The Dallas Cowboys’ 2026 NFL schedule is finally out, so get ready to make plans!

Below is the full rundown of the schedule, a recap of primetime games, and my initial takeaways to the 17 games that hopefully culminate in a winning record for America’s Team.

Full 2026 Cowboys schedule

*all times Eastern

• Week 1: at New York Giants, Sunday Night Football (Sunday, Sept. 13, 8:20 p.m.)
• Week 2: vs Washington Commanders (Sunday, Sept. 20, 4:25 p.m.)
• Week 3: vs Baltimore Ravens, Rio de Janeiro Game (Sunday, Sept. 27, 4:25 p.m.)
• Week 4: at Houston Texas (Sunday, Oct. 4, noon)
• Week 5: vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Thursday Night Football (Thursday, Oct. 8, 8:15 p.m.)
• Week 6: at Green Bay Packers, Sunday Night Football (Sunday, Oct. 18, 8:20 p.m.)
• Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles, Monday Night Football (Monday, Oct. 25, 8:15 p.m.)
• Week 8: vs Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, Nov. 1, noon)
• Week 9: at Indianapolis Colts (Sunday, Nov. 8, noon)
• Week 10: vs San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, Nov. 15, 4:25 p.m.)
• Week 11: vs Tennessee Titans (Sunday, Nov. 22, noon)
• Week 12: vs Philadelphia Eagles, Thanksgiving Day (Thursday Nov. 26, 4:30 p.m.)
• Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks, Monday Night Football (Monday, Dec. 7, 8:15 p.m.)
• Week 14: BYE WEEK
• Week 15: at Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, Dec. 20, 4:25 p.m.)
• Week 16: vs Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday Night Football (Sunday, Dec. 27, 8:20 p.m.)
• Week 17: vs New York Giants (Sunday, Jan. 3, noon)
• Week 18: at Washington Commanders (TBD)

Primetime showdown recap

Make that six primetime games for the Cowboys ahead of the 2026 season not including their international game in Brazil and their usual Thanksgiving slot.

Here’s a recap of the games you’ll be watching at night:

• Week 1 vs Giants (SNF)
• Week 5 vs Bucs (TNF)
• Week 6 at Packers (SNF)
• Week 7 at Eagles (MNF)
• Week 13 at Seahawks (MNF)
• Week 16 vs Jaguars (SNF)

Instant takeaways

We knew going into Thursday that the Cowboys had the fourth-toughest schedule of the 2026 season. There’s nothing the NFL nor the Cowboys can do about that. But truth be told, I think it’s spread out pretty evenly.

I don’t think the Cowboys got any favors from the NFL following their international trip with a road game and a short week, but overall I think the tough opponents are well spread out. There are some tough windows, but no stretch of impossible games.

If I had to pick what was the six-game gauntlet of their season, I’d probably go with the early run made up of:

• Week vs Commanders
• Week 3 vs Ravens (Brazil)
• Week 4 at Houston
• Week 5 vs Bucs (short week)
• Week 6 at Packers
• Week 7 at Eagles

It looks like we’ll know a lot about the Cowboys before Week 8, as that’s a tough stretch to go through early in the season.

The Cowboys getting a Week 14 bye in between road matchups to the Seahawks and the Rams feels like a massive win, especially as the former will be preceded by a long week. Those are the teams to beat in the NFC, Dallas should have rest advantages in both.