So, you're looking for the score for cowboys game tonight, right? Honestly, I have to break some tough news to you if you were hoping to see Dak Prescott and the silver star under the primetime lights this evening.
The Dallas Cowboys aren't playing tonight.
It's January 17, 2026, and while the NFL Divisional Round is currently in full swing with some massive matchups, the Cowboys are officially in "wait until next year" mode. After a rollercoaster 2025 season that saw the team finish with a 7-9-1 record, their year ended unceremoniously back on January 4th with a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants.
The score for cowboys game tonight you might actually be looking for
While the NFL team is home on their couches, there is a team called the Cowboys playing a high-stakes game tonight. If you're a college basketball fan, the McNeese Cowboys are taking on the UTRGV Vaqueros at 4:30 p.m. at the UTRGV Fieldhouse in Edinburg, Texas.
McNeese has been on an absolute tear lately. They're coming into this one with a 14-3 record and a serious seven-game winning streak in the Southland Conference. If you’re tracking that score, they recently dismantled Nicholls State 94-68. It’s a different kind of "Cowboys" football (the kind played on a hardwood floor), but for fans in Louisiana and South Texas, it’s the only game that matters today.
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Why isn't Dallas in the NFL Divisional Round?
It’s the question every fan in North Texas is asking while they watch the Buffalo Bills take on the Denver Broncos or the 49ers face the Seahawks tonight.
The reality of the 2025-2026 season was just... messy.
The Cowboys' defense, which was supposed to be a cornerstone under the Brian Schottenheimer era, ended up being one of the statistically worst units in franchise history. They allowed an average of 30 points per game. You just can't win in this league when you're giving up 30 points nine times in a single season.
That season finale against the Giants was a perfect microcosm of everything that went wrong.
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- Penalties: They racked up 133 accepted penalties over the season.
- Turnovers: Dak Prescott fumbled on the very first possession.
- Lack of Big Plays: The defense tied a franchise low with only six interceptions all year.
Even with some bright spots—like Jadeveon Clowney leading the team with 8.5 sacks and rookie Jaydon Blue showing flashes of brilliance—the consistency just wasn't there. When Joe Milton III took over for Dak in the second half of that final game, it felt like a white flag on a season that started with much higher expectations.
What is the NFL schedule for tonight, January 17?
Since there is no score for cowboys game tonight in the NFL, here is what you should actually be watching if you need your football fix. The Divisional Round is where the real heavy hitters are playing:
- Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: Kickoff was set for 4:30 p.m. ET on CBS. This is a battle for AFC supremacy, with Denver holding that coveted #1 seed.
- San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks: This kicks off at 8 p.m. ET on FOX. It's a brutal NFC West rivalry game with a trip to the NFC Championship on the line.
It’s a bit surreal to see the Seahawks as the #1 seed while the Cowboys are already looking toward the 2026 NFL Draft. The playoff bracket is currently dominated by teams like the Chicago Bears and the New England Patriots—teams that found the defensive identity Dallas lacked all year.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Dallas Cowboys Offseason
Since the "tonight" score is a big zero for the NFL squad, the focus has shifted entirely to the front office at The Star in Frisco. January is usually about playoff prep; now it's about survival and scouting.
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Teams were allowed to start signing free agents and futures deals back on January 5th. We're also coming up on the East-West Shrine Bowl on January 27th, which will be held right in Frisco. This is where the Cowboys' scouts are going to be living for the next few weeks. They have massive holes to plug, especially in the secondary and on the interior defensive line.
One thing to keep an eye on: the 2026 NFL Schedule release won't happen until mid-May, but we already know the opponents. Dallas will have to face the Houston Texans, the Rams, and the usual gauntlet of the NFC East. They’ve got to figure out the "undisciplined" tag that followed them all through 2025 if they want to be playing on January 17th next year.
Actionable steps for fans today
If you're bummed about the lack of a Cowboys game, here's how to handle your sports Saturday:
- Tune into ESPN+ at 4:30 p.m. if you want to see the McNeese Cowboys try to extend their winning streak.
- Watch the Seahawks vs. 49ers tonight on FOX to see the level of defensive play the Dallas front office will be trying to replicate this offseason.
- Check the 2026 Mock Drafts. With the season over, the Cowboys' first-round pick is the new "big game" to track.
The score for the Cowboys might be non-existent tonight, but the road back to the playoffs started the moment they walked off the field at MetLife Stadium two weeks ago.