The NFC East isn't just a division. Honestly, it’s a twelve-round heavyweight fight that happens every single year, twice a year, regardless of who's actually winning the Super Bowl. If you’re asking when does Dallas play the Eagles, you’re probably looking for more than just a date on a calendar. You're looking for the next time these two fanbases get to scream at each other for three hours.
Here is the thing. We are currently in that weird "limbo" phase of the NFL calendar. The 2025-2026 season just wrapped up its regular-season slate on January 4, 2026. If you missed the matchups this past year, you missed some absolute chaos. The Eagles took the first one at Lincoln Financial Field back on September 4, 2025, winning a tight 24-20 battle to open the season. Dallas got their revenge later on, though, squeaking out a 24-21 win at AT&T Stadium on November 23.
So, where does that leave us for 2026?
When Does Dallas Play the Eagles in 2026?
Because of the way the NFL scheduling formula works, we already know for a fact that the Cowboys and Eagles will play twice in 2026. One game will be in Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field, and the other will be deep in the heart of Texas at AT&T Stadium.
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But if you’re looking for the exact dates and kickoff times, you have to wait a little longer.
The NFL typically releases the full, official schedule for the upcoming season in the second week of May. For the 2026 season, expect that massive "Schedule Release" event to happen on or around Wednesday, May 13, 2026. Until that day, anyone giving you a specific date for the 2026 matchups is basically just guessing.
What we do know about the 2026 schedule:
- The Venue Split: One home game for Dallas, one home game for Philly.
- The Primetime Factor: These teams have met on Sunday Night Football 16 times—more than any other matchup in the history of the program. It’s almost a guarantee that at least one of these 2026 games will be in a night slot on NBC, ESPN, or even Netflix (following their recent Christmas Day game success).
- Late Season Drama: Usually, the league likes to schedule one of these games in December or early January to maximize the playoff implications.
Why This Rivalry Still Matters in 2026
It's easy to get cynical about modern sports, but the Cowboys-Eagles beef is one of the few things that feels 100% authentic. It’s not manufactured by marketing departments. It’s built on decades of genuine dislike.
Take the 2025 season results as an example. Going into their November matchup, the Eagles were sitting pretty at 8-2. Dallas was struggling. Yet, in typical NFC East fashion, the Cowboys pulled off the upset. That's the nuance of this rivalry; records don't actually matter when the ball is kicked off.
The Dak vs. Jalen Dynamic
By now, we’ve seen Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts go head-to-head enough times to know the script. Dak has historically dominated the NFC East, but Hurts has the Super Bowl appearance and the "tush push" (or whatever they're calling it this week) that makes the Eagles' offense a nightmare to stop in short-yardage situations.
As we look toward the 2026 meetings, the roster turnover will be the story. Both teams are navigating tight salary cap windows. Who they draft in April will directly impact how they match up in September.
Historic Context You Should Probably Know
If you're going to sit at a bar and talk about this, you need the stats. Dallas currently leads the all-time series 75–59. Most of that lead was built during the 70s and 90s when the Cowboys were essentially an NFL dynasty.
But since 2000? It’s been much tighter.
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The "Bounty Bowl" in 1989 and the time the Philly crowd cheered when Michael Irvin got hurt in 1999 are the darker chapters. On the flip side, the 2009 season saw these teams play three times, with Dallas winning all three, including a Wild Card playoff game. That kind of history doesn't just go away. It’s why tickets for these games in 2026 will likely start at triple digits for the "nosebleed" sections.
Common Misconceptions
- "They always play on Thanksgiving": Nope. While Dallas always plays on Thanksgiving, they haven't played the Eagles on that holiday since 2014. In 2025, Dallas actually played the Chiefs on Thanksgiving.
- "The home team always wins": It feels like it, right? But the Eagles have a decent track record of stealing games in Arlington, and Dallas has had some of its most iconic wins in the freezing cold of Philadelphia.
Preparing for the 2026 Schedule Release
When May 13 rolls around, the first thing you should do is look at the bye weeks. If Dallas has a bye week right before playing the Eagles, that’s a massive advantage for Mike McCarthy (or whoever is wearing the headset by then).
Conversely, look for "short weeks." If the Eagles have to play a Monday Night game and then fly to Dallas for a Thursday Night game, that’s a huge "rest disadvantage" that Vegas oddsmakers will jump on immediately.
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Actionable Steps for Fans:
- Mark May 13 on your calendar. This is when you can actually book flights and hotels without guessing.
- Check the "International" list first. The NFL is expanding. While it's unlikely they'd move a Cowboys-Eagles game to London or Madrid, they've done weirder things for TV ratings.
- Watch the NFL Draft (April 23-25, 2026). The Eagles have been aggressive with trades lately. If they snag a lockdown corner in the first round, the math changes for CeeDee Lamb and the Dallas air attack.
- Monitor the secondary market. Once the schedule drops, ticket prices spike instantly. If you're planning to go, you Sorta have to be ready to pull the trigger within minutes of the announcement.
The 2026 chapter of this rivalry is going to be just as loud and stressful as the last 60 years. Whether it's a Week 1 kickoff or a Week 18 "win and you're in" scenario, the Dallas-Philly games remain the sun that the rest of the NFC East orbits around.