The 2026 Dallas Cowboys schedule came out last week and as it did travel plans were set in motion among many of us. Having the schedule makes everything more real, and given that it occurred after the NFL draft and (obviously) free agency this year, it was the last major milestone to cross before the doldrums of the offseason set in.
Simply put, all major things that can happen before next season begins have happened.
Having the schedule also makes predicting the games easier, or at the very least
more fun. We knew since last season ended who and where the Cowboys would be playing in 2026, but the sequence makes predictions more functional.
The great Dave Halprin offered his game-by-game prediction for how the Cowboys will fare this season and has them finishing 10-7. What about other writers from other SB Nation sites, though? The writers that cover their teams? How did they predict their games against the Cowboys to go? And what if we looked at every game through that lens?
Let’s do it. Below you will find what Dave did, but from each of the SB Nation sites who cover teams that play the Cowboys this season. This is how they each predicted the games in question and what the Cowboys’ final record would be under those circumstances.
Week 1: at New York Giants
Both of these teams have a bunch of moving parts. The Cowboys have completely revamped their defense and will be installing a new scheme under new defensive coordinator Christian Parker. The Giants have new schemes and players on both sides of the ball, but also a core of familiarity among the players and experienced coaches who know how to win. The Giants get traction earlier in the year and come open the season with a win.
Pick – Giants
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 0-1
Week 2: Washington Commanders
Commanders Win.
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 0-2
Week 3: Baltimore Ravens
There’s a part of me that wants to believe that Lamar Jackson can turn into some version of Pelé for the NFL’s first game in Brazil. But I am obligated towards reason, and reason tells me that everything is too new, too early. The Cowboys had an underrated offseason and will not be the pushovers – literally – they were last year. Can a brand-new coaching staff handle the challenges of an international game against a strong opponent? Right now, I lean no.
Prediction: Ravens lose, 17-13 (2-1)
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 1-2
Week 4: at Houston Texans
Battle Red Blog
Our friends at Battle Red Blog actually did not have a schedule prediction from a game-by-game perspective up, so this is from Texans Wire.
While the Cowboys have one of the league’s better offenses, led by Dak Prescott, what’s the deal with their defense? Even with the pieces Dallas added via the draft this offseason, it feels risky putting all that faith into the development of Caleb Down and Malachai Lawrence. Even if the Texans’ offense isn’t up to par, their defense should handle business against Jerry Jones’ boys, proving once and for all who runs the state in terms of being a consistent football team.
Verdict: Texans win
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 1-3
Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucs are on a short week in Dallas for their first prime time game of the season and this presents another challenge for the defense with Dak Prescott and company. On a short week and given the Bucs struggles in prime time, I’m in believe it when I see it mode. Prediction: Bucs lose
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 2-3
Week 6: at Green Bay Packers
Acme Packing Company
This was also a situation where we had to venture outside of SB Nation. Here is what the Green Bay Press Gazette had to say about the game.
Here’s the thing, though: If Parsons needs an extra week, could he actually return against … his former team? Do you think Roger Goodell made sure whichever minion was responsible for the Packers schedule looked very closely at a target return date for Parsons, and stuffed that window with as many juicy matchups as possible? This can’t be coincidence. Neither can what the Packers offense did to the Cowboys defense last year in Dallas. The Packers defense didn’t get any stops either, ending that game in a tie, but here’s thinking the defense will be better this year inside Lambeau Field. Prediction: Packers win
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 2-4
Week 7: at Philadelphia Eagles
A hard fought NFC East battle against the Cowboys goes in Philly’s favor. Vic Fangio’s defense stifles the Dallas offense as Christian Parker’s unit struggles to slow down Sean Mannion.
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 2-5
Week 8: Arizona Cardinals
Week 8 – @ Dallas Cowboys, Nov 1 – Loss
I know, I know. The Cardinals recently always beat the Cowboys.
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 3-5
Week 9: at Indianapolis Colts
Stampede Blue
This one came courtesy of Colts Wire.
WIN.
