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Super Bowl contention is always an expectation for the Dallas Cowboys. So after a lackluster 2025 season, there will be higher hopes for 2026.
Despite having one of the NFL's best offenses last fall, Dallas missed the playoffs. So in the offseason, the Cowboys revamped their defense — Jalen Thompson, Cobie Durant, Caleb Downs and Malachi Lawrence were all added to the unit.
Now, in 2026, the Cowboys will hope that Dak Prescott can again guide an elite offense, with improvement on the other side of the ball.
Here is a complete breakdown of the Cowboys' 2026 schedule, including dates, start times and analysis for all 17 games.
Dallas Cowboys schedule 2026
- Home opponents: Eagles, Commanders, Giants, Jaguars, Titans, Ravens, Cardinals, 49ers, Buccaneers
- Away opponents: Eagles, Commanders, Giants, Packers, Texans, Colts, Seahawks,
Every NFL team's 2026 opponents are predetermined. The Cowboys' full 2026 NFL schedule with dates, times and TV networks will be updated below when the NFL schedule is announced on Thursday.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Kickoff time (ET) | TV channel |
| 1 | Sunday, Sept. 13 | at Giants | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
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| 3 | Sunday, Sept. 27 | at Ravens (Brazil) | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
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| 12 | Thursday, Nov. 26 | vs. Eagles (Thanksgiving) | 4:30 p.m. | Fox |
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Cowboys strength of schedule
A three-game losing streak to a few playoff-level teams — the Lions, Vikings and Chargers — is what ultimately dropped Dallas from playoff contention last year.
In 2026, the NFC East should be one of the league's tougher divisions after only the Eagles made the playoffs in 2025, meaning the Cowboys may have plenty of divisional challenges. But they also have a middle-of-the-pack strength of schedule overall, with their 2026 opponents owning a .493 winning percentage last season.
Toughest tests: For the Cowboys, scheduled matchups against the 49ers and Ravens at home, plus traveling to take on last year's NFC Championship Game squads in the Seahawks and Rams, should prove be challenging.
Biggest breaks: However, based on last year's results, Dallas should also have a favorable path to beating the Titans, Cardinals and Colts. Depending on how the Commanders and Giants' offseason moves change their respective dynamics, either could wind up being an easier matchup as well.
Cowboys record prediction
- Over/under win total: 8.5 (per BetMGM)
Bottom line: Even if their offense levels out a bit, the Cowboys can only get better defensively after a rough 2025 performance. This team certainly has a high floor with Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens leading the way — at minimum, the Cowboys can contend for a Wild Card spot.
However, NFC East contention and double-digit wins can be very realistic if the Cowboys get immediate contributions from Thompson, Downs and Lawrence defensively and become more of a league-average unit.
Dallas plays in a tough division, but its difficult to imagine the team not making a push for the postseason, especially with some fairly winnable games on the 2026 schedule.
Record prediction: 10-7
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