If you’re scrambling to figure out what channel is the cowboys football game on, you’ve probably noticed that the days of just turning on Channel 4 and seeing the silver star are basically over. It’s annoying. Honestly, even for a die-hard fan, the NFL’s current broadcast "landscape" (yeah, that corporate word) is a total mess of apps, cable networks, and random Thursday night exclusives.
Right now, as we sit in the middle of January 2026, the Dallas Cowboys are actually done. They finished a pretty rough season with a 7-9-1 record. Their final game was a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants on January 4, 2026. If you were looking for them in the playoffs this week, they aren't there. But knowing where to find them is still a headache you'll face every single season.
The Regular Rotation: FOX, CBS, and the Rest
Most of the time, the Cowboys are on FOX. Since they play in the NFC, FOX owns the rights to the majority of their Sunday afternoon games. But that "rule" has so many holes in it now.
NFL "cross-flexing" means the league can move a Cowboys game to CBS just to balance out the viewership numbers. If Dallas is playing an AFC team like the Houston Texans or the Kansas City Chiefs, there’s a massive chance you’ll need to flip over to CBS.
Primetime is a Different Beast
When the Cowboys play at night—which they do often because Jerry Jones loves the spotlight—the channel changes completely.
- Sunday Night Football: This is always on NBC. You can also stream it on Peacock.
- Monday Night Football: This usually lives on ESPN or ABC. Occasionally, they do those "Manningcasts" on ESPN2, which are fun if you like hearing Eli poke fun at Peyton.
- Thursday Night Football: This is the one that trips everyone up. It’s almost exclusively on Amazon Prime Video. If you don’t have a subscription, you’re basically out of luck unless you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth local market.
Where to Watch the Cowboys Without Cable
If you’ve cut the cord, finding what channel is the cowboys football game on becomes a digital scavenger hunt. You’ve got options, but they aren’t cheap. YouTube TV and Fubo are the big hitters because they carry local channels like FOX, CBS, and NBC.
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If you're out-of-market—meaning you live in, say, Maine but bleed blue and silver—NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube is basically the only legal way to see every single game. It’s a huge investment, but for some, it beats going to a loud sports bar every Sunday.
The Netflix Factor
Interestingly, the 2025-2026 season saw a big shift with Christmas Day games. The Cowboys played the Washington Commanders on December 25, 2025, and that game was actually on Netflix. That’s a new one. It shows that the "channel" isn't even always a TV station anymore; sometimes it's an app you usually use to watch Stranger Things.
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Local Blackouts and Exceptions
If you live in Dallas, the "rules" are slightly better for you. Even if a game is on a streaming-only platform like Amazon or Netflix, the NFL usually strikes a deal with a local over-the-air station (like KDFW Fox 4) to broadcast the game for free. This is a lifesaver for people who don't want to manage ten different monthly subscriptions.
Getting Ready for the 2026 Season
Since the Cowboys missed the 2026 playoffs, the next time you'll need to know the channel will be for the preseason in August. The official 2026-2027 schedule usually drops in mid-May. We already know they'll be facing teams like the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders (obviously), but they also have matchups set against the AFC South and NFC West.
To stay ahead of the game for next season, keep these steps in mind:
- Download the Dallas Cowboys Official App: It usually pings you an hour before kickoff with the exact broadcast info.
- Check the "506 Sports" Maps: Every Wednesday during the season, this site posts color-coded maps showing which parts of the country get which games. It's the most reliable way to see if the Cowboys are the "national" game or if you're stuck watching a regional blowout.
- Audit Your Subs: Before September hits, see if your Hulu + Live TV or Sling subscription actually carries your local FOX affiliate. Some cheaper packages leave those out.
Missing a kickoff because you're scrolling through a guide is the worst feeling. Map out your viewing plan during the preseason so you aren't stuck hunting for the remote when the ball is already in the air.