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 3-6
Week 10: San Francisco 49ers
And here we are with me hoping the Cowboys can look somewhat like a football team by Week 10. Why am I hoping they are at least minimally successful? Because this could get flexed into primetime. As it stands, the 49ers get only five primetime games. Meanwhile, the Rams have the most in 2026, with seven.
The game is in Jerry World. While the Faithful could invade, I have a hunch the Cowboys are none too happy with having the 49ers either embarrass them on nationally televised regular-season games or end their season in the playoffs (also on nationally televised games). So the Cowboys will probably give the 49ers their best shot.
Even with their best shot, I think Kyle Shanahan puts together a clinic. I expect this to be a high-scoring game with a touchdown in the two-minute drill giving the 49ers the win. In the Cowboys’ home stadium. Again.
Prediction: WIN
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 3-7
Week 11: Tennessee Titans
Music City Miracles
One more dip outside of the SB Nation universe. This comes courtesy of The Tennessean.
Pick on the Cowboys for being overrated every year all you want. That’s still a mighty talented offense they’ve got.
Prediction: Cowboys 30, Titans 21
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 4-7
Week 12: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles have never lost to the Cowboys on Thanksgiving (2-0). But the Eagles are merely 1-7 in their last eight games down in Dallas … and that sole win came over Cooper Rush. Unless Dak Prescott gets hurt again, this is a loss. It’s just not easy for the Eagles to win in Dallas and it’s just not easy for the Eagles to sweep the Cowboys.
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 5-7
Week 13: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 13 vs. Dallas Cowboys – W
The DeMarcus Lawrence/Dante Fowler Jr. MNF revenge game will be one worth watching. This will be Seattle’s first time facing the Cowboys since Pete Carroll’s farewell season in 2023, so Dallas still has yet to face Mike Macdonald’s new and improved ‘Hawks squad. The Cowboys won’t be a pushover, but the Seahawks should be able to handle them at home and come away with a win over their old pal Brian Schottenheimer.
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 5-8
Week 15: at Los Angeles Rams
The Cowboys offense is one of the best in the league and having an automatic kicker in Brandon Aubrey gives them a chance to put points on the board on any drive. The Cowboys defense should be better than what they were last year making this a potential trap game for LA especially with the Rams maybe eyeing their Week 16 opponent.
Prediction: Cowboys win 27-20
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 6-8
Week 16: Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville’s primetime showdown in Jerry World is an early candidate for the team’s game of the year. Campanile won’t face a more cerebral quarterback than Prescott, Hunter may not have a fiercer challenge as a cornerback than battling against CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, and a boost from new Cowboys defensive coordinator Christian Parker could have the Cowboys right in the mix for a top playoff seed. Dallas is one of the few teams outside the NFC West that I could see being a true title contender from that conference. Jaguars 20, Cowboys 28
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 7-8
Week 17: New York Giants
It’s fair to expect that Dallas will figure out some new and interesting way to collapse late in the year. However I’m not going to expect their offense to fall off as long as Dak, CeeDee, and Pickens are healthy. Likewise, Christian Parker’s defense should be in a better place than they were in Week 1. And even if the Cowboys were mid-collapse, we should still expect them to stumble backwards into playing the Giants hard and splitting the season.
Pick – Cowboys
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 8-8
Week 18: at Washington Commanders
Commanders Lose.
COWBOYS RECORD AFTER: 9-8
It is certainly worth keeping in mind that these are written from the perspectives of each team. We can all approach predicting things with intended objectivity, but biases show. I think that this exercise proves that.
From a totality perspective though, the Cowboys finished this exercise with a 9-8 record which is only one game back of where Halprin predicted them to finish. Personally speaking, I had the team also finishing 10-7 in my first walk through this thing. I don’t think anybody out there who predicted similarly had them getting there while ending the season on a four-game winning streak, though.
Some of these things seem to be built on hope for what the other teams could ultimately wind up being. Obviously that is the case for every team. We are hoping that the Cowboys realize their own potential while equally hoping that other teams fail to do so.
Which prediction did you find to be the most farfetched? The most reasonable?
Let us know.
