If you're looking for the Cowboys score right now, I have some bad news. There is no Dallas Cowboys game today. It’s Friday, January 16, 2026, and for the second year in a row, the Dallas Cowboys are watching the NFL playoffs from their couches in Frisco. While teams like the Eagles and the Seahawks are gearing up for the Divisional Round this weekend, the Cowboys are already deep into "next year" mode. Honestly, it’s a bit of a gut punch for a fan base that expected a lot more from the first year under Brian Schottenheimer.
The season actually wrapped up nearly two weeks ago on January 4, 2026. If you missed that finale, it wasn't pretty. They went up to MetLife Stadium to face a New York Giants team that had only won three games all year. You’d think Dallas would come out swinging to end the year on a high note, right? Nope. They got handled 34-17.
How the final score for the dallas cowboys game today became a moot point
To understand why there’s no game today, you have to look at how the wheels fell off in December. For a minute there, it actually looked like they might pull it off. In November, they caught fire and put themselves in a position where the NFC East was within reach.
Then December happened.
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They dropped a shootout to the Lions (44-30), got outplayed by J.J. McCarthy and the Vikings (34-26), and then got humbled by Justin Herbert and the Chargers (34-17). By the time they played the Commanders on Christmas, they were already mathematically eliminated. They won 그 game 30-23, but it was basically a participation trophy at that point.
The Cowboys finished the 2025-2026 season with a weird 7-9-1 record. That tie? That’s the kind of season it was. Just consistently inconsistent.
Breaking down the January 4th finale
Even though the game against the Giants didn't matter for the standings, there was still some drama. Dak Prescott was actually leading the league in passing yards going into that Sunday. He played the first half, but it was rough. He only threw for 70 yards before they pulled him to keep him healthy.
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- Final Score: Giants 34, Cowboys 17
- Dak’s Day: 7/11 for 70 yards (Season total: 4,525 yards)
- The Bright Spot: Jadeveon Clowney had a monster game with 3 sacks.
- The Rookie Watch: Joe Milton played most of the second half, throwing for 73 yards and an interception.
It was a weird vibe. The Giants were playing for pride—and for their owner John Mara, who has been battling cancer—and they just wanted it more. Jaxson Dart, the Giants' rookie QB, looked better than he had all season, throwing for 230 yards and two scores.
What happens now?
Since you aren't checking the score for a game today, you're probably wondering what the front office is doing. The 2026 offseason calendar is already in motion.
The Cowboys are sitting in a "middle of the pack" draft spot, which is basically the worst place to be. You aren't bad enough for a top-three pick, but you aren't good enough to be playing this weekend. Brian Schottenheimer is staying put for now, but the seat is definitely getting warm. They’ve already started signing "futures" contracts—basically bringing in guys to compete for training camp spots in July.
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The next big date to circle is January 27, 2026. That’s the East-West Shrine Bowl, which is actually being played right in the Cowboys' backyard at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco. If you’re a draft nerd, that’s when the real work starts.
The 2026 Opponents are already set
We already know who they’ll be playing next season, even if we don't know the dates yet. Because they finished second in the NFC East, they have a "second-place schedule." That means they'll be facing the other second-place finishers from the NFC West and AFC South.
Basically, the road back to the playoffs includes trips to Philadelphia, Washington, and New York (obviously), but also some tough away games against the Texans, Colts, and Rams.
It's going to be a long spring in North Texas. No playoffs, no game today, just a lot of questions about why a team with this much talent keeps ending up 7-9-1.
Next Steps for Cowboys Fans:
- Monitor the Senior Bowl: Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl on January 31 to see which defensive tackles might be available to fix that run defense.
- Free Agency Prep: Teams can start negotiating with their own free agents now, but the real circus starts in March.
- Draft Position: Keep an eye on the playoff results this weekend; the final draft order for non-playoff teams is mostly set, but the Cowboys' specific slot depends on tiebreakers.