It is a strange feeling for the "Americas Team" faithful. You wake up on a Friday in mid-January, the air is crisp, the playoff energy is buzzing across the country, and you find yourself wondering do the cowboys play today and what channel will carry the game.
The short answer? They don’t. Not today, and not this weekend.
Honestly, it’s a tough pill to swallow for a fan base that expects a deep run every single year. After a regular season that felt like a rollercoaster—finishing with a 7-9-1 record—the Dallas Cowboys are officially on the outside looking in. While the NFL Divisional Round kicks off this Saturday, January 17, 2026, the silver and blue are already pivoting toward the NFL Draft and a massive offseason of rebuilding.
Why the Cowboys Aren't on Your TV This Weekend
If you were looking for the star on your screen today, Friday, January 16, 2026, you won't find it. The NFL doesn't actually have any games scheduled for today. The postseason action begins tomorrow.
The Cowboys' season ended on January 4 with a disappointing 34-17 loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. That game was the final nail in the coffin. It’s kinda wild when you think about it; they had a potent offense led by Dak Prescott, who put up over 4,400 yards, but the consistency just wasn't there.
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Since they didn't make the cut, the TV slots usually reserved for Dallas on FOX or NBC are now occupied by the teams that survived the Wild Card round.
The Playoff Schedule (Without Dallas)
Since you're likely a football fan anyway, you probably still want to know who is playing and where to watch, even if it's not the Cowboys. Here is how the Divisional Round looks:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos at 4:30 PM ET on CBS.
- Saturday, Jan 17: San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks at 8:00 PM ET on FOX.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Houston Texans vs. New England Patriots at 3:00 PM ET on ABC/ESPN.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Los Angeles Rams vs. Chicago Bears at 6:30 PM ET on NBC.
It’s definitely weird seeing the Bears and Broncos hosting big playoff games while Jerry Jones is back at the drawing board in Frisco.
The "Silver Lining" for Cowboys Fans
Believe it or not, the start of the playoffs has actually been great for Dallas, despite them not playing. Because of the Micah Parsons trade and the way the Wild Card round shook out, the Cowboys are sitting in a much better position for the 2026 NFL Draft.
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Basically, every time a rival like the Packers or Eagles loses, it feels like a small victory. The Packers' "choke job" against the Bears recently was particularly sweet for Dallas fans. It solidified that the Cowboys will have two picks in the top 20 this April—specifically the 12th and 20th overall picks.
You’ve gotta find the wins where you can, right?
Do the Cowboys Play Today and What Channel: Looking Toward 2026
Since the "today" answer is a "no," the real question is: when do they play next?
The 2026 schedule is already beginning to take shape. While we don't have the exact dates and times yet—those usually drop in May—we do know who the opponents will be. Because of the NFL’s rotational scheduling, the NFC East is slated to face the AFC South and the NFC West next season.
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Home Games at AT&T Stadium:
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
- New York Giants
- Green Bay Packers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Minnesota Vikings
- Los Angeles Chargers
Away Games:
- Houston Texans (The Battle of Texas!)
- Los Angeles Rams
- Seattle Seahawks
- Indianapolis Colts
- The usual divisional suspects in Philly, D.C., and New York.
When those games finally kick off, you can bet they’ll be back in their usual spots on FOX (for Sunday afternoons), NBC (for Sunday Night Football), and potentially Netflix or Prime Video for those holiday and Thursday specials.
How to Stay Informed This Offseason
Since there’s no game to watch today, the best move for a Cowboys fan is to track the coaching search and draft boards. With Matt Eberflus out and the search for a new identity underway, the news coming out of The Star in Frisco is going to be more important than the scoreboard for a while.
To keep tabs on the team during the playoffs and beyond:
- Check the Mock Drafts: With picks 12 and 20, names like Caleb Downs or Sonny Styles are already being linked to Dallas.
- Monitor Coaching Updates: The "Schottenheimer era" had a rocky start; seeing how the staff evolves will be the biggest story of February.
- Watch the Divisional Round: Keep an eye on the Seahawks and Rams. Since the Cowboys play them in 2026, seeing how they perform now gives a glimpse into the challenges of next season.
The Cowboys might not be playing today, but in Dallas, the season never truly ends—it just changes focus.