the Star began, culminating in skipping the first day of high school year 12 to watch the Cowboys beat the Steelers in Super Bowl XXX in 1996.
Have been very lucky to attend many games, albeit with mixed success leading to a 10-13 record when watching the Cowboys in person.
Ironically, my top five favourite & most memorable games were all losses.
Believe it or not, it doesn't matter if your team wins. These are my five fav games:
A 30 point drubbing in Denver when the stadium was struck by lightning; the 2019 playoff v Rams at L.A. Coliseum we had no business playing in; a 2013 90 point shoot-out in Dallas as Romo threw 500 and Peyton pulled an all-time play-action; 2021 season opener in Tampa as Brady unveiled *another* ring to beat us on the final drive; and most recently a wild OT game at Lambeau yet again losing to Aaron.
The two most boring games were both Cowboys wins. Proof that you don't need to win to enjoy the NFL in person.
Cowboys stomp Vikes 40-3
US Bank Stadim - Minneapolis MN
Modern stadium resembling a viking ship in downtown Minneapolis but the home team don't show up. Game was over at half time proving once again a win doesn't necessarily make for a memorable game.
Cowboys lose 31-28 in OT
Lambeau Field - Greenbay, WI
Finally a trip to the home of football. Freezing temperature all game which went to the wire and in to overtime before the Cowboys do Cowboys things and that bad man ran over them in the end. My new favorite of the older stadiums.
Cowboys win 22-10
SoFi Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
Extraordinary experience in the SoFi suite joined by Kim Kardashian, Magic Johnson, John Legend and the Vince Lombardi trophy. Incredible day and a solid Cowboys W behind the NFL's best defense.
Rams defeat Bengals 23-20
SoFi Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
Ticked off an epic bucket list item with a trip to SoFi for the Super Bowl with On Location. Incredible experience, fantastic game and half time show for the ages. So very lucky, and very glad we did.
Cowboys win 20-27
SoFi Stadium - Los Angeles, CA
Finally a trip to the stadium with my employer written on the roof; it's pretty badass. Cowboys got the run game going with the two-headed monster and the rookie LB Parsons balled out from the edge. Player paid to do one job kicks a field goal and wins a wild game in front of a home crowd.
Cowboys lose 31-29
Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, FL
First pro game in 2 years, Dak returns from the ankle and the Buccaneers celebrate their chip. Both teams trade touchdowns and despite a herculean effort by #4 and four takeaways by the Defense, 84 seconds is too long for the GOAT Brady who wins it late and we fall to 0-3 seeing him live.
No idea, left early
TIAA Bank Field - Jacksonville, FL
Trevor Lawrence registers a strip sack fumble for his first professional snap but shows enough for me to draft him in my keeper league. Was nice to be back at the football, albeit for 2 quarters. Don't try to get an Uber from here.
Navy wins easily
The Linc - Philadelphia, PA
In front of the Commander in Chief, Army gets on the board first but Navy runs away with it literally. Only 3 passes thrown all game and it was raining so the US military couldn't fly their helicopters. Wild.
Cowboys lose 31-24
Soldier Field - Chicago, IL
Cowboys chew up 8 minutes of clock on an opening 75 yard touchdown drive before utterly shitting the bed and do nothing for the rest of the game. Great stadium! #FireGarrett
BC win 26-19
Heinz Field - Pittsburgh PA
Not many fans turn up and Pitt definitely didn't either. Kenny Pickett was a junior and backup QB. Next morning saw Steeler fans tailgating 7 hours before kickoff in the driving rain.
Cowboys lose 13-9
Gillette Stadium - Foxborough MA
Freezing conditions and driving rain didn't dampen the mood in the stands. Absurd penalties and a terrible Head Coach (you don't kick field goals down 7 late) doomed the final drive #FireGarrett
Cowboys win 31-6
Cowboys Stadium - Arlington TX
First trip back to Arlington in 2 years and the delapidated Dolphins got their ass kicked. Cowboys were 3-0 and we started making Super Bowl plans.
Rams win 30-22; go to Super Bowl
LA Coliseum - Los Angeles CA
Complete fluke buy tickets to this game before the playoffs even started. First ever Cowboys playoff we had no business being in or at. Amazing night.
Chiefs win 40-33
Coliseum - Oakland CA
Took the train to Oakland one Sunday with some friends to see Mahomes vs Carr. Atypical shootout and nice December day in the sun.
Cowboys lose 16-19
NRG Stadium - Houston TX
Frustrating game in a wonderful, loud stadium that serves too much beer. Would have gone for it on 4th down coach #FireGarrett
Cowboys lose 13-24
Century Link Field - Seattle WA
Loudest stadium in football. Great city and awesome game experience but the Cowboys didn't show up
Cowboys win 40-10
Levi's Stadium - Santa Clara CA
A game at our local: we caught the tram to Levi's and watched Zeke run riot all over the Niners for a blowout win.
