So, you’re scrolling through your phone, jersey on, maybe a tray of nachos already in the oven, and you’re wondering what time is the dallas cowboy game today. Honestly, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but if you're looking for kickoff on this Tuesday, January 13, 2026, you're going to be waiting a while.
The Cowboys are not playing today.
In fact, the Dallas Cowboys’ 2025-2026 season has officially hit the brick wall of reality. After a rollercoaster of a year that saw the team finish with a 7-10-1 record, the "Boys" were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention before the Wild Card round even kicked off last weekend. While the rest of the league is battling it out in the postseason, the lights at AT&T Stadium are dim, and the front office is already deep into "next year" mode.
The Reality of the January 13 Schedule
If you see football on your TV today, it’s likely a replay or a very confused local broadcast. The NFL Wild Card round actually wrapped up last night, Monday, Jan. 12, with the Houston Texans handling the Pittsburgh Steelers in a 30-6 blowout.
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Today is a "dark day" for the NFL schedule. It’s that weird midweek gap where teams that survived the weekend—like the Rams, Bears, and 49ers—are nursing bruises and watching film, while the losers are packing up their lockers. Because the Cowboys didn't make the cut this year, there is no what time is the dallas cowboy game today to report. Their final game was a 34-17 loss to the New York Giants on January 4th, a game that basically served as a microcosm of their entire season: flashes of brilliance followed by soul-crushing mistakes.
Why the Cowboys Are Already Done
It’s kinda wild to think about how fast things soured. Entering the season, the hype was—as it always is in North Texas—sky-high. But the defense struggled at critical junctures, and that "ugly stat" everyone was buzzing about in late December (ranking near the bottom in third-down conversions allowed) eventually caught up to them.
They finished second in the NFC East, which sounds okay until you realize the gap between them and the division leaders was more like a canyon. Now, instead of preparing for a Divisional Round matchup, the staff is scouting the 2026 draft and figuring out which free agents are worth the massive cap hits they’ll command.
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Looking Ahead: The 2026 Season
Since there isn't a game today, let’s talk about when you will actually need to know the kickoff time again. The 2026 regular season won't start until September, but the "who" is already set. Because of the NFL’s rotational scheduling algorithm, we already know the 2026 gauntlet.
The Cowboys will be facing the AFC South and the NFC West next year. Since they finished second in their division, they also draw the second-place finishers from the AFC North, NFC South, and NFC North. It's a brutal slate. You’re looking at matchups against the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams.
Basically, the road back to the playoffs isn't getting any easier.
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Key Dates for Cowboys Fans
Since you've got some free time today, here are the dates that actually matter for the silver and blue:
- Now through April: Draft prep. Expect a lot of talk about offensive line depth and secondary help.
- March 2026: Free agency begins. This is where the roster gets its facelift.
- April 23-25, 2026: The NFL Draft. This is arguably the most important weekend for the franchise this year.
- May 2026: The official schedule release. This is when we’ll finally have an answer to "what time is the game" for every week of the new season.
What to Watch Today Instead
If you’re still itching for sports today, you’ve got to look toward the hardwood. The NBA and NHL are in full swing. If you're a local fan, check out the Dallas Mavericks or the Stars. They're actually in the hunt.
It sucks that the Cowboys’ season ended with a whimper in East Rutherford rather than a roar in the playoffs. But that’s the life of a Dallas fan lately, right? High hopes, January heartbreak, and a lot of "maybe next year."
So, put the nachos in the fridge. There is no game today. But the cycle of NFL news never really stops, and before you know it, we'll be back at training camp in Oxnard, wondering if this is finally the year the Cowboys break the curse.
For now, the best thing you can do is keep an eye on the Divisional Round games coming up this Saturday, Jan. 17. The Bills take on the Broncos at 4:30 p.m. ET, and the 49ers face the Seahawks at 8 p.m. ET. It’s not the Cowboys, but it’s high-stakes football, and at this point, that’s the only game in town.