At one point during the 2025 NFL Season, the Dallas Cowboys had won three games in a row and got to a solid 6-5-1. There did seem to be a chance that the team was primed to turn the season around and slide into the playoffs.
Unfortunately, Dallas went 1–4 down the stretch, casting doubt on the team’s future. However, the front office quickly made changes to address those concerns and reinforce confidence in the team’s outlook for 2026 and beyond.
A defensive overhaul took place, and while a ton of new players were brought in, there may not be a bigger change than hiring Christian Parker, a Vic Fangio disciple, as the new defensive coordinator.
The Cowboys still have to conquer the schedule in 2026, and while the NFL didn't do this team many favors to open up the season, there are a few neat schedule advantages that could help play into future success.
Dallas Cowboys 2026 schedule does contain some key advantages
Two divisional games in Weeks 1-2 against shaky teams
Dallas opens up the season on Sunday Night Football, playing the New York Giants. A week after that, the team heads home to face the Washington Commanders in Week 2. Having two straight NFC East games to begin the season could give Dallas a major early-season advantage.
Both New York and Washington are not only coming off shaky seasons in 2025, but each team has made a ton of significant changes in the offseason, and while both teams could benefit from those changes, some teams typically take a while to get going.
Typically, the NFL is littered with upsets and poor play across the first few weeks of the season, and, perhaps shockingly, the Cowboys are the more stable unit right now when compared to New York and Washington.
Dallas also sports a better quarterback in each matchup, so a 2-0 start to the regular season with two divisional wins would give the team a massive early-season advantage in their NFC East title hopes.
Weeks 8-12
The NFL didn't do the Cowboys any favors across the first seven weeks of the season. Dallas is in four primetime slots and notably faces the Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Green Bay Packers, and Philadelphia Eagles.
This stretch is as tough as you'll see in the NFL, but Weeks 8-12 are really where things can get fun. During this five- game run, the Cowboys do 'get' to play some weaker teams like Arizona, Indianapolis, and Tennessee, but the team also gets four of five at home.
The lone away game from November 1 through November 26 is against the Colts, a team that sputtered down the stretch in 2025. Dak Prescott is 47-21-1 at home in his career, so there is a legitimate chance that Dallas could win four of five here, taking care of business at home in each game.
This also presents a wonderful chance for the team to rebound after what could end up being a shaky start to the season. This mid-season surge could end up positioning Dallas nicely for an NFC East run down the stretch.
Two of last three games at home
While this is only a three-game stretch, it's the final three games of the regular season, and that's the time when playoffs and division races are decided. Dallas will host the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Giants, and then finish up the season away against Washington.
There is a non-zero chance as of now that the Cowboys could need to win the final three games to clinch the NFC East title, for example, and having three winnable games on the slate to finish up the season could not only do that for the team, but it could also give Dallas some key momentum heading into the playoffs.
Prescott also has a career regular-season record of 24-15 in December and January, so the Cowboys' veteran has led his team to strong finishes in these late-season months.
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