The schedule has been released and there’s a ton to unpack about the Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 season schedule. The team is certainly being put through a couple of early gauntlets, returning from an international game to play the following Sunday, and getting a Thursday night game right after. The schedule is filled with primetime games, consecutively in one brutal stretch, and it’s bookended by back-to-back NFC East battles to start and finish the year.
Here are way-too-early game-by-game predictions from Cowboys Wire.
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Week 1: at New York Giants, 7:20 p.m., Sept. 13, NBC
The Cowboys have spent 50% of the last two decades kicking off their season against the Giants, and Dak Prescott has dominated them since his sophomore season in 2017. Pick: Cowboys 40, Giants 21.
Week 2: vs. Washington Commanders, 3:25 p.m., Sept. 20, FOX
Dan Quinn enters his third season in Washington and if Jayden Daniels starts the season healthy, the Commanders should be much more competitive than 2025. Pick: Cowboys 31, Commanders 27.
Week 3: vs. Baltimore Ravens, 3:25 p.m., Sept. 27 (BRAZIL), FOX
The Ravens will be new look at the HC position for the first time in forever as Jesse Minter gets Lamar Jackson and company down to Rio De Janeiro. Pick: Cowboys 24, Ravens 20.
Week 4: at Houston Texans, Noon, Sunday, Oct. 4, CBS
Dallas travels down the highway to battle for the Governor’s Cup, but the Texans defense proves to be too tough to overcome. Pick: Texans 24, Cowboys 17.
Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:15 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 8, Prime Video
Who even are the Buccaneers when there’s no Mike Evans at wide receiver? This is an intriguing matchup because the Cowboys are not only not getting a rest after an international game, they’ll follow it up with a short week. Pick: Bucs 27, Cowboys 24.
Week 6: at Green Bay Packers, 7:20 p.m., Oct. 18, NBC
The Micah Parsons revenge game, but will he be healthy to face off against his former team? There was zero defense the last time they met. Pick: Cowboys 41, Packers 40.
Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles, 7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 26, ESPN
The Cowboys don’t fear the Eagles whatsover, in Philly or at home. They’ll come out hot and fans will be able to see how well Christian Parker knows his former team. Pick: Cowboys 31, Eagles 21.
Week 8: vs. Arizona Cardinals, Noon, Nov. 1, FOX
The Cowboys finally get to face the Cardinals without Kyler Murray. Whoops, that was the case last year when Jacoby Brissett just played like the Dallas Dominator. This is revenge. Pick: Cowboys 37, Cardinals 17.
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Week 9: at Indianapolis Colts, Noon, Nov. 8, CBS
The Cowboys will travel to face their former punching bag at quarterback Daniel Jons. He hears voices in his head, but this isn’t Randy Orton. Pick: Cowboys 31, Colts 24.
Week 10: vs. San Francisco 49ers, 3:25 p.m., Nov. 15, FOX
Kyle Shanahan and company make their way to Dallas with a renewed offensive attack. Pick: 49ers 28, Cowboys 24.
Week 11: vs. Tennessee Titans, Noon, Nov. 22, CBS
The Titans are working to return from the grave with a renewed offense that will bring old friend Tony Pollard back to town. He’s used to being disappointed in this city. Pick: Cowboys 37, Titans 10.
Week 12: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 3:30 p.m., Thursday Nov. 26, FOX
The Cowboys have won four straight Thanksgiving Day games. It’s going to be an ugly game, but they sweep the Eagles for 2026. Pick: Cowboys 26, Eagles 24.
Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks, 7:15 p.m., Monday, Nov. 7, ESPN
There are so many ties between these two teams who are rivals that hate each other despite not playing every season. The Super Bowl champs, hosting Dallas at a night game? Bring the ear plugs. Pick: Seahawks 31, Cowboys 27.
Week 14: BYE
The Cowboys get a late-season breather.
Week 15: vs. Los Angeles Rams 3:25 p.m., Dec. 20, FOX
The Cowboys have low-key dominated Sean McVay’s Rams since they lost to them in the playoffs following the 2018 season. Pick: Cowboys 44, Rams 24.
Week 16: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, 7:20 p.m., Dec. 27, NBC
The Jaguars are actually good? What do we do with this type of information? Pick: Jaguars 27, Cowboys 24.
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Week 17: vs. New York Giants, Noon, Jan. 3, 2027, FOX
The Giants are still the Giants. Pick: Cowboys 38, Giants 10.
Week 18: at Washington Commanders, TBD, Jan. 9/10, TBD
The Cowboys have closed out the season vs Washington more often than not in recent years. Health will determine the season, so health will determine this game. Pick: Cowboys 31, Commanders 3.
Cowboys record prediction for 2026
We’ve got the Cowboys finishing the 2026 NFL season at 12-5.
This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Dallas Cowboys game-by-game predictions following schedule release
Reporting by K.D. Drummond, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
