Dallas Cowboys Get Division Win, Now Take Aim at Alternative Rock Band

The Dallas Cowboys are having a rough season.

Their defense has been struggling, the losses are piling up, and opposing offenses haven't had much trouble finding the end zone.

So naturally, the Cowboys have decided to pick a fight with alternative rock band My Chemical Romance.

Things have gotten so bad in Dallas that the team's biggest opponent in October might be a group of musicians wearing eyeliner.

Here's what happened.

My Chemical Romance is celebrating the 20th anniversary of its album "The Black Parade" with a series of concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles.

During an Oct. 21 performance of the song "Teenagers," the band brought out dancers wearing blue-and-white cheerleading uniforms.

And they looked remarkably similar to those worn by the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

White boots. White shorts. Blue tops. White vests decorated with blue stars.

While none of that is particularly outrageous, things quickly got interesting.

The dancers put down their pom-poms, picked up prop rifles and participated in a staged gunfight.

Several were depicted being shot and crawling offstage — which sounds a lot like the Cowboys' defense this season.

The company that owns the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders brand wasn't amused.

Pro Silver Star Ltd. filed legal action against My Chemical Romance and concert promoter Live Nation, arguing that the costumes were so similar to the real cheerleaders' uniforms that audiences could mistakenly believe the performers were associated with the Cowboys organization.

The company wants a judge to stop the band from using the uniforms during its remaining performances.

According to the legal filing, the Pro Silver Stat doesn't object to the music, the choreography or even the staged gunfight.

It's the uniforms.

Apparently, simulated violence is fine.

Just don't mess with those blue-and-white boots.

Before pursuing court action, the company sent My Chemical Romance a cease-and-desist letter asking the band to stop using the costumes.

And how did the band respond?

According to the filing, the dancers wore them again during another performance two nights later.

The Cowboys' legal representatives are arguing that the costumes infringe on the cheerleaders' distinctive appearance and could damage the brand.

Whether a judge agrees remains to be seen.

But one thing seems pretty clear.

My Chemical Romance doesn't appear to be particularly afraid of the Dallas Cowboys — which puts the band in roughly the same category as every team left on the Cowboys' schedule.

Look, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders are an iconic part of American sports culture.

Their uniforms are instantly recognizable, and there's a legitimate business interest in protecting a valuable brand.

But there's also something wonderfully absurd about an NFL organization making headlines because of a legal dispute with an alternative rock band while its football team is struggling.

The Cowboys have enough problems on the field without adding a concert tour to their list of opponents.

And if My Chemical Romance is looking for inspiration for another theatrical performance, perhaps the band should consider reenacting the Cowboys' defensive highlights.

They've already got the falling-down part figured out.

Maybe the Cowboys should forget about My Chemical Romance and start worrying about the chemistry in their own locker room.

Because whatever they've been mixing on defense this season isn't working.