If you're checking your phone or refreshing your feed looking for the score of tonight's Cowboys game, I’ve got some tough news for you. There isn't one. The Dallas Cowboys didn't play tonight, January 14, 2026, because their season is already over.
While the NFL playoffs are currently in full swing and rival teams are battling it out for a spot in the Super Bowl, the lights at AT&T Stadium are dark. Dallas finished their 2025-2026 campaign on January 4 with a thud, losing to the New York Giants 34-17. That loss didn't just end the week; it ended a year that most fans are already trying to scrub from their memory.
The final score that sealed the season
Honestly, the way it ended was kinda poetic for how the whole season went. Facing a Giants team that had only won three games all year, Dallas basically handed over the keys. The final score of tonight's Cowboys game—if we're looking at their most recent outing—was that 34-17 disaster at MetLife Stadium.
It wasn't just a loss; it was a total breakdown in all three phases.
Jaxson Dart, the Giants' young signal-caller, looked like an All-Pro against a Dallas defense that seemed to have forgotten how to tackle. By the time Joe Milton III took the final snap for Dallas—a meaningless 5-yard scramble as the clock hit zero—the fate of the franchise was already sealed. They finished with a bizarre 7-9-1 record. That tie against the Packers back in September feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?
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Why aren't they playing tonight?
You’ve probably seen the headlines about the Wild Card round. The Cowboys missed the cut for the second straight season. That hasn't happened since the dark days of 2000-2002.
Because of that 7-9-1 finish, they ended up second in the NFC East, but that wasn't nearly enough to snag a Wild Card spot in a top-heavy NFC. So, while you might be looking for a live score, the only numbers coming out of Frisco right now are salary cap figures and draft projections. Jerry Jones has already been vocal about the "dramatic differences" coming this offseason. Basically, the team is in a holding pattern while the rest of the league plays meaningful football.
What went wrong with the 2025-2026 Cowboys?
It's easy to point fingers, but the defense was the primary culprit. They allowed nearly 30 points per game throughout the season. Matt Eberflus, the defensive coordinator, has already been fired. You can't give up 450 passing yards to a veteran like Russell Wilson (which happened in Week 2) or let a 3-win Giants team put up 34 points and expect to be playing in mid-January.
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Dak Prescott actually had a statistically solid year. He threw for over 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns. George Pickens proved to be a massive win in the trade market, hauling in over 1,400 yards. But football is a team game, and when your defense is a sieve, those offensive numbers are just window dressing on a losing house.
- Final Record: 7-9-1
- Last Game Score: 17-34 vs. NYG
- Playoff Status: Eliminated
- Draft Position: Currently holding picks 12 and 20
The Micah Parsons void
We have to talk about the trade. Sending Micah Parsons to the Packers earlier in the season was a move that divided the fanbase. While it gave Dallas extra draft capital—which they desperately need since they're roughly $34 million over the cap—it left a crater in the pass rush. Jadeveon Clowney did his best with 8.5 sacks, but he's not the "Lion." Without that generational pressure, the secondary was exposed week after week.
Looking ahead: The 2026 schedule and beyond
Even though there’s no score of tonight's Cowboys game to report, we do know who they’ll be facing when they return in September. Because they finished second in the division, the 2026 schedule is actually quite brutal.
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They’re slated to play the NFC West and the AFC South. That means road trips to face the Seattle Seahawks (the NFC's top seed this year) and the Los Angeles Rams. They also have a date with the San Francisco 49ers at home. If you think this year was tough, next year’s slate features seven teams that are currently in the playoffs.
Jerry Jones mentioned that standing still is not an option. Expect a lot of movement in the coming weeks. Reports suggest up to 17 players could be released or let go in free agency to reset the books. It’s a full-scale "all-in" reset, but we’ve heard that song before, haven’t we?
What you should do next
Since there’s no game to watch tonight, the best thing a Cowboys fan can do is keep an eye on the draft board. Dallas is currently sitting on two first-round picks (No. 12 and No. 20).
- Monitor the Coaching Search: With Eberflus out, the defensive coordinator spot is wide open. The name at the top of the list could tell us if they’re sticking to a 4-3 or shifting schemes.
- Track the Salary Cap: Watch for restructures. Players like Dak and George Pickens are going to need their deals tweaked if the team wants to sign any defensive help.
- Scout the Linebackers: Most experts have Dallas taking a linebacker or a premier cornerback with that 12th pick.
The season might be over, but the "Texas Coast" drama is just getting started. It sucks not having a game to watch tonight, but at least you don't have to worry about another fourth-quarter collapse for a few months.