If you woke up this morning frantically checking your phone to see what was the score in the cowboys game last night, you might be feeling a bit of a phantom limb sensation. It happens every year. The routine of Sunday afternoons, the stress of the fourth quarter, and the inevitable social media meltdown—all of it just... stops.
Here is the hard truth for the Dallas faithful: There was no Dallas Cowboys game last night.
Yesterday, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the NFL Divisional Round was in full swing, but the Cowboys weren't on the invite list. While the Seattle Seahawks were busy dismantling the San Francisco 49ers 41-6 and the Denver Broncos were edging out the Buffalo Bills 33-30 in an overtime thriller, the Star was dark. Dallas’s season actually hit the wall two weeks ago.
The Score That Ended Everything
To understand why there was no score to report last night, we have to look back at January 4, 2026. That was the day the Cowboys' postseason hopes officially evaporated in a cold, 34-17 loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
It was a rough one. Honestly, it was a mess from the jump.
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The Giants, who entered that Week 18 matchup with a dismal 3-13 record, played like they were fighting for a Super Bowl. Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart picked the Dallas secondary apart, finishing with a career-high passer rating. Meanwhile, the Cowboys struggled to find any rhythm. Joe Milton III, stepping in for an injured Dak Prescott, tried to spark something with his legs, but an interception to Bobby Okereke with under six minutes left basically sealed the deal.
Dallas finished the 2025-2026 season with a 7-9-1 record. That weird tie against Green Bay back in September really haunts the standings now, doesn't it?
Why You Might Be Confused
It’s easy to get turned around with the schedule, especially since "Cowboys" is a popular name in the sports world. If you saw a score of 63-60 floating around last night, you weren't hallucinating—you were just looking at the wrong sport and the wrong state.
The Wyoming Cowboys played a nail-biter against Fresno State last night. They led 27-26 at the half but ultimately "faltered late," as the local papers put it, losing 63-60 on the road. It was a tough Mountain West battle, but definitely not the NFL action most Dallas fans are looking for.
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There was also a score of 79-76 involving the McNeese Cowboys, who lost a close one to UTRGV. If you’re a fan of the University of Dallas Crusaders, they actually pulled off a 68-63 win over Centenary yesterday. Lots of Cowboys, lots of scores, but none of them involved America’s Team.
What Really Happened to the Dallas Cowboys This Season?
The 2025 campaign was a rollercoaster that mostly stayed on the downhill parts. We saw some flashes of greatness—that 31-28 Thanksgiving Day win over the Kansas City Chiefs was arguably the peak of the year. For a moment, it felt like the team had finally figured it out.
But the inconsistencies were glaring.
- The Defensive Woes: After a solid mid-season stretch, the defense allowed 34 points in three of their final four games.
- The Injury Bug: Dak Prescott’s late-season struggles and eventual sideline status forced the team to rely on unproven depth at the worst possible time.
- Road Troubles: Dallas finished the season with a losing record away from AT&T Stadium, including that final heartbreaker in New York.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Offseason Blueprint
Since there was no score last night, the focus in Frisco has already shifted to the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency. The Cowboys aren't picking in the top five—that's a "luxury" reserved for the Raiders and Giants this year—but they have significant holes to plug.
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The front office is basically at a crossroads. They have to decide if the current core can actually win a championship or if it's time to stop "retooling" and start a genuine rebuild. Fans are tired of the "just good enough to miss the playoffs" cycle.
First order of business? The coaching staff. Whenever a team with this much talent finishes 7-9-1, seats get hot. Expect a lot of noise regarding defensive coordinator changes and perhaps even a look at the head coaching position if the right candidate becomes available during this playoff cycle.
Real Steps for Cowboys Fans This Week
Since you aren't spending your Monday morning dissecting a box score from last night, here is what you should actually be watching:
- Watch the Cap Space: Keep an eye on the upcoming salary cap releases. Dallas has some massive contracts that might need restructuring or outright cutting to bring in fresh blood.
- Scout the Seniors: The Senior Bowl is right around the corner. Since the Cowboys are picking in the middle of the pack, this is where they’ll find their next starting linebacker or offensive tackle.
- Root for Chaos: If you can't win, you might as well hope your rivals lose. The Eagles and Giants are out, but keeping an eye on how the Seahawks and Broncos managed their wins last night can give you a clue as to what a winning playoff culture actually looks like in 2026.
Basically, the season is over, but the drama is just starting.
Check the updated 2026 NFL Draft order to see exactly where Dallas will be picking this spring.