The Dallas Cowboys are done. If you're looking for the Dallas Cowboys football score tonight, you're actually looking at an empty stadium and a lot of frustrated fans in Frisco. The Cowboys officially wrapped up their 2025-2026 campaign on January 4, 2026, with a thud that’s still ringing through North Texas.
They finished 7-9-1. Honestly, it was a mess.
The final score of their last game was a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants. That game basically summed up the whole year: a lot of hope, a few flashes from Dak Prescott, and then a total defensive collapse when it mattered most.
What Really Happened with the Dallas Cowboys Football Score Tonight?
Since there’s no game tonight, the real "score" is being settled in the front office. Jerry Jones is under immense pressure to fix a roster that looked lost for most of December. The Cowboys missed the playoffs for the second straight year. That hasn't happened since the early 2000s.
It's kinda wild when you look at the stats. Dak Prescott actually had a decent year, throwing for over 4,500 yards. George Pickens emerged as a true monster on the outside with 1,429 receiving yards. But none of that matters when your defense is giving up 30 points a game.
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The defensive coordinator, Matt Eberflus, already got the boot.
The "score" fans are tracking now isn't on a scoreboard—it's the salary cap. The team is reportedly $34 million over the cap heading into the 2026 offseason. That means big names are going to get cut.
Why the Giants Game Was the Final Straw
In that season finale on January 4, things started okay. Dallas actually led 10-6 early on. Jaydon Blue scored a touchdown, and Brandon Aubrey was doing his usual thing, knocking down field goals like they were extra points.
Then the wheels fell off.
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The Giants, who only had three wins going into that game, hung 34 points on Dallas. Jaxson Dart, the Giants' young QB, looked like a Hall of Famer against the Cowboys' secondary. Bobby Okereke picked off a pass from Joe Milton (who came in after Dak was pulled at halftime) to seal the deal.
It was a demoralizing way to end the Brian Schottenheimer era's first year.
Breaking Down the 2025-2026 Season Results
If you missed the stretch run, here is how the final scores looked for the Cowboys over the last month of the season:
- January 4: Loss vs. NY Giants (17-34)
- December 25: Win vs. Washington Commanders (30-23)
- December 21: Loss vs. LA Chargers (17-34)
- December 14: Loss vs. Minnesota Vikings (26-34)
- December 4: Loss vs. Detroit Lions (30-44)
Basically, they went 1-4 in their last five games. You can't make the playoffs doing that.
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The Dallas Cowboys Score Tonight is All About 2026
So, where do they go from here? Jerry Jones has been uncharacteristically blunt. He told reporters after the Giants loss that the team needs to make "dramatic" changes.
Most experts, including those over at DLLS Sports, think the roster is about to be gutted. There are 22 pending free agents. Players like Javonte Williams, who had a 1,200-yard season, are top priorities, but keeping everyone is impossible.
The 2026 schedule is already looking brutal. Because they finished second in the NFC East (the Eagles won the division at 11-6), they have to play a "second-place" schedule. That means games against the Baltimore Ravens and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on top of having to face the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks.
Actionable Steps for Cowboys Fans
While there isn't a Dallas Cowboys football score tonight, there is plenty of news to track if you want to know if this team will actually be better next September.
- Watch the Salary Cap: Keep an eye on the "Top 51" rule once the new league year starts in March. Dallas has to clear significant space just to sign their draft picks.
- Follow the Defensive Coordinator Search: Whoever takes over for Eberflus has a massive job. They need to find a way to get more than 35 sacks in a season, which was their 2025 total.
- Monitor the George Pickens Extension: He’s the cornerstone of the offense now. If they can’t lock him down long-term, the offense takes a massive step back.
- Draft Position: Dallas will likely be picking in the top 15. They desperately need help at linebacker and in the secondary.
The season is over, but for the Cowboys, the "score" that matters is how they rebuild this defense before the 2026 kickoff.