The NFL does not quiver in fear of the other American professional sports leagues. The NBA and NHL playoffs are in full swing, but the football guys do not relinquish the headline to either. On the heels of last week’s NFL Draft, the league is putting the finishing touches on the 2026 NFL schedule. Over the past several years, the league has rolled out the schedule in the second full week of May.
So with that right around the corner, and before the leaks start running rampant in the days leading up to the unveiling, we are taking a shot at predicting the Cowboys schedule on a game-by-game basis.
The opponents have been known since the conclusion of the 2025 regular season. Each year the Cowboys play a home-and-home series against their NFC East foes (Philaelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Washington Commanders). Every three seasons they play one of the other NFC divisions (this year the NFC West’s Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks). Every four seasons they play one of the AFC divisions (this year the AFC South’s Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans).
And then each year, the team plays the same-place finisher from the other two NFC divisions (NFC North’s Green Bay Packers, NFC South’s Tampa Bay Bucaneers) and one AFC division (AFC North’s Baltimore Ravens).
Cowboys 2026 Schedule Predictions
Week 1 at Giants
This may end up being nothing, but it appears that Jerry Jones either tipped the opening week matchup, or he became so accustomed to it being the Giants that he just uses them as a placeholder for Week 1.
Week 2 at Titans
This one works backwards from the following week. With it already announced they’ll play in Brazil, we’re giving the Cowboys a non-consequential AFC opponent, at home, early, so that they can prepare for their international travel. This also increases the chances this is a 2-0 team, for marketing purposes.
Week 3 vs. Ravens (Brazil)
This one is in the books already, as one of the two international games already completely scheduled.
Week 4 vs Cardinals
Returning from Brazil will put the Cowboys in the DFW around 10 am Monday morning. A MNF matchup the following week allows the league to avoid giving the Cowboys an early bye week. This also gives a bad Cardinals team their spotlight game in primetime for 2026. Everyone wins in this scenario.
Week 5 at Commanders
Week 6 vs. Jaguars
Week 7 at Seahawks
It’s hard to see this game not getting prime time billing as the Cowboys travel to the Pacific Northwest to face the reigning world champs and the 12s. It’s just screaming to be one of the rowdiest crowd situations in recent memory, especially if Dallas is playing well.
Week 8 vs Buccaneers
Week 9 at Rams
Week 10 Bye Week
Week 11 at Colts
Week 12 vs 49ers
The Cowboys alternate their Turkey Day Games each year between NFC and AFC, and the NFC matchups stay on FOX. This juicy matchup just feels right for 2026, bringing the NFC West rivals to town and tangentially allowing Osa Odighizuwa to see family for the holiday.
Week 13 vs. Texans
The Cowboys, more often than not, play the Thursday night after Thanksgiving, and shipping the Governor’s Cup matchup to Amazon would be a huge deal for that broadcast partner.
Week 14 vs. Eagles
A late-season first matchup between the East rivals feels perfect as the teams should be much closer to each other in 2026 than they were in 2025. Dallas gets a true mini-bye after their annual three-games-in-11-days gauntlet before likely the most important game of their season.
Week 15 at Packers
Saving the rematch with Micah Parsons’ Packers until the edge rusher is likely back in the groove following his 2025 late-season ACL injury.
Week 16 vs. Giants
Giants and Cowboys on Christmas night? Netflix execs might explode.
Week 17 at Eagles
Week 18 vs. Commanders
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Predicting Cowboys 2026 schedule, game-by-game, based on 2 big clues
Reporting by K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
