The 2026 NFL schedule is out, and the Dallas Cowboys are drawing interest with their set of matchups. After a pedestrian first year under head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the team has a certain edge when it comes to the 2026 campaign. With a solid roster on top of that, this could be a big year for ‘America’s Team.’
Cowboys Have No Short-Week Road Games in 2026 NFL Season
Managing the hurdles that come with a bulk of NFL games is often the difference in key matchups. Bye weeks, short weeks, long weeks, home games, away games, and more play a significant role in how prepared a team is for a game.
The Cowboys seem to have struck a gold mine with their schedule, given how all their games are laid out. Colin Cowherd and Jason McIntyre broke down the factors that play in Dallas’s favor on “The Herd With Colin Cowherd,” stating the one key advantage the team has this season: no short-week road games.
“Dallas has no short week road games all season,” McIntyre said. “They do play on Thursday, but it’s at home.”
“So this [the Cowboys’ edge] is a big one,” Cowherd said. “I didn’t pick this up on schedule night.”
“You see, Week 11 against Tennessee, that’s short week, right?” McIntyre continued. “So, they play on Thursday, but it’s at home. Not a big deal. And the week before is at home. So, the other thing is their two toughest opponents [are] at Seattle, [and] at the Rams… they have 11 days off before Seattle, 11 days off before the Rams. Maybe things are lining up for Dallas. Rest is a huge thing.”
The Cowboys won’t have to play a road game coming off a short week, which plays a massive role in player recovery and preparation time.
The San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, and Los Angeles Rams stand as the Cowboys’ toughest opponents so far — none of whom they’ll have to play with minimal preparation. They’ll have a full week to get ready for the Niners at home and almost two weeks for the Seahawks and Rams, respectively.
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“I’m like, ‘Wow.’ Now that’s why gamblers are gamblers, they picked that up.” Cowherd added. “I do think — again, would we both admit Schottenheimer was more effective last year than we would’ve predicted?”
“Would you now acknowledge they have more flexibility, more bodies, defensively up front, and plus Caleb Downs, than they had a year ago?” Cowherd continued. “(Yes) So, we do think their defense [has got] more resources, more good players, Caleb Downs could be Rookie of the Year.”
Things are panning out well for Dallas as preseason practice is underway. How effectively head coach Schottenheimer ultimately capitalizes on a favorable schedule remains to be seen.
Everything will depend on how the Cowboys’ defense bounces back after a horrific season last year. According to PFSN’s Defense Impact Metric, Dallas posted an impact score of 62.1, ranking last in the league.
