The Dallas Cowboys don't exactly have an easy draw during the 2026 NFL season. Not only is the NFC East much-improved, but facing off against the NFC West and AFC South, which boasted a combined five playoff teams and a Super Bowl champion last year, will be no small task.
Dallas has to face perennial powers like the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles (twice), as well as rising teams like the Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Yes, the Cowboys have some "easier" games, if such a thing exists in the NFL, with matchups against the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans and New York Giants on the docket. Some of Dallas' opponents, however, are quite difficult to figure out, namely the Indianapolis Colts.
Luckily, for readers of The Landry Hat, we went across the conference and behind the curtain to speak to Lee Vowell, the site expert at Horseshoe Heroes, which is FanSided's hub of Colts info. Vowell is an authority on the Colts and provided some premier access to the Cowboys' Week 9 foe.
Dallas Cowboys can't know what version of Indianapolis Colts they'll face in Week 9
Q: The Colts started out hot in 2025, but their season got derailed by injuries, among other things. Is there faith in the building and fanbase that the 2026 Colts will be more like the fall version of last year, as opposed to the winter version?
A: The simple answer is yes. In fact, ownership is betting on the team resembling the fall edition, which is why there was such a great need to re-sign quarterback Daniel Jones and wide receiver Alec Pierce, as the team didn't do much else in bringing in high-impact free agents from other teams.
Injuries did take a brutal toll on the team midway through last season and the rest of the way (Jones was lost in Week 14, Charvarius Ward suffered three different concussions and missed a chunk of time, DeForest Buckner only played in one game after Week 9, and Sauce Gardner missed four of the eight games he could have been involved in after the team traded for him). The team is counting on better health, meaning better success.
Q: The quarterback position has seemingly been a big talking point in Indy this offseason. What is the current health situation for Daniel Jones, and how is the backup QB/temporary starter battle progressing with Anthony Richardson and Riley Leonard?
A: Jones has a stated goal of returning by Week 1, which would be a relatively quick (nine months) return from a torn Achilles tendon. Still, he participated in 7-on-7 drills in OTAs, and appears set to be a bigger participant by the time training camp begins at the end of July. In other words, he appears likely to start the opener.
Richardson could still be a trade piece, but he's been getting slightly more QB1 reps than Leonard while Jones has been limited. The reason why is unknown. Leonard played well against the Houston Texans (and their starters played the first half of the game), but the team seems to trust him less than Richardson, who has been a bust. The hope, of course, is that neither has to play and Jones stays healthy.
Q: The Colts have a great CB tandem in Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward, and they added some nice safety pieces this offseason. Do you think they can slow down Dallas' dynamic WR duo of CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens?
A: This gets complicated, of course. Sauce Gardner is a match, or better, than any wide receiver in the league. If Ward is healthy, he's solid too. The problem for the Colts is that their pass-rush is inconsistent. Other than Laiatu Latu, the rest of the group is not great. Arden Key was signed in free agency, but he's no better than the outgoing Kwity Paye. The team needs second-year pro Jaylahn Tuimoloau to really step up. Basically, no matter how great Gardner and Ward might be, with no Indy pass rush, the Cowboys would have an easy day.
Q: Is there any truth to the rumors that Jonathan Taylor may not be long for Indianapolis? This game takes place right around the trade deadline. Taylor was a menace last year and would really test the Cowboys' supposedly improved run defense if he's still on the Colts' roster.
A: Taylor has said this offseason that he wants to play for the Colts for the rest of his career. While that might be lip service from most players, Taylor does have an offense built around him and an excellent offensive line. He could leave, but might not be as successful elsewhere in terms of raw production.
Still, anything is possible in the NFL, and if by the trade deadline the Colts are clearly not going to make the playoffs yet again (they haven't since 2020), the running back could be trade bait. No matter how elite he has been, the team hasn't made the postseason since he was a rookie. The question might come down to whether general manager Chris Ballard, who could be fired if the team doesn't make the playoffs, would be allowed to trade Taylor.
Q: What was the biggest or most impactful move that the Colts made this offseason?
A: The team had to bring back Daniel Jones and Alec Pierce, as it had backed itself into a corner to do so. Perhaps the biggest offseason move was no move at all. Head coach Shane Steichen and general manager Chris Ballard weren't fired, though Steichen's three seasons have been the definition of mediocre, and Ballard hasn't won the AFC South since he arrived in Indianapolis in 2017. Many fans were upset that no changes were made, and the team might regret it this coming season.
Q: Do you believe that Indy has a blatant weakness on their roster or coaching staff that the Cowboys can take advantage of in Week 9? If so, what is it?
A: A lot of this depends on Indy's depth because Chris Ballard has some great starters, but not much behind them, as proven by what happened in 2025. Even if the Colts stay healthy, though, the pass-rush has to find a way of getting better. Laiatu Latu had 8.5 sacks in 2025, and the next-best player had four. In fact, after Latu, the next three highest-producing edge rushers had a combined nine sacks. The pressures were relatively the same, too. Latu had 61. No one else on the team had more than 36. No pass rush would make for a fun day for the Cowboys.
Q: Do the Colts have an underrated strength that Dallas fans or the national media may not know about or be talking about at this juncture that you think could surprise some folks?
A: The NFL is all about names of top players, but not really position groups as much. The Colts have stars with Sauce Gardner, Jonathan Taylor, and Tyler Warren, but it is their offensive line that, every single season, is elite. Even with some changing pieces, offensive line coach Tony Sparano Jr. puts out a great group. He might not ever get a head coaching gig, but Sparano is likely the best pure coach on the staff.
The Dallas Cowboys travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Indianapolis Colts in Week 9 of the 2026 NFL season. Kickoff is slated for noon CT.
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