If you’re waking up this weekend and asking who do the dallas cowboys play sunday, I have some news that might sting a little. You can stop checking the local TV listings and putting the beer on ice. The Dallas Cowboys are not playing this Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Honestly, it’s a weird feeling for fans who are used to "America's Team" being in the thick of the January hunt. But the reality is the 2025-2026 NFL season has already wrapped up for the silver and blue. While the rest of the league is battling it out in the high-stakes Divisional Round, the Cowboys are officially in offseason mode.
The Empty Sunday Schedule Explained
The short answer to who do the dallas cowboys play sunday is nobody. They aren't on the schedule because they didn't make the postseason cut.
Dallas finished their regular season back on January 4 with a disappointing 34-17 loss to the New York Giants. That game wasn't just a rivalry loss; it was the final nail in the coffin for a season that never quite found its rhythm. They ended the year with a 7-9-1 record. In the competitive NFC East, that just wasn't enough to secure a Wild Card spot or a division title. The Philadelphia Eagles took the division crown this year with an 11-6 record, leaving Dallas on the outside looking in.
It’s a tough pill to swallow. Usually, by mid-January, we’re talking about Dak Prescott’s playoff legacy or whether the defense can hold up under pressure. Instead, the locker rooms at The Star in Frisco are quiet.
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Who Is Actually Playing This Sunday?
Since you probably still want to watch some football, the NFL schedule for Sunday, January 18, 2026, is actually pretty incredible. We are in the Divisional Round, which many experts argue is the best weekend of the entire year for football.
- Houston Texans at New England Patriots: This kicks off at 3:00 PM ET. The Patriots are the No. 2 seed and looked dominant in their 16-3 win over the Chargers last week. Houston is coming off a massive 30-6 blowout of the Steelers.
- Los Angeles Rams at Chicago Bears: This is the nightcap at 6:30 PM ET. The Bears are the No. 2 seed in the NFC and are hosting a Rams team that just narrowly escaped the Panthers in the Wild Card round.
Watching these games makes it even more obvious why the question of who do the dallas cowboys play sunday has such a somber answer. The energy in Chicago and Foxborough will be electric, while Dallas fans are left wondering "what if."
Why the Cowboys Missed the Cut
You can't talk about why they aren't playing without looking at the 2025 season's "greatest hits" of frustration. It was a rollercoaster. They had some bright spots, like that 31-28 thriller against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thanksgiving. That win had everyone thinking they were Super Bowl bound.
But then the wheels sort of fell off.
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A three-game losing streak in December—falling to the Vikings, Chargers, and a particularly painful loss to the Lions—essentially drained the momentum. By the time they beat the Commanders on Christmas Day, they were already relying on other teams to lose just to have a prayer at the playoffs.
Injuries played a role, as they always do. But mostly, it was inconsistency. One week the offense looked like a juggernaut, and the next, they couldn't find the end zone if it had a neon sign on it.
The Offseason Has Already Started
Because they aren't playing this Sunday, the front office is already looking at the 2026 NFL Draft and free agency. According to the official Cowboys offseason calendar, the team can already begin signing "futures" deals and negotiating with free agents from other leagues like the CFL.
The next big date on their radar isn't a game; it's the East-West Shrine Bowl on January 27, held right in their backyard in Frisco. This is where the scouting department starts looking for the next generation of players to ensure that next year, when you ask who do the dallas cowboys play sunday in January, the answer is a playoff opponent.
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Looking Toward the 2026 Season
While this Sunday is a wash for Dallas fans, the 2026 opponents have already been determined based on the 2025 standings. We know they’ll be facing the usual NFC East suspects—Eagles, Giants, and Commanders—twice each.
The schedule makers will also have them playing the NFC West and the AFC West next year. That means games against the 49ers, Rams, Chiefs, and Broncos are on the horizon. It’s not going to be an easy road back to the top, but the silver lining of a 7-9-1 season is a slightly better draft position.
Actionable Next Steps for Cowboys Fans
Just because the Cowboys aren't playing doesn't mean you have to ignore football entirely. Here is how you can spend your Sunday:
- Scout the Competition: Watch the Rams vs. Bears game tonight. These are the teams Dallas will have to leapfrog next year to get back into the postseason. Pay attention to how the Bears' defense handles the Rams' spread offense.
- Track the Draft Order: With the Divisional Round happening, the draft order for the top 20 picks is mostly set. Dallas will likely be picking in the middle of the first round. Start looking at mock drafts for 2026 to see which offensive linemen or edge rushers might be available.
- Follow the Coaching Carousel: Keep an eye on the news. After a losing season, there are always rumors about staff changes. Whether it's Brian Schottenheimer or the defensive side of the ball, the "Sunday" talk for the Cowboys right now is all about the front office.
The road to the 2027 Super Bowl actually starts now. It's not the Sunday we wanted, but it's the one we have.