The Dallas Cowboys will commence their 2026 NFL season with a "Sunday Night Football" showdown against the New York Giants. This highly anticipated matchup is set to air on NBC, kicking off the league's slate of games.
The official NFL schedule release is slated for May 14th, with the full 17-week lineup for all teams to be unveiled then.
The league has also confirmed a record nine international games for the 2026 season, including a game in Brazil featuring the Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens. Further details indicate that the NFL is considering a game on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, a novel addition to the holiday schedule.
Notable Schedule Clues Emerge
While the full schedule remains under wraps until May 14th, several potential matchups and scheduling patterns have been identified. The Cowboys are slated to face teams from their division, the NFC East, multiple times, a standard league practice. Inter-conference play will see them matched against the AFC South, with opponents including the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans.
Read More: Tasmania AFL Coach Talks: Hinkley Hints at Talks, Indigenous Issues Grow
"The NFL schedule release has become a major media event. Smart managers closely analyze schedule releases before draft season."
Specific game times and broadcast details, beyond the Cowboys-Giants opener, are yet to be confirmed. However, the general structure of the season includes 18 weeks of play, with each team participating in 17 games and having one bye week. The league's approach to scheduling involves rotating divisional matchups and inter-conference play based on prior year standings and a four-year cycle.
International Expansion and Holiday Games
The NFL continues its global push with a record nine international games scheduled for the upcoming season. This expansion includes a regular-season game in Brazil, where the Dallas Cowboys will face the Baltimore Ravens. The league is also exploring a game on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, adding another unique fixture to the holiday calendar.
Background on Schedule Assembly
The construction of the NFL schedule is a complex process that considers various factors, including:
Divisional Play: Teams play their three division opponents twice, home and away.
Intra-Conference Games: Each team plays four games against teams from two other divisions within its own conference.
Inter-Conference Games: Teams play four games against teams from one division in the opposite conference.
Strength of Schedule: This is influenced by the opponents' performance from the previous season, leading to varied difficulty levels across teams.
Rotational Basis: Certain inter-conference and inter-divisional matchups rotate on a four-year cycle.
Broadcast Considerations: Prime-time games, holiday matchups, and specific network placements are factored in.
