You're sitting on the couch, jersey on, maybe a bowl of wings ready to go, and you're frantically scrolling through the guide asking: what time is the cowboy game today on tv? It’s a habit. For decades, the Dallas Cowboys have owned our TV sets, especially when the calendar hits mid-January.
But here is the cold, hard truth for Friday, January 16, 2026.
There is no game.
The Dallas Cowboys are not playing today. In fact, their 2025-2026 season officially ended back on January 4th. If you missed the memo, you aren't alone. Cowboys fans are notoriously optimistic, and the habit of checking for a playoff kickoff time is practically hardwired into our DNA. But today, the star is dark.
The Reality of the Cowboys 2026 Offseason
The 2025 season didn't exactly go to plan for America's Team. After a grueling 18-week schedule that saw highs, lows, and way too many "wait, did that really just happen?" moments, Dallas finished with a 7-9-1 record.
Basically, they hit a wall.
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They closed out their year with a 1 p.m. ET game against the New York Giants on January 4, 2026. That was the finale. Since then, the roster has been heading home, and the front office at The Star in Frisco has shifted into "fix it" mode. While other teams like the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks prepare for the Divisional Round this weekend, the Cowboys are already looking at draft boards and scouting reports for the 2026 season.
Honestly, it’s a bit of a shock to the system. We’re used to at least a Wild Card appearance, right? But the NFC East was a different beast this year, and Dallas just couldn't find the consistency needed to punch their ticket to the postseason.
Why You Might Be Seeing "Game Today" Headlines
Search engines are funny things. If you’ve been Googling what time is the cowboy game today on tv, you might have seen some misleading results.
Most of these are one of three things:
- Madden Simulations: There are YouTube channels that run AI-vs-AI simulations of games that should be happening. They use titles that look like real broadcasts to get clicks.
- Old Schedules: Sometimes old 2024 or 2025 data lingers in the "snippets" at the top of Google.
- Replays: Channels like NFL Network often air "Classic Games" or "Season in Review" segments during the playoffs for teams that have been eliminated.
But as far as a live, pads-popping, Dak Prescott-led game at AT&T Stadium? It’s not on the menu today.
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What's Actually on TV Today (January 16, 2026)
If you're still looking for a football fix, today is actually a bit of a "calm before the storm" day. The NFL is currently in the gap between the Wild Card round and the Divisional round.
The Divisional Playoffs officially kick off tomorrow, Saturday, January 17th.
Here is what the real schedule looks like for the next 48 hours:
- Saturday, Jan 17: Denver Broncos vs. Buffalo Bills (AFC) – 3:30 PM CST on CBS.
- Saturday, Jan 17: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers (NFC) – 7:00 PM CST on FOX.
- Sunday, Jan 18: New England Patriots vs. Houston Texans (AFC) – 2:00 PM CST on CBS.
- Sunday, Jan 18: Chicago Bears vs. Los Angeles Rams (NFC) – 5:30 PM CST on NBC.
So, while you can't watch the Cowboys, you can watch the teams that knocked them out of contention. Or, you know, you could just go for a walk and pretend the season never happened. Sometimes that's easier.
Looking Ahead: When Do the Cowboys Play Again?
Now that we've cleared up the "is there a game today?" mystery, you’re probably wondering when you can actually see them back on TV.
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The 2026 NFL schedule won't be officially released with dates and times until May. That's the annual "Schedule Release" event that the NFL turns into a three-hour TV special. However, because of the way the NFL rotation works, we already know exactly who the Cowboys are playing in 2026.
They have a tough road ahead. They’ll be facing the AFC South and the NFC West. That means games against the Houston Texans (the battle for Texas!), the San Francisco 49ers, and the Los Angeles Rams. They also get an extra home game this year because the NFC is on the "9-home-game" side of the 17-game schedule rotation.
Actionable Steps for Disappointed Fans
Since you've got some free time today that you thought was going to be spent watching a kickoff, here is how you can actually stay productive in your fandom:
- Check the "Talkin' Cowboys" Podcast: The official Dallas Cowboys media team is still putting out content. Since it's a Friday, they usually have a "Season Wrap-up" or "Draft Preview" episode dropping around 10:00 AM CST.
- Scout the Draft: The Cowboys will likely have a mid-first-round pick. Start looking at Mock Drafts on sites like The Draft Network or PFF. Offensive line and defensive secondary are already the big "needs" being discussed in Frisco.
- Audit Your Streaming Services: Since the Cowboys won't be on TV until the preseason in August, you might be able to pause that expensive YouTube TV or Fubo subscription for a few months and save some cash.
The hunt for what time is the cowboy game today on tv ends here for this season. It’s a bummer, but the cycle of a Cowboys fan is always the same: disappointment in January, hope in April, and "this is our year" by August.
Get some rest. The 2026 season will be here before you know it.
Actionable Insight: Stop checking the TV guide for live Dallas games until the Hall of Fame game in August 2026. Instead, mark your calendar for the NFL Draft on April 23, 2026, which will be the next time the Cowboys make a "play" that actually matters for the future of the franchise.