If someone told a Dallas Cowboys fan before the 2026 NFL season that through six games, the Philadelphia Eagles would hold a 2-4 record, and that the Washington Commanders would sit at 1-4-1, they'd think that Brian Schottenheimer's team was running away with the NFC East.
But the Cowboys also sit at 2-4, behind a surprisingly 3-2-1 New York Giants team. And what's worse is that Dallas looks a bit disjointed, both offensively and defensively. America's Team is ruining its chance at reclaiming the divisional throne and making a playoff run in what is a contending window.
The season is far from over, though. And their once-daunting schedule is not as intimidating now as it looked on paper in the offseason. Plus, the Cowboys are entering the easier portion of their calendar. But if they don't figure it out in these next three games, they probably never will.
Dallas Cowboys' next 3 games present perfect chance to right the ship
Here are Dallas' next three foes:
Week 7 - @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-4) ~ MNF
Week 8 - vs. Arizona Cardinals (2-4)
Week 9 - @ Indianapolis Colts (2-4)
Not exactly murderer's row.
While it may seem difficult to say that, with the Cowboys also sitting at 2-4, that is sort of the point here. If this team can't fend through the league's other underperforming or downright bad teams, then Dallas just simply doesn't have it takes in 2026.
Philly is currently riding a four-game losing streak and just lost Jalen Hurts for the season. They'll probably get Saquon Barkley back for Week 7, but they've been beat up and dragged around over the last few contests. Now is the time for the Cowboys to deliver the knockout punch.
In Week 6, Arizona looked... good? I guess? While they upset the Los Angeles Rams. But it was more fluky than dominant. Other than last weekend's victory, the Cardinals have only beaten the winless LA Chargers, and they've been blown out a handful of times already this campaign.
Indianapolis has crumbled after a strong stretch from Week 2 to Week 4, dropping two straight games, the second of which was against the Tennessee Titans. That was enough for them to fire their longtime general manager, Chris Ballard.
By Week 9's game, which is just days before the Nov. 10 trade deadline, the Colts may have already shipped off some of their great players, like Jonathan Taylor, Quenton Nelson, Sauce Gardner, DeForest Buckner and others. Even with them, Indy should be no real threat. Without them, though...
Obviously, Dallas has its own issues, and the key to righting the ship lies internally. But that doesn't mean that the Cowboys don't have a favorable schedule coming up that they need to take advantage of. If they can't beat these teams, they surely can't hang with the best in the league.
And if they don't, it could spur quite the organizational spiral.
Why this stretch matters so much for the Dallas Cowboys
As we just mentioned, the trade deadline is looming, and Jerry Jones' history would indicate that he is on the prowl, looking for talent. But if the Cowboys come out of this stretch 1-2, or worse, 0-3, then Jones would have to become a seller at the deadline if he wants to create any fireworks.
Sitting at 2-7 or 3-6 is enough to throw in the towel on the season, at least if the NFC East's other teams look like they are trending in the right direction or start to get a grip on the division. And that record would look even worse with losses to the aforementioned teams on the résumé.
More than just Schottenheimer being on the hot seat, Dallas would have to seriously consider dishing players like George Pickens, DeMarvion Overshown, or anyone who can get them some draft capital next offseason and simplify their finances going forward. That's not what anyone wants to do.
Should the Cowboys pile up losses during this stretch or look uninspiring, though, then the franchise would have to move accordingly. Schottenheimer, Dak Prescott and the gang can stave off this way of thinking by winning at least two of these games and going into the deadline around .500.
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