The 2026 schedule is officially out, and the Cowboys officially have some stiff challenges to overcome. From the tough string of start times surrounding that Rio game to back-to-back-to-back primetime matchups, plus a very late bye week and a who’s who of contenders as the season winds down… seeing it all listed out in black and white puts the season’s mission in sharper focus. Today’s headlines go inside the schedule release, from the ins and outs of the calendar to the three Tylers starring in the Cowboys’ top-secret schedule release video.
Caleb Downs has yet to play a single snap in the NFL, and the expectations for him are already through the roof. But one of the top defenders of the past decade is setting the bar exceptionally high anyway; Tyrann Mathieu is predicting massive stats and a prestigious rookie award for the first-round pick.
Elsewhere in Cowboys Nation, the new-look secondary may phase out the need for an inside cornerback, we explore whether it actually matters if George Pickens shows up for voluntary workouts, we check out running back depth behind Javonte Williams, and where does KaVontae Turpin really rank among return men?
Then it’s back to the schedule release. Read on for an inside look at what goes into making the best schedule possible despite an endless list of details to consider, and we peek behind the curtain at the art of the schedule release video. Also, the Bears are becoming the new must-see team in the NFL whether you like it or not, and is it time to admit the league’s exhaustive international schedule has become too much of a good thing?
In other news, Micah Parsons is no sure thing to be on the field for Week 1 (but he won’t miss the Week 6 rematch with Dallas), the Giants have already lost a rookie to a season-ending injury, and league insiders make predictions for 2027… including a sobering George Pickens development.
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Inside the 2026 Schedule Release
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This article originally appeared on Cowboys Wire: Cowboys Headlines: Massive prediction for Downs; inside the 2026 schedule
Reporting by Todd Brock, Cowboys Wire / Cowboys Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
