If you were refreshing your phone looking for the cowboys final score last night, I’ve got some bad news for you. There wasn't one. While the NFL divisional round is currently heating up with the heavyweights, the Dallas Cowboys are nowhere to be found on the January 15, 2026, bracket.
They’re home. Gone. Season over.
The "last night" for this team happened nearly two weeks ago, and honestly, it’s a result most fans are trying to scrub from their memory banks. On January 4, 2026, the Cowboys walked into MetLife Stadium with a chance to finish the season with some dignity. Instead, they got dismantled by a three-win New York Giants team. The final score was 34-17. It wasn't just a loss; it was a thud that echoed across the entire NFC East.
The Reality of the Cowboys Final Score Last Night (Or Lack Thereof)
There is a specific kind of sting that comes with being a Dallas fan in mid-January. You see the Buffalo Bills and the Denver Broncos preparing for a Saturday showdown, and you realize your team didn't even make the cut for the Wild Card round.
The 2025-2026 season for Dallas officially died in the Meadowlands. Brian Schottenheimer’s first year as head coach ended with a mediocre 7-9-1 record. That tie against Green Bay back in September? Yeah, that looks a lot worse now than it did then. When you’re looking for the cowboys final score last night, you’re actually looking for the ghost of a season that fell apart during a cold December stretch.
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Why the Giants Game Was the Final Nail
Basically, the game on January 4th was a microcosm of everything that went sideways this year.
- Turnovers: Joe Milton III threw a backbreaking interception to Bobby Okereke with six minutes left.
- Defense: Despite Jadeveon Clowney putting up a monster stat line with three sacks, the unit couldn't stop Tyrone Tracy Jr., who racked up 159 total yards.
- Special Teams: New York’s Ben Sauls was perfect, hitting four field goals that slowly bled the Cowboys dry.
By the time Devin Singletary pushed the pile for a 6-yard touchdown late in the fourth, the stadium was half-empty and the Cowboys' playoff hopes had already been cremated.
The State of the Roster: Who Is Actually Staying?
The reason everyone is frantically searching for Cowboys news right now is that the "offseason of change" has officially begun. We aren't talking about minor tweaks. We are talking about a fundamental identity crisis in Frisco.
Jerry Jones is in a tough spot. He hired Schottenheimer to bring stability after the Mike McCarthy era, but 7-9-1 doesn't exactly scream "Super Bowl contender." The team showed flashes—that 21-point comeback against the Eagles in November was legendary—but consistency was non-existent.
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One of the biggest storylines heading into the 2026 spring is the quarterback room. Dakota Prescott’s future remains the subject of every sports talk radio show in North Texas. Meanwhile, Joe Milton III showed high upside but also high variance. You've got a guy with a rocket arm who sometimes forgets which team is wearing the star. It's frustrating. It's Dallas.
The Marshawn Kneeland Tragedy
It would be wrong to talk about this season without acknowledging the emotional weight the team carried. The tragic death of defensive end Marshawn Kneeland on November 5 hit this locker room hard. He had just scored a touchdown against the Cardinals two days prior. The team managed a three-game winning streak immediately after his passing, fueled by raw emotion and the mid-season acquisition of Quinnen Williams. But eventually, that emotional tank ran dry.
What the 2026 Schedule Looks Like
Even though there was no cowboys final score last night, the 2026 opponents list has already been released. Because Dallas finished second in the NFC East, their "strength of schedule" is going to be brutal next year.
The algorithm dictates they face the NFC West and the AFC South in 2026. That means dates with the 49ers and the Texans. Plus, they have to play the second-place finishers from the AFC North, NFC South, and NFC North. If you think 7-9-1 was a struggle, looking at the 2026 slate might give you hives.
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- The Good News: They get an extra home game at AT&T Stadium this coming season.
- The Bad News: Seven of their 2026 opponents are currently playing in the playoffs right now.
- The Uncertainty: We still don't know if one of those "home" games will be moved to London or Germany.
Actionable Steps for Cowboys Fans This Offseason
Since you won't be seeing a cowboys final score last night or any night until September, here is how you should actually be tracking the team over the next few months:
Watch the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl.
The East-West Shrine Bowl is happening right in the Cowboys' backyard at The Star in Frisco on January 27. This is where the front office will be looking for the next mid-round gem to fix the run defense.
Monitor the Fifth-Year Options.
By early May, the Cowboys have to decide on the fifth-year options for their 2023 first-round picks. This will give a huge hint as to who they view as part of the long-term core.
Focus on the Salary Cap.
The Cowboys are notorious for "waiting" in free agency. Keep an eye on the Quinnen Williams contract situation. They gave up assets to get him, so they almost certainly have to extend him to make the trade worth it.
The 2025 season is in the books. It ended with a 17-34 loss to the Giants and a lot of unanswered questions. While the rest of the NFL plays for a ring, Dallas is back at the drawing board.