It is that time of year when the air in North Texas starts getting a bit crisp, or at least as crisp as it gets, and every single person at the grocery store is wearing a star on their chest. You're sitting there, maybe checking your fantasy scores or just trying to plan your weekend barbecue, and the big question hits: who do the Dallas Cowboys play next sunday? Honestly, the answer is a tough pill to swallow for the die-hards.
If you are looking for a kickoff time for Sunday, January 18, 2026, you won't find one. The Dallas Cowboys finished their 2025-2026 campaign with a 17-34 loss to the New York Giants on January 4th. That game essentially pulled the plug on the season. While the rest of the NFL is gearing up for a massive Divisional Round weekend, the Cowboys are officially in "next year" mode.
The Empty Slot: Who Do The Dallas Cowboys Play Next Sunday?
Basically, nobody. The Cowboys are not playing next Sunday because they did not qualify for the 2026 NFL Playoffs. It's a weird feeling, right? Usually, by mid-January, we're either celebrating a Wild Card win or complaining about a controversial officiating call that ended the season. This year, the silence is a bit louder.
The team finished the regular season with a 7-9-1 record. That tie against the Packers back in September feels like a lifetime ago, but those missed opportunities added up. When the clock hit zero at MetLife Stadium against the Giants, it wasn't just the end of a game; it was the start of an early offseason.
What is actually happening next Sunday?
Even though America's Team is on the sidelines, the NFL isn't stopping. Next Sunday, January 18, 2026, is actually one of the biggest days in the sports calendar—the NFC and AFC Divisional Rounds. If you're a football junkie, there are two massive games taking over the television:
- 3:00 PM ET: The Houston Texans travel to take on the New England Patriots.
- 6:30 PM ET: The Los Angeles Rams face off against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
It’s kinda weird seeing the Bears and the Rams playing in a slot where we usually hope to see the Cowboys. But that’s the reality of the 2025-2026 season. The NFC is currently being dominated by teams like the Seahawks and the Bears, while Dallas fans are left looking at mock drafts and free-agent lists.
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Why the Cowboys Missed the Postseason
You can't really talk about the schedule without looking at how we got here. It wasn't just one bad play. It was a slow burn. The offense had some bright spots—Dak was Dak, and CeeDee Lamb still did his thing—but the consistency just wasn't there.
Look at the stretch in December. They lost three straight to the Vikings, Chargers, and Lions. That's where the wheels really came off. By the time they beat the Commanders on Christmas, it was almost too little, too late. The loss to the Giants in Week 18 was just the final nail in the coffin.
Interestingly, there were some moments where it looked like they might sneak in. The NFC South was a bit of a mess, and for a second, it looked like 8 or 9 wins might get a Wild Card spot. But the 49ers and Rams surged late, and the Cowboys stayed stuck in neutral.
The Brian Schottenheimer Era
This season was also a major test for the coaching staff. With Brian Schottenheimer at the helm, the "Texas Coast" offense had its ups and downs. Some weeks, they looked like they could put up 40 on anyone—like that 44-22 blowout of the Commanders in October. Other weeks, like against the Cardinals, the offense looked completely out of sync.
People are already talking about what happens next. Is the roster due for a total overhaul? Probably not. But when you miss the playoffs in a year where you had a veteran quarterback and a top-tier receiver, questions are going to be asked. Jerry Jones isn't known for his patience, and the silence from the front office since the Giants game has been deafening.
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What Fans Should Do Next Sunday
So, what do you do with your Sunday if there’s no Cowboys game? You've got options.
First, you can scout the competition. Watching the Rams and Bears might be painful, but it gives you a look at what the top of the NFC looks like right now. Caleb Williams is doing things in Chicago that have that city on fire, and honestly, it’s a blueprint for what a young, aggressive offense can look like.
Second, start looking at the 2026 Offseason Calendar. The NFL never truly sleeps.
January 27, 2026: The East-West Shrine Bowl is happening right in Frisco, Texas. If you want to see the next generation of Cowboys, that’s where you’ll find them.
January 31, 2026: The Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. This is where the draft board really starts to take shape.
February 8, 2026: Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara. It won't have the star on the helmet, but it's still the biggest game of the year.
Looking Ahead to 2026
While the question of who do the Dallas Cowboys play next sunday results in a big "nobody," the 2026 opponents are already set. Because the NFL uses a rotating formula, we already know who is coming to AT&T Stadium next fall.
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The Cowboys will be playing their usual NFC East rivals—the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders—twice each. They are also slated to face teams from the AFC South and the NFC West. That means games against the Texans, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans, plus the Seahawks, Rams, 49ers, and Cardinals. It’s not going to be an easy road back to the top.
The big focus this spring will be the defensive line and secondary. Watching the defense give up 34 points to a struggling Giants team in the finale showed everyone exactly where the holes are. You can't win in this league if you can't stop the run, and the Cowboys struggled with that all through December.
Actionable Steps for Cowboys Fans
Don't let the empty Sunday get you down. Here is how you can stay plugged in while the team is on vacation:
- Watch the Divisional Round: Focus on the Rams vs. Bears game. These are the teams the Cowboys need to leapfrog next year.
- Monitor the Coaching Carousel: Keep an eye on the news out of The Star in Frisco. Decisions about the coaching staff usually happen fast once the season ends.
- Check the Draft Order: Since the Cowboys finished 7-9-1, they'll have a mid-round pick. Start looking at defensive tackle prospects and maybe a bruising running back to help out the ground game.
- Process Refunds: If you were one of the optimistic fans who pre-purchased "TBD" playoff tickets through Ticketmaster, make sure your refund has been processed. Most of those "NFC Divisional Game" listings for AT&T Stadium were automatically canceled once the Cowboys were eliminated.
The 2025-2026 season didn't end with a trophy, but the cycle starts over almost immediately. Enjoy the playoffs as a neutral observer, take a break from the stress of the "Cowboys Rollercoaster," and get ready for the draft.