Cowboys lose 30-35
Cowboys Stadium - Arlington TX
Well in control through halftime before Goff and Gurley ran over the Cowboys and announced themselves to the NFL. Club seats highly recommended.
Cowboys lose 17-42
Mile Hight Stadium - Denver CO
Best away crowd yet; the folks in Denver were fantastic as we got beat down by the Broncos and watched fellow GV alumni Adam Gotsis playing for the home team. Lightning storm saw us evacuate the stands for nearly an hour - crazy!
Cowboys win 19-3
Cowboys Stadium - Arlington TX
Opened the season at home after Hurricane Harvey smashed Texas. Dallas smashed the Giants. Boorish Giants fans should stay in New York.
Cowboys win 35-10
First Energy Stadium - Cleveland OH
Our actual seats front row of the endzone as the Cowboys stomped all over the poor Browns. Nice crowd tho.
Cowboys win 29-23 in OT
Cowboys Stadium - Arlington TX
First game with Angie: terrible game until the Cowboys sneak in to OT and Dak hits Witten in the back of the endzone. Stood on the Star the next day.
Alabama wins
University of Phoenix Stadium - Glendale, AZ
Alabama come storming back to defeat Clemson late and claim *another* National Championship.
Cowboys lose 6-30
Cowboys Stadium - Arlington TX
What was supposed to be Tony Romo vs Jimmy Garoppolo became Weedon vs Tom Brady as Deflategate was overturned and Romo broke his collarbone. Only game I've ever left early.
Cowboys lose 20-26 in OT
Superdome - New Orleans LA
Brandon Weedon incredibly forces overtime but Brees was too good with a deep ball to win. NOLA knows how to party.
Dolphins lose 13-28
Hard Rock Stadium - Miami Gardens FL
That time I sat front row of the endzone and was on the jumbotron. Luckily the guy behind me took this picture.
Cowboys lose 48-51
Cowboys Stadium - Arlington TX
First trip to Jerryworld: Peyton and Romo throw for a thousand yards in a wild shoot out. Best game I've ever seen.
Cowboys lose 16-17
Arrowhead Stadium - Kansas City
Sitting front row at midfield, watched the Cowboys offense never get going and lose by a point. At the time the loudest stadium until we went to Seattle...
Cowboys win 35-22
Texas Stadium - Irving TX
The last season before they bulldozed Texas Stadium. Romo threw 3 scores and we beat the old foe. Did you know the stadium was sinking in to a hole?
Cowboys win 14-10
Fedex Field - Washington DC
Freezing cold night in DC, looks photoshopped I know. Romo threw a late TD to TO to beat the Washington football teamIn addition to seeing a few college games in NFL stadiums, always tried to visit whatever college game was being played on the Saturday when visiting a new city for the NFL.
UCLA win 35-16 easily
Stanford Stadium - Palo Alto, CA
Wandered in one night
San Jose win 35-18
San Jose State - San Jose, CA
Supporting our home-town team one Saturday night under the bubble-gum California sunset. Turns out one of the few college stadiums to sell beer!
USC win 31-28
Levi Stadium - Santa Clara, CA
Amazing final drive as Sam Darnold leads the Trojans to the PAC-12 Championship.
Michigan destroy 59-3
Big House - Ann Arbor, MI
2 days before the 2016 Presidential election, Jabril Peppers and the Wolverines lay waste to DJ Moore and Maryland as we stand on the field pre-game in front of 110,000 fans.
Utah win 52-45
Rose Bowl - Pasadena CA
Wild shoot out at the Rose Bowl with the Garraways.
Texas win 24-17
Cotton Bowl - Dallas Tx
40+ degrees at the Texas State Fair for the Red River Rivalry with the Garraways. Baker Mayfield under center for the Sooners.
Alabama win 55-44
Bryan Denny Stadium - Tuscaloose AL
101,000 fans pack in to see Alabama run down the Tigers as Amari Cooper goes for 3 touchdowns and 240+ yards. Wild finish.
Texas lose 49-10
Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium - Austin Tx
Thanksgiving game in front of 96,000 as TCU runs all over the Longhorns.
Notre Dame win 37-34
Cowboys Stadium (neutral venue) - Dallas TX
Neutral venue for the Sun Devils vs the Irish who hang on to win. Paid $10 for a standing ticket.
Rutgers win 55-52 in OT
SMU - Dallas TX
Small crowd, small stadium produced a shoot out. Could sit wherever you wanted.
BC route 35-7
LA Colliseum - Los Angeles CA
Hot as hell sitting front row at the Colliseum