Being a Dallas Cowboys fan has never required living in Dallas. Cowboys jerseys, hats and the famous star are everywhere, and Dallas regularly lands in some of the NFL’s biggest television windows. That can make the Cowboys easier to find nationally than many teams, but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll get every game. A Sunday afternoon Cowboys matchup can still be distributed regionally, an exclusive broadcast can move the game to another service, and traveling can change what you’re able to access through a streaming service you normally use.
The football side is worth following closely, too. Dallas finished 7-9-1 in Brian Schottenheimer’s first season as head coach, and the defense was one of the biggest reasons the Cowboys fell short of the playoffs. The response has been aggressive: a new defensive staff, two first-round defensive picks, and a roster still featuring much of the offensive talent from 2025.
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The Cowboys Are Everywhere — Until They Aren’t
Dallas is unusual because Cowboys games frequently appear in large national or regional television windows. Between NFC East rivalries, Thanksgiving, primetime games and the enormous national following surrounding the team, fans outside Texas often get Dallas without needing an out-of-market package.
But “often” isn’t the same as “always.” If the Cowboys schedule says FOX at noon, for example, your local FOX affiliate may still carry another NFL matchup. CBS and FOX distribute many Sunday afternoon games regionally, and the network listed on the schedule doesn’t guarantee every affiliate in the country will show Dallas.
For eligible Sunday afternoon Cowboys games that aren’t available through your local CBS or FOX station, check NFL Sunday Ticket. If you normally have the appropriate streaming service but it becomes unavailable specifically because you’re traveling, that’s a different problem where a VPN may potentially help.
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Dallas Cowboys 2026 Schedule and TV Guide
Dallas has a schedule befitting one of the NFL’s biggest television draws. The Cowboys open on Sunday Night Football against the Giants, play in Brazil against Baltimore, visit Green Bay on Sunday night, travel to Philadelphia for Monday Night Football and host the Eagles on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys also visit defending champion Seattle on Monday night in December.
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (CT) | TV / Streaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sept. 13 | at New York Giants | 7:20 PM | NBC |
| 2 | Sept. 20 | vs. Washington Commanders | 3:25 PM | FOX |
| 3 | Sept. 27 | vs. Baltimore Ravens — Rio de Janeiro | 3:25 PM | CBS |
| 4 | Oct. 4 | at Houston Texans | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| 5 | Oct. 8 | vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7:15 PM | Prime Video |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | at Green Bay Packers | 7:20 PM | NBC |
| 7 | Oct. 26 | at Philadelphia Eagles | 7:15 PM | ESPN |
| 8 | Nov. 1 | vs. Arizona Cardinals | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | at Indianapolis Colts | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | vs. San Francisco 49ers | 3:25 PM | FOX |
| 11 | Nov. 22 | vs. Tennessee Titans | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| 12 | Nov. 26 | vs. Philadelphia Eagles | 3:30 PM | FOX |
| 13 | Dec. 7 | at Seattle Seahawks | 7:15 PM | ESPN |
| 14 | — | BYE | — | — |
| 15 | Dec. 20 | at Los Angeles Rams | 3:25 PM | CBS |
| 16 | Dec. 27 | vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | 7:20 PM | NBC |
| 17 | Jan. 3 | vs. New York Giants | 12:00 PM | FOX |
| 18 | TBD | at Washington Commanders | TBD | TBD |
Week 18 against Washington still has its date, kickoff time and broadcaster to be determined, and eligible games can be affected by NFL flexible scheduling.
When America Really Is Watching
There are plenty of weeks when finding Dallas should be straightforward. The Cowboys have scheduled national games against the Giants, Buccaneers, Packers, Eagles, Seahawks and Jaguars, plus their traditional Thanksgiving appearance. Those broadcasts work differently from a normal regional Sunday afternoon game because they’re placed in standalone or national windows.
The weeks worth paying closer attention to are games such as Arizona, Indianapolis or Tennessee. Those are conventional Sunday windows where regional assignments can matter more. A Cowboys fan living several states away shouldn’t assume that seeing FOX beside the game automatically means their local FOX affiliate will carry Dallas.
The Case for the 2026 Cowboys
There are legitimate reasons to believe Dallas can be substantially better than the team that went 7-9-1 last season. The offense provides the clearest starting point. Dallas enters Schottenheimer’s second year with nearly all of its offensive talent returning, including Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens. Pickens’ future became an offseason storyline after Dallas used the franchise tag and paused long-term negotiations until 2027, but he attended mandatory minicamp and said he did not intend to hold out during training camp.
More importantly, Dallas didn’t pretend its biggest problems were on that side of the ball. The Cowboys used the 2026 offseason to dramatically reshape their defense. Christian Parker takes over as defensive coordinator, and Dallas used both first-round selections on defenders: Ohio State safety Caleb Downs at No. 11 and UCF edge rusher Malachi Lawrence at No. 23. Five of the Cowboys’ seven draft picks were defensive players.
Downs is particularly interesting because Dallas views him as capable of becoming a quarterback of Parker’s defense, with the versatility to play several roles in the secondary. Lawrence gives the Cowboys another young edge player after the organization spent much of the previous year figuring out how to move forward without Micah Parsons. If Dallas can maintain its