If you were looking for the Dallas Cowboys to be playing meaningful football on this Thursday, January 15, 2026, I’ve got some bad news. The stadium lights at AT&T are dark.
The season ended nearly two weeks ago in East Rutherford. It wasn't pretty. A 34-17 loss to the New York Giants—a team that only had three wins going into that finale—effectively slammed the door on a year most fans want to delete from their memory. Honestly, looking at the cowboys stats today's game fans might have hoped for, you're actually looking at the autopsy of a 7-9-1 season.
There's no game today because the Cowboys didn't make the playoffs. While the Philadelphia Eagles are preping for a divisional round push, Dallas is already deep into exit interviews and draft boards. It's a weird vibe. Usually, January in Dallas means stress and high expectations. Now? It’s just quiet.
The Brutal Reality of the Season Finale Stats
When we look back at that final Jan. 4 matchup against the Giants, the box score is a mess. Dak Prescott started the game because he was chasing a milestone. He wanted to be the first Cowboy to lead the league in passing yards. He finished the half with 70 yards on 7-of-11 passing.
Then he sat.
Brian Schottenheimer, now the man at the helm, pulled the starters to give Joe Milton III some run. Milton's stats were... well, they were "rookie stats." He went 7-for-13 for 73 yards and a pick.
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The ground game was the only thing that didn't feel like a total disaster. Jalon Blue, the rookie out of Liberty, managed 64 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries. It’s a small silver lining, but when your defense gives up 103 rushing yards to Tyrone Tracy, small silver linings don't keep you warm at night.
Defensive Highlights (Or Lack Thereof)
Jadeveon Clowney actually had a day for the ages, which is wild considering the final score. He notched a career-high three sacks and four tackles for loss. If you just looked at his stat line, you’d think Dallas dominated the trenches.
They didn't.
Jaxson Dart, the Giants' rookie signal-caller, still posted a 110.2 passer rating. The Cowboys' secondary just couldn't stay disciplined. Nine penalties for 85 yards. That's been the story all year. You can’t win games when you’re constantly handing the opponent 15 yards because someone couldn't keep their hands off a jersey.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 7-9-1 Record
It’s easy to say this team just "sucked." But if you dig into the cowboys stats today's game threads on social media, you see a more complex picture. This wasn't a team that lacked talent; it was a team that lacked an identity.
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Dak Prescott actually finished with 4,525 passing yards on the season. That’s the third-highest in franchise history. He surpassed his own 2019 mark. But yards don't equal wins.
- Red Zone Efficiency: Dallas dropped to 24th in the league.
- Third Down Conversions: They were barely hovering at 38%.
- Turnover Margin: A dismal -4 over the final month of play.
Hunter Luepke was steady—he caught 13 of 15 targets this year—but he's a fullback. When your fullback is one of your most reliable receiving options, your explosive playmakers aren't doing their jobs.
Honestly, the "today's game" for the Cowboys is happening in the front office. Jerry Jones is looking at a roster where Javonte Williams is hitting free agency and the backfield is a giant question mark. Phil Mafah scored in his pro debut during that Giants game, but is he a "bell cow"? Probably not.
The Wyoming Connection
Wait, if you’re seeing "Cowboys" in the headlines today and the NFL team is home, you might be looking at the Wyoming Cowboys. They actually played last night. It was a rough one in Laramie.
They lost to San Diego State 74-57. Shooting was the killer there. Wyoming only hit 31% from the field. Leland Walker is still their leading man at 14.2 points per game, but even his 3.8 assists couldn't save them against a San Diego State team that just doesn't miss.
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So, whether it's Dallas or Wyoming, "Cowboys stats" haven't been too kind to the fans lately.
Where Does Dallas Go From Here?
The 2026 NFL Draft order is locked for the non-playoff teams. Dallas is sitting in a spot where they have to decide: do they reload or rebuild?
Dak is healthy. He played every single game this year. That’s a win in itself. But the supporting cast is aging or heading for the exit. Brandin Cooks and CeeDee Lamb need more help than just a rookie running back who flashes every third game.
The defense is the bigger headache. Mike Zimmer's replacement (Schottenheimer's defensive staff) has struggled with the "bend but don't break" philosophy. They bent. Then they broke. Then they got stepped on. Giving up 34 points to a 3-win Giants team is the kind of stat that gets people fired.
If you're tracking cowboys stats today's game expectations for next season, keep an eye on the linebacker corps. Marist Liufau and DeMarvion Overshown have the speed, but they got washed out in the run game far too often this winter.
Moving Forward
Since there is no game on the schedule for the Dallas Cowboys today, your best bet is to start looking at the Mock Drafts. The team needs a dominant interior defensive lineman and probably another high-end vertical threat.
- Watch the Senior Bowl: Keep an eye on the offensive line prospects. Dallas needs to get younger and meaner up front.
- Monitor Free Agency: See if they make a play for a veteran safety to help stabilize that young secondary.
- Check the Coaching Carousel: Rumors are already swirling about staff changes before the February combine.
The season is over, but the work for 2026 is basically just starting. Keep the stat sheets handy, because the numbers from this year are going to dictate every dollar spent this spring.