‘Nothing new’ – Dak Prescott takes a firm stance on brutal decision the NFL made for the Dallas Cowboys 2026 schedule
The Dallas Cowboys were dealt a tough hand by the NFL when it comes to their start to the season, but quarterback Dak Prescott is betting on the team’s experience and not worrying about it.
The NFL is throwing the 2026 Dallas Cowboys into the fire with a brutal start to the year. Though there’s nothing the league can do about the Cowboys having the fourth-toughest schedule of the year (which is defined by an automatic formula), they do control the timing of the games.
And early on, the league stacked a pretty tough run for Dallas. But quarterback Dak Prescott isn’t too worried. Let’s dive in.
The NFL sets up Cowboys for a brutal start to the year
Between Weeks 3 and 5, the Cowboys’ 2026 schedule features a three-game run in a 12-day stretch. That’s never much fun and this time, it includes a trip to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil that should take about 24 hours there and back.
Following that trip, the Cowboys will hit the road to Houston for a noon game against the stingy and physical Texans defense. Usually, the league tries to get teams a bye or a long week after a trip abroad. Dallas doesn’t even get an afternoon game here.
And to pile things on, the Cowboys get a short week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following week. How is the team going to handle it? Dak Prescott is betting on experience.
Dak Prescott says this is nothing new for the Cowboys
Speaking at the annual Reliant Home Run Derby, Prescott confidently claimed the Cowboys can handle the travel burden for a simple reason. They do it every year.
“The travel will be tough but it’s part of growing this game,” Prescott admitted via Jon Machota (The Athletic). “We’ll manage, we’ll figure out the best way to take care of our bodies. We’ve been a part of three games in 11 days every year pretty much with our Thanksgiving Day games. Nothing new, just having to do it earlier [in the season].”
The Cowboys’ trip to Brazil will be Prescott’s first international game, as the last time the team played abroad was in 2014.
Prescott doesn’t concern himself with the schedule too much
Prescott often focuses on what he can control and not much else, so it’s no surprise he views the schedule the way that he does. Which is, not so much at all.
Asked about the first thing that he looks at when the schedule is released, Prescott offered a candid answer.
“First three games, honestly, I couldn’t tell you much more,” Prescott said. “I know who we’re playing Thanksgiving, some here or there, but to me it’s the first three games. Want to know the opener, first home game, and obviously we’re going to Rio in the third game. [. . .] Every year I probably couldn’t tell you who our fourth opponent is until Week 2.”
Despite Prescott’s comments, there’s no question the early-season stretch is going to be a huge talking point from here until October. Following the three game stretch discussed above, the Cowboys get back-to-back road trips against the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.
In other words, after Week 7, it’s likely we’ll know what the 2026 Cowboys are all about. For better or worse.