Dallas Cowboys face a daunting 2026 schedule as playoff hopes are questioned

Analysts, including Colin Cowherd, anticipate the Dallas Cowboys will struggle in the 2026 NFL season, projecting a record of 7‑10 or 8‑9 despite a praised draft class that featured safety Caleb Downs and edge rusher Malachi Lawrence. The team’s schedule is unusually tough, with eight games against 2025 playoff teams—including two match‑ups with the Philadelphia Eagles, visits to Green Bay and Pittsburgh, and a home game in Brazil against the Baltimore Ravens.

The Cowboys’ recent off‑season moves, such as franchise‑tagging receiver George Pickens, have sparked speculation about future draft strategies. ESPN’s mock draft suggests Dallas may target national‑champion wide receiver Charlie Becker in the 2027 draft to bolster the passing game.

Off the field, fans expressed superstition‑driven frustration by burying a card of quarterback Dak Prescott at Steelers’ stadium, highlighting the franchise’s long‑standing playoff woes. The Steelers recently hired former Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy, adding an ironic twist to the rivalry.

Caleb Downs, who fell to the No. 11 pick after the Cowboys traded up, spoke publicly about his disappointment, while some analysts have already hailed him as the team’s best draft pick in years.