5 Top storylines from Cowboys' 2026 schedule includes a gooey middle

The NFL released the full 2026 schedule on Thursday, and the Dallas Cowboys finally got to see what their slate of games would look like. The opponents have been known for months, but the time and date of the matchups weren’t set until now. The Cowboys appeared to have a tough road to ttravel even before the order was known, and that hasn’t changed.

There are two stretches of the schedule that will be particularly challenging,, but there is also a soft spot that could help the Cowboys reset. Here is what's in store for the Cowboys on the 2026 schedule . Rough first two months The first seven weeks might tell fans everything about these Cowboys.

, They’ll face a stretch of games that will test their endurance before the team even gets to November. Once again, the Cowboys' season starts against the New York Giants , then they'll return to play their first home game against the Washington Commanders . Neither opponent was great last year, but divisional games are rarely easy and both teams look like they're much improved from last season.

After those NFC East battles, stiffer tests await. Starting in Week 3 with a matchup in Brazil against the Baltimore Ravens , Dallas will play three games in 12 days. After their international contest, the team will fly home before going on the road to play one of the more physical teams in the league in the instate rival Houston Texans.