Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys are set to open the 2026 season with one of the most demanding early stretches in the NFL. The NFL’s full schedule will be officially revealed on Thursday, but several big games have already been disclosed.
The Cowboys will open their season against division rivals, the New York Giants, on Sunday Night Football in Week 1, marking the fourth straight season they start on the road. It will also be the first time Dak Prescott’s squad has faced the Giants in a season opener since the Cowboys’ 40-0 win over them in 2023.
The trip to New Jersey is relatively short, but the late Sunday night kickoff will add strain to the Cowboys’ early schedule. With the game wrapping up well past midnight, they won’t return home until early Monday morning, cutting into valuable recovery and preparation time for Week 2.
If the Cowboys’ second game is at home, they will still face heavy travel demands early on. Over the first three weeks alone, they are expected to cover more than 6,500 miles, highlighted by a Week 3 game against the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Sept. 27.
The Cowboys have also confirmed its traditional Thanksgiving game, hosting the Philadelphia Eagles at AT&T Stadium on Nov. 26. It will be only the third Thanksgiving meeting between the rivals and their first since 2014.
Analyst Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis ranks Dallas with the fourth-toughest schedule in the NFL. He used Vegas win totals to assess strength of schedule rather than relying on previous season records that may not reflect offseason roster changes.