If you’re staring at your TV right now wondering who will Dallas Cowboys play next, the answer is actually a bit of a gut punch for fans in Arlington. The Dallas Cowboys won’t be playing anyone for a while. After a messy 7-9-1 finish to the 2025 season, America’s Team is officially on summer vacation—starting in January. They missed the playoffs entirely.
While the rest of the NFC East prepares for the grind of the postseason, Jerry Jones and his front office are left looking at a 2026 opponent list that looks, frankly, terrifying. We don’t have the exact dates yet (the NFL usually drops those in mid-May), but we know exactly which logos will be lining up across from the Star.
The Immediate Future: Why There Is No "Next Week"
The 2025 season wrapped up with a disappointing loss to the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. That 17-34 defeat on January 4, 2026, was the final nail in the coffin. Because they finished second in the NFC East and fell short of a Wild Card berth, the "next" game on the calendar is a preseason matchup in August 2026.
It’s a weird spot to be in. Usually, by mid-January, we're talking about playoff seeding or at least "what-if" scenarios. This year, the what-ifs are all about the draft and whether Brian Schottenheimer can keep this ship upright after a season that saw the Cowboys trade away Micah Parsons to the Packers.
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Who Will Dallas Cowboys Play Next: The 2026 Opponent List
The NFL uses a rotation formula, so even though the league hasn't released the "when," we have the "who." Because the Cowboys finished second in their division, they get a "second-place schedule." In theory, that’s easier than playing a first-place schedule, but 2026 isn't doing them any favors.
The Home Slate at AT&T Stadium
Dallas gets nine home games in 2026 because the NFC is on the "extra game" rotation this year.
- Philadelphia Eagles: The rivalry that never sleeps.
- New York Giants: Looking for revenge after the Week 18 loss that ended the 2025 season.
- Washington Commanders: Always a dogfight.
- San Francisco 49ers: The Cowboys' perpetual kryptonite.
- Arizona Cardinals: A team that somehow always plays Dallas tough.
- Baltimore Ravens: The AFC North "place-to-place" matchup.
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Part of the AFC South rotation.
- Tennessee Titans: Another AFC South visitor.
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The NFC South second-place opponent.
The Road Warriors: Away Games
The away schedule is brutal. You’ve got long flights and some of the loudest stadiums in the league.
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- Philadelphia Eagles: Expect a warm Philadelphia welcome.
- New York Giants: A trip back to the Meadowlands.
- Washington Commanders: A short trip to Landover.
- Green Bay Packers: A return to Lambeau Field, which always feels like a trap.
- Houston Texans: The battle for Texas.
- Indianapolis Colts: A fast track in a dome.
- Seattle Seahawks: The 12th Man is never fun to deal with.
- Los Angeles Rams: A trip to SoFi Stadium.
Breaking Down the Difficulty
When you look at who will Dallas Cowboys play next, the strength of schedule is high. Eight of the teams on that 2026 list made the playoffs in the season that just ended. That includes the Seahawks, who locked up the No. 1 seed, and the Eagles, who took the No. 3 spot.
The defense is the biggest question mark. After the Micah Parsons trade to Green Bay—which brought in Kenny Clark but left a massive void in the pass rush—the Cowboys struggled to close out games. Seeing teams like the Ravens and 49ers on the 2026 schedule doesn't inspire a ton of confidence if they don't find a way to replace that elite edge pressure in the upcoming draft.
Key Storylines for 2026
Honestly, the biggest game on the schedule might be that road trip to Green Bay. Watching Parsons line up in a Packers jersey against Dak Prescott is going to be surreal for Cowboys fans. It’s the kind of game that defines a GM's legacy.
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Then you have the Texans. The Governor's Cup doesn't happen every year in the regular season, but 2026 brings the AFC South into the rotation. Bragging rights in Texas are on the line, and with C.J. Stroud leading a potent Houston offense, the Cowboys' secondary (led by Trevon Diggs) is going to have its hands full.
Actionable Steps for Cowboys Fans
Since there are no games to watch for the next seven months, the focus shifts to the "off-field" schedule.
- Watch the NFL Draft (April 2026): Dallas has extra capital from the Parsons trade. They need an edge rusher and likely more help on the interior offensive line to protect Dak.
- Monitor Free Agency (March 2026): With several veterans set to hit the market, look for Jerry Jones to be aggressive—or at least say he will be.
- Wait for the Schedule Release (May 2026): This is when we find out if that Ravens game is a Sunday Night Football banger or a Thanksgiving Day tradition.
The 2025 season is in the rearview mirror. It wasn't pretty, and the "next" game is a long way off, but the road to redemption in 2026 is already mapped out. Whether this team can actually navigate that road is a different story entirely.