Cowboys 2026 Schedule Release Predictions: Primetime matchups, season finale, Christmas Day, and more

The Dallas Cowboys schedule is coming out on Thursday, May 14. We already know about three dates/rivals, but here are four predictions about what’s dropping later in the week.

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Nov 23, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) greets Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium.
Nov 23, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) greets Dallas Cowboys wide receiver George Pickens (3) during the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium. Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The Dallas Cowboys are not your regular football team, so it’s no surprise we already know about three dates of 17 for their 2026 NFL regular season. But there’s still a lot we don’t know about their full schedule, which will be released Thursday night.

So in the final stretch before the schedule drops, here are four predictions about the team’s schedule.

1. Guessing the Cowboys’ primetime games

The NFL loves the ratings the Cowboys bring to the table so you can once again expect six primetime games for Dallas. That is excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas Day matchups.

This is my best shot at guessing which rivals will be their primetime partners:

  • @ New York Giants (confirmed)
  • @ Green Bay Packers
  • @ Houston Texans
  • vs Washington Commanders
  • vs San Francisco 49ers
  • vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2. Cowboys on Christmas again?

Nah.

I got burnt in my 2025 schedule predictions when I confidently said the Cowboys wouldn’t play on Christmas Day. But I’m stubborn. Once again, I am predicting the Cowboys won’t be playing on Dec. 25. But this time, it’s because they just did last year.

The Cowboys are already a guaranteed Holiday team on Thanksgiving. I don’t think the NFL will be trying to keep a team active on Christmas Day on a yearly basis. I’m scared to be wrong.

3. Monday Night Football in Week 4

I recently wrote about how the Cowboys playing in Brazil on a Sunday could put them in an awkward spot as there’s no room for a bye week nor a long week to give them time to recover from an international trip.

In the last couple of years, one of the two teams playing in Brazil played on Monday Night Football the week after. Since Dallas usually has an early-season appearance on MNF, I have them penciled in for primetime in Week 4.

4. Cowboys vs Eagles II in final two weeks

The Eagles are the better team on paper, but I have the NFL betting on the Cowboys’ offense to keep the team in the running late in the year. That could explain a Week 12 Thanksgiving matchup between these two rivals for the first time in over a decade.

A Week 17 or Week 18 matchup would have upside, as both teams could realistically be battling for the NFC East title.

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