Who are the Dallas Cowboys’ future opponents? The Dallas Cowboys’ future opponents are determined years in advance by the NFL’s rotating scheduling formula, which ensures the team plays every NFL franchise at least once every four years. While official dates and times are released each May, the home and away matchups for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons are already locked in. Below is the full year-by-year list of future opponents for the Dallas Cowboys through 2028 Below is the full year-by-year list of future opponents for the Dallas Cowboys through 2028, including the recently confirmed 2026 International Game in Brazil. While the NFL schedule is officially released year-by-year, the league’s rotating formula allows us to project the Cowboys’ home and away opponents through the 2030 season.
Dallas Cowboys Future Opponents and Schedules

We break down the Dallas Cowboys future opponents and schedules starting with 2026, including clear home/away designations. Note that some matchups in later years (especially the “17th game” based on standings) are still TBD and will be finalized after the prior season ends. Opponents are subject to minor changes, but the rotation is locked in. Now, if and when we go to an 18-game season, we’ll come back and add the appropriate game to the given year for you.
| Year | Dallas Cowboys Schedule |
|---|---|
| 2026 | 2026 Dallas Cowboys Schedule |
| 2027 | 2027 Dallas Cowboys Schedule |
| 2028 | Coming Soon |
| 2029 | Coming Soon |
| 2030 | Coming Soon |
2026 Dallas Cowboys Opponents and Schedule
In 2026, the Cowboys are slated for a challenging schedule featuring the entire NFC West and AFC South, plus positional matchups from the NFC South and NFC North. The highlight of the season is a Week 3 trip to South America for the first-ever NFL game in Brazil.
- View the full week-by-week breakdown: 2026 Dallas Cowboys Schedule & TV Broadcasts
- Printable Version: Download the Low-Ink 2026 Cowboys Schedule PDF
- 2026-27 NFL Regular Season schedule Hub: Find all of the team schedules.
| Home Opponents | Away Opponents |
| New York Giants | at New York Giants |
| Philadelphia Eagles | at Philadelphia Eagles |
| Washington Commanders | at Washington Commanders |
| Baltimore Ravens (Rio, Brazil) | at Houston Texans |
| San Francisco 49ers | at Indianapolis Colts |
| Arizona Cardinals | at Los Angeles Rams |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | at Seattle Seahawks |
| Tennessee Titans | at Green Bay Packers (Positional) |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Positional) |
2027 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule
2027 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule The rotation shifts in 2027, with matchups against the NFC South and AFC East. Because 2027 is an odd-numbered year, the Cowboys will play 8 home games and 9 away games.
Future Planning: Detailed 2027 Dallas Cowboys Opponent Breakdown
| Home Opponents | Away Opponents |
| New York Giants | at New York Giants |
| Philadelphia Eagles | at Philadelphia Eagles |
| Washington Commanders | at Washington Commanders |
| Atlanta Falcons | at New England Patriots |
| Carolina Panthers | at New Orleans Saints |
| Buffalo Bills | at New York Jets |
| Miami Dolphins | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| NFC West TBD (Positional) | at NFC North TBD (Positional) |
| at AFC West TBD (Positional) |
2028 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule
Looking further ahead to 2028, the Cowboys will take on the NFC North and AFC North.
| Home Opponents | Away Opponents |
| New York Giants | New York Giants |
| Philadelphia Eagles | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Washington Commanders | Washington Commanders |
| Chicago Bears | Baltimore Ravens |
| Detroit Lions | Cincinnati Bengals |
| Cleveland Browns | Green Bay Packers |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | Minnesota Vikings |
| NFC South TBD (positional) | NFC West TBD (positional) |
| AFC South TBD (positional) |
These future opponent lists are based on the official NFL scheduling formula and r We’ll update this page as more details (like exact TBD matchups) are confirmed after each season.
2029 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule
The 2029 season is headlined by the return of the AFC West to the Cowboys’ schedule, meaning a highly anticipated matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. This season also sees the NFC West rotation reset.
| Home Opponents | Away Opponents |
| New York Giants | at New York Giants |
| Philadelphia Eagles | at Philadelphia Eagles |
| Washington Commanders | at Washington Commanders |
| Kansas City Chiefs | at Denver Broncos |
| Los Angeles Chargers | at Las Vegas Raiders |
| Los Angeles Rams | at Arizona Cardinals |
| Seattle Seahawks | at San Francisco 49ers |
| NFC South TBD (Positional) | at NFC North TBD (Positional) |
| AFC East TBD (17th Game) |
2030 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule
For the 2030 season, the Cowboys will match up against the NFC South and AFC South divisions. As an even-numbered year, the Cowboys are slated to have nine home games at AT&T Stadium.
| Home Opponents | Away Opponents |
| New York Giants | at New York Giants |
| Philadelphia Eagles | at Philadelphia Eagles |
| Washington Commanders | at Washington Commanders |
| Houston Texans (Governor’s Cup) | at Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Indianapolis Colts | at Tennessee Titans |
| New Orleans Saints | at Atlanta Falcons |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | at Carolina Panthers |
| NFC North TBD (Positional) | at NFC West TBD (Positional) |
| AFC North TBD (17th Game) |
How the NFL Scheduling Formula Works
While the exact dates and times are not released until May of each year, the opponents are determined years in advance by the NFL’s rotating scheduling formula. Every team’s 17-game schedule is built using these five pillars:
- Division Rivals (6 Games): Home and away against the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders.
- Rotating NFC Division (4 Games): You face one entire division from the NFC on a three-year cycle.
- Rotating AFC Division (4 Games): You face one entire division from the AFC on a four-year cycle.
- Conference Seed Matchups (2 Games): You play the teams from the other two NFC divisions that finished in the same rank as you the previous season.
- The 17th Game (1 Game): A non-conference matchup against a team that finished in the same rank as you, rotating through the opposing conference’s divisions annually.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dallas Cowboys Future Opponents
How are the Cowboys’ future opponents determined? The NFL uses a standard scheduling formula. Dallas plays six games against NFC East rivals, four games against a rotating NFC division, and four games against a rotating AFC division. The final three games are determined by the previous year’s divisional standings.
When will the Cowboys play the Kansas City Chiefs again? The Cowboys most recently faced the AFC West in 2025. Under the standard four-year rotation, Dallas is not scheduled to play the Chiefs in the regular season again until 2029. However, an earlier matchup could occur if both teams finish in the same divisional rank during a year when the AFC West is designated for the NFL’s “17th Game” inter-conference rotation.
Where can I find a printable Cowboys future opponent list? You can download a high-resolution, multi-year printable PDF of the Dallas Cowboys’ future opponents directly from this page, covering matchups through the 2030 season.
Do the Cowboys play more home or away games in the future? Under the 17-game schedule, the NFL alternates yearly between having nine home games and nine away games. In 2026, the Cowboys and the rest of the NFC are scheduled to have nine regular-season home games.