Cowboys fans know the drill. You've got the wings ordered, the jersey is on, and you’re staring at the TV guide wondering why the pre-game show is three hours long. It’s basically a ritual at this point. Finding out exactly what time do dallas cowboys play shouldn't feel like a chore, but with the NFL's obsession with "flexible scheduling" and cross-flexing games between networks, the clock is always moving.
Honestly, the Cowboys are the most "flexed" team in the league. If they’re winning, the NFL moves them to primetime. If they’re losing—well, they’re still "America’s Team," so they usually stay in primetime anyway. The 2025 season just wrapped up with a tough 17-34 loss against the Giants on January 4, 2026. Now, the focus shifts to the 2026 off-season and the release of the new schedule this coming May.
The Standard Windows: When to Expect Kickoff
Most fans assume a 12:00 PM kickoff because, historically, the Cowboys lived in the early afternoon slot. That's a myth. Because Dallas is such a massive TV draw, they are frequently pushed into the "Game of the Week" window.
Typically, you’re looking at three main kickoff times for Sunday games:
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- 12:00 PM CT (Early Window): Usually reserved for away games against East Coast or Midwest teams.
- 3:25 PM CT (The Late Afternoon Slot): This is the sweet spot. If the game is on FOX or CBS and it's a "big" matchup, this is the most likely time.
- 7:20 PM CT (Sunday Night Football): If Dak and the crew are playing a divisional rival or a powerhouse like the 49ers, clear your evening.
Wait, there’s a catch. The NFL can change these times with as little as 12 days' notice (and sometimes just 6 days during the final weeks of the season). It’s annoying. You've basically got to check the schedule every Tuesday to make sure your Sunday plans haven't been nuked by a flex move.
Why 2026 Scheduling Is Going to Be Different
As we move into the 2026 season, the NFL's broadcasting deals are getting even more fragmented. You aren't just looking at FOX and CBS anymore. We saw games on Netflix on Christmas Day in 2025—including the Cowboys' 30-23 win over Washington. That game kicked off at 1:00 PM ET (12:00 PM CT), which was a bit of a curveball for a holiday.
The 2026 schedule will be officially released by the NFL in mid-May. Until then, we only know who they play, not the exact minute the ball leaves the tee. We know they'll face the Giants, Eagles, and Commanders twice, and they’ve got a tough slate including the San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans. If I were a betting man, I’d put money on that Texans game being a late-afternoon or primetime slot. It’s the "Battle of Texas," after all.
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Primetime Trends and "America's Team" Tax
The Cowboys almost always max out their primetime appearances. The league limit is usually six, and Jerry Jones usually gets every single one of them. This means you need to be prepared for:
- Monday Night Football: Kickoff at 7:15 PM CT on ESPN/ABC.
- Thursday Night Football: Kickoff at 7:15 PM CT on Amazon Prime.
- The Thanksgiving Classic: This is the only one you can set your watch to. It’s always the late afternoon game, usually kicking off around 3:30 PM CT on the fourth Thursday of November.
Dealing with Time Zone Confusion
If you’re a Cowboys fan living in Los Angeles or New York, the "what time do dallas cowboys play" question gets even trickier. Dallas is in the Central Time Zone (CT). National broadcasts usually list times in Eastern (ET).
- 1:00 PM ET is 12:00 PM in Dallas.
- 4:25 PM ET is 3:25 PM in Dallas.
- 8:20 PM ET is 7:20 PM in Dallas.
I've seen so many people show up to a bar an hour late because they saw a "4:00 PM" post on social media and didn't realize it was Eastern Time. Don't be that person. Always confirm if the source you’re looking at is using local Dallas time or national network time.
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How to Stay Updated Without Losing Your Mind
Since the NFL won't drop the 2026 dates until May, your best bet is to follow the official Cowboys app or the NFL’s communications Twitter (X) account. They post "Schedule Change" alerts immediately. Also, keep an eye on local Dallas reporters like Todd Archer or Clarence Hill Jr.; they usually leak the big primetime matchups a few hours before the official release.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Season
- Bookmark the official DallasCowboys.com schedule page. It’s the only place that updates "flexed" times in real-time.
- Sync your digital calendar. Most team websites offer a "Sync to Calendar" button that automatically updates kickoff times if the NFL moves the game.
- Factor in the pre-game. If a game starts at 3:25 PM, the actual "kick" usually happens around 3:32 PM after the anthem and intros.
- Check the carrier. With games now split between FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, Amazon Prime, and Netflix, the "time" is only half the battle—you also need to know which app to open.
The 2025 season ended on a bit of a flat note with a 7-9-1 record, but the anticipation for 2026 is already building. Whether it's a noon kickoff or a late-night thriller under the lights of AT&T Stadium, knowing exactly when to tune in is the first step to surviving another season of Cowboys football.