The short answer is no. If you’re checking the scores for today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the Dallas Cowboys didn't win because they didn't even play. Honestly, for a lot of fans in North Texas, that's probably a relief given how the season wrapped up. The Cowboys' 2025-2026 campaign officially ended about two weeks ago on January 4th. They finished with a frustrating 7-9-1 record, missing out on the postseason entirely. While the NFL playoffs are currently heating up with the Divisional Round taking place today, Jerry Jones and his squad are watching from the couch.
It's a weird spot to be in. Usually, this time of year, we’re arguing about whether Dak Prescott can finally get over the hump or if the defense can hold up in the cold. Instead, the building is quiet.
The Finale That Ended It All
To understand why you aren't seeing a Cowboys score today, you have to look back at that ugly Week 18 finale against the New York Giants.
Dallas went into MetLife Stadium needing a win to at least finish at .500 and save some face. Instead, they got bullied. The Giants, who only had three wins going into that game, absolutely took it to them, winning 34-17.
It was a disaster from the jump. Dak Prescott fumbled on the very first possession—just a botched snap that Bobby Okereke pounced on. That pretty much set the tone. By the time the second half rolled around, Brian Schottenheimer pulled Dak and put in Joe Milton III. It felt like a surrender flag. Seeing Milton out there in the fourth quarter while the Giants padded their lead was a tough pill for the fans who made the trip to Jersey.
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The most jarring part? The Cowboys had won nine straight against the Giants before that afternoon. Seeing that streak snapped in a season where nothing seemed to go right was basically the perfect, miserable cherry on top of a 7-9-1 sundae.
Why 2026 Is Already Looking Stressful
Since the Cowboys didn't win their game today—mostly because they are officially in "offseason mode"—the focus has shifted entirely to the 2026 schedule and the looming coaching questions.
We already know who they are playing next year, and it looks brutal. Because of the NFL’s rotating schedule, the NFC East is matched up against the NFC West and the AFC South in 2026.
That means Dallas has to deal with:
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- The San Francisco 49ers (their perennial nightmare)
- The Houston Texans (the battle for Texas is always a headache)
- The Indianapolis Colts
- The Los Angeles Rams
They’ll also have their usual home-and-away series with the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders. Looking at the list, they are slated to play eight games against teams that made the current 2026 playoff bracket. If they couldn't find a way to beat a three-win Giants team to end this season, people are rightfully worried about how they’ll handle a schedule that features Deebo Samuel and C.J. Stroud.
The Stats That Defined the Failure
A lot of people are asking "did the Cowboys win their game today" because they expected this team to be a playoff lock. On paper, they should have been.
But the numbers tell a different story. The defense, led by Matt Eberflus, was a sieve in big moments. They finished the season giving up over 30 points in multiple games down the stretch. In that final loss to New York, the Giants’ rookie QB Jaxson Dart had a career-high 110.2 passer rating.
When you let a rookie carve you up like that in a must-win (or at least a must-pride) game, something is fundamentally broken. The team also led the league in "unnecessary" penalties for a good chunk of the year. Rookie Donovan Ezeiruaku even got himself disqualified in the third quarter of the finale for ripping off an opponent's helmet. That kind of lack of discipline is exactly why there's no game to watch today.
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What's Next for the Star?
So, where do we go from here? The "action items" for the front office are pretty clear, even if they're hard to execute.
First, there’s the coaching staff. Brian Schottenheimer’s first year didn't exactly set the world on fire. There’s already massive speculation about whether Jerry Jones will look for a "big fish" coach or stay the course.
Second, the roster needs a serious injection of discipline. You can't have veterans like Kenneth Murray Jr. picking up 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the second quarter of a close game. That's just losing football.
If you're a fan looking for a silver lining, there's always the draft. Because of that 7-9-1 finish, Dallas will have a decent middle-of-the-pack pick to try and bolster a defensive line that got pushed around far too often this year.
Next Steps for Cowboys Fans:
- Track the Coaching Carousel: Keep an eye on the official Dallas Cowboys news wire over the next 48 hours; that's when "Black Monday" fallout usually settles.
- Scout the 2026 Opponents: Start looking at the free agency moves for the AFC South and NFC West teams, as those will be the primary hurdles next September.
- Ignore the Playoff Noise: Today is for the teams that took care of business in December. Dallas didn't.
Basically, the Cowboys didn't win today because they didn't earn the right to be on the field. It’s going to be a long, loud offseason in Arlington.