Well, Cowboys Nation, it finally happened. The NFL released the 2026 schedule on Thursday, and I’ve been staring at it ever since, hot chocolate going cold, running every scenario through my head. And now I need to hear from you because this thing has me feeling a very specific kind of cautious optimism that I’m not totally sure I trust.
Let’s talk about what we’ve actually got here.
Preseason
Week 1: At Seattle Seahawks
Week 2: At Arizona Cardinals
Week 3: New Orleans Saints
Nothing new here team building and letting the rookies get their ears wet………..
Regular Season
Right out of the gate Week 1 on Sunday Night Football at the Giants. Perfect. That’s the kind of primetime statement the Cowboys have been itching to make.
No soft opener, no easing in. We go straight to the divisional rival under the lights. I love it and I’m terrified of it simultaneously.
Then there’s Week 3, which is going to be a whole thing. Dallas vs. Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro.
The Ravens are a legitimate contender, Lamar Jackson is Lamar Jackson, and we’re doing this in Brazil? I’m all for the NFL’s global vision, but I’d be lying if I said the travel situation doesn’t have me a little concerned for the roster heading into October.
“Two Eagles games. One on Monday Night Football, one on Thanksgiving. The NFC East rivalry is booked on the biggest stages of the year. No hiding.”
Speaking of things I have feelings about: the Eagles twice in six weeks, including a Thanksgiving showdown at home.
Week 7 is a Monday Night road game in Philly historically brutal. Week 12 is the Turkey Day game at AT&T Stadium, which the Cowboys own a 0-2 record vs the Eagles on Thanksgiving. Winning both could basically hand Dallas the division. Losing both would be a January nightmare. There’s no in-between here.
13th-easiest schedule in the NFL.
Right in the middle not a cupcake slate, but not a gauntlet either. Enough winnable games to build momentum, and enough tough ones to reveal exactly where this team actually stands.
The 49ers come to town in Week 10 never a cake walk. We visit the Rams in mid-December for what could be a playoff-seeding game. The Texans, Colts, Seahawks (twice) once in the preseason and in the regular season, then we will make a highly anticipated visit to Lambeau Field in Week 6 a mix of serious tests and games Dallas should be expected to win if were firing on all cylinders.
The Week 14 bye is perfectly placed heading into the back half of the December schedule giving the Cowboys some time to rest up and regroup for a deep playoff run hopefully.
The Big picture
Here’s the thing about the 2026 Cowboys schedule: it’s not going to hide their flaws.
The primetime games are stacked.
The division games are circled in red. And if this team is going to finally do something in January, they’re going to have to earn it in front of the whole country on Sunday nights, Thursday nights, Thanksgiving, and a Monday night in Philly.
I think this team has the talent. The schedule gives them a path. But paper schedules don’t win games. So what do you actually think, Cowboys fans?
Things to keep your mind on
- Week 1 on SNF at the Giants no warm-up, straight into the fire
- The Rio de Janeiro game vs. Baltimore cool in theory, logistically wild.
- The Eagles twice MNF in Philly and Thanksgiving at home, the season could hinge on these two games.
- Week 6 Micah Parsons coming back from injury to face his old team.
- The #13 easiest strength of schedule manageable enough to make a run, but tough enough to prove something.
- That late-season bye in Week 14 chef’s kiss timing.
Full Schedule
Week 1: Sept. 13 at New York Giants (SNF)
Week 2: Sept. 20 vs. Washington Commanders
Week 3: Sept. 27 vs. Baltimore Ravens (Rio de Janeiro)
Week 4: Oct. 4 at Houston Texans
Week 5: Oct. 8 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (TNF)
Week 6: Oct. 18 at Green Bay Packers (SNF)
Week 7: Oct. 26 at Philadelphia Eagles (MNF)
Week 8: Nov. 1 vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 9: Nov. 8 at Indianapolis Colts
Week 10: Nov. 15 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 11: Nov. 22 vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 12: Nov. 26 vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Thanksgiving)
Week 13: Dec. 7 at Seattle Seahawks (MNF)
Week 14: Dec. 14 *BYE*
Week 15: Dec. 20 at Los Angeles Rams
Week 16: Dec. 27 vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (SNF)
Week 17: Jan. 3 vs. New York Giants
Week 18: TBD at Washington Commanders
Home Games in Bold
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