If you’re checking your phone or refreshing your feed looking for the score of the cowboys right now, there is some news you probably won't like. The Dallas Cowboys are not playing today. Their season actually wrapped up on January 4, 2026, with a pretty frustrating 34-17 loss to the New York Giants.
Honestly, it’s been a weird year for Dallas. They finished the 2025-2026 regular season with a 7-9-1 record. That means they missed the playoffs entirely, while the rest of the NFL is currently battling it out in the Divisional Round. It’s the first time the franchise has had back-to-back losing seasons since the early 2000s, which is kinda wild when you think about the talent on this roster.
What Happened in the Last Cowboys Game?
The final game of the season was basically a microcosm of everything that went wrong this year. Heading into MetLife Stadium on January 4, there was a tiny bit of hope they could at least end on a high note. Instead, they got handled by a Giants team that only had three wins at the time.
Dak Prescott started the game, but he didn't stay in long. He was chasing the league lead in passing yards, but after a rough first half where he only threw for 70 yards, the coaches pulled him. Joe Milton III took over in the third quarter. Milton has a cannon for an arm, but he couldn't generate much, finishing with 73 yards and a late interception that basically iced the game for New York.
The final score of 34-17 felt even worse because the Cowboys' defense just couldn't stop rookie Jaxson Dart. They gave up 161 rushing yards to the Giants, a team that had struggled to run the ball all year. It was a messy, undisciplined performance—exactly the kind of game that leads to a long, quiet offseason.
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Breaking Down the 2025-2026 Cowboys Season
Looking back at the schedule, the "score of the cowboys" was a rollercoaster. They started the year with a loss to Philly and then had that wild 40-37 overtime win against the Giants in Week 2. It felt like they might be okay. Then came the tie.
Yes, a 40-40 tie against the Green Bay Packers in Week 4. You don't see that every day.
By the time the mid-season hit, the wheels started coming off. There were bright spots, like a 31-28 win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving, but they followed that up with a string of losses to the Lions, Vikings, and Chargers. That three-game slide in December is what really killed their playoff chances.
Key Stats and Standings
The Cowboys finished 2nd in the NFC East, but don't let that fool you. They were miles behind the Eagles and Commanders in terms of consistency.
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- Final Record: 7-9-1
- Division Record: 4-2 (Surprisingly good, all things considered)
- Passing Leader: Dak Prescott (who sat out the end of the final game)
- Receiving Leader: CeeDee Lamb (the one consistent bright spot)
Why Aren't the Cowboys in the Playoffs?
It's a question every fan in Dallas is asking. Basically, the defense was a sieve. They gave up huge plays at the worst possible times. While the offense had the yardage—Dak was near the top of the league—they couldn't convert in the red zone when it mattered most.
While teams like the Seattle Seahawks (the NFC's top seed) and the San Francisco 49ers are preparing for high-stakes playoff games this weekend, the Cowboys are already looking at draft boards. They currently hold the No. 12 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft. Thanks to a previous trade involving Micah Parsons, they actually have another first-round pick at No. 20, which gives them a massive opportunity to fix that defense.
Looking Ahead to the 2026 Season
The schedule for next year is already out, and it looks brutal. Since they finished second in the division, they have to play a "second-place schedule," which includes matchups against the Baltimore Ravens and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
They also have to face the entire NFC West. That means games against the 49ers and the Seahawks. If you think finding the score of the cowboys was stressful this year, next year might be even tougher if they don't fix the issues on the defensive side of the ball.
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There's also a lot of talk about the coaching staff. Following the end of the season, the team fired Matt Eberflus, so a new defensive scheme is definitely on the way. Whether that’s enough to turn a 7-win team into a Super Bowl contender remains to be seen.
What You Can Do Now
Since there is no live score to track today, the best thing to do is keep an eye on the coaching search and the pre-draft visits.
- Track the Defensive Coordinator search: The Cowboys have already started interviewing candidates, including some with ties to the Eagles.
- Watch the No. 12 and No. 20 picks: This is the sixth time in history the Cowboys have had two first-rounders. Most analysts expect them to go heavy on defense.
- Check the 2026 Opponents list: They will play nine home games at AT&T Stadium next year, so start planning those road trips or ticket purchases early.
The season is over, but the drama in Dallas never really stops. It just moves from the field to the front office.