Cowboys schedule 2024: Complete list of all 17 games
By Jerry Trotta
The Dallas Cowboys could be entering a make-or-break season. With Dak Prescott and Mike McCarthy in the final years of their respective contracts, and other longtime Cowboys unsigned through 2025, seismic changes could be on the horizon if Dallas falls short again in the playoffs.
Cowboys fans might find it difficult to get motivated for another season, but the schedule release always creates excitement. Aside from injury luck, a schedule is the single biggest variable that could shape a team's season.
Of course, a schedule won't seem as difficult (or easy) in mid-May as it will once the matchups come around. However, a difficult patch of games could be the difference in whether the Cowboys repeat as NFC East champs, clinch a wild card berth or miss the playoffs altogether.
Leaks of the Cowboys schedule trickled out on social media in the build-up to Wednesday night's release. After weeks of anticipation, the full slate has been revealed.
Cowboys' 2024 preseason:
- Week 1: TBD
- Week 2: TBD
- Week 3: TBD
Cowboys' 2024 regular season:
Week | Opponent | Time (CT) |
|---|---|---|
1 | @ Browns | 3:25 pm |
2 | vs Saints | 12:00 pm |
3 | vs Ravens | 3:25 pm |
4 | @ Giants (TNF) | 7:15 pm |
5 | @ Steelers (SNF) | 7:20 pm |
6 | vs Lions | 3:25 pm |
7 | BYE | |
8 | @ 49ers (SNF) | 7:20 pm |
9 | @ Falcons | 12:00 pm |
10 | vs Eagles | 3:25 pm |
11 | vs Texans (MNF) | 7:15 pm |
12 | @ Commanders | 12:00 pm |
13 | vs Giants (Thanksgiving) | 3:30 pm |
14 | vs Bengals (MNF) | 7:15 pm |
15 | @ Panthers | 12:00 pm |
16 | vs Buccaneers (SNF) | 7:20 pm |
17 | @ Eagles | 3:25 pm |
18 | Commanders | TBD |
How hard is the Cowboys' schedule in 2024?
Based on last year's records, the Cowboys had the 14th-toughest slate in the league. Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis is the go-to source for strength of schedule. If you were to combine the 2023 records of all of Dallas' 2024 opponents, they have the 11th-toughest schedule, per Sharp.
Cowboys fans won't like hearing that's the second-toughest slate of any NFC team. Only the Vikings, who check in fifth in schedule difficult, have a harder schedule in the conference. The Lions are right behind Dallas in 12th place followed by the Giants, Packers, 49ers and Rams, respectively.
How is the Cowboys' schedule made?
The schedule release unveils the order of opponents for every team, but there are a multitude of factors that are baked into a schedule that allow Cowboys fans to knew the team's opponents months ahead of time.
Those factors are as follows:
- 6 games against divisional opponents (Eagles, Giants, Commanders)
- 4 games against rotating NFC Division (NFC South in 2024 for Cowboys)
- 4 games against rotating AFC Division (AFC North in 2024 for Cowboys)
- 2023 first-place teams from NFC North (Lions), NFC West (49ers) and AFC South (Texans)
That's the price of finishing atop the division, but the Cowboys will settle for a first-place schedule again in 2025 if they can repeat as NFC East champs.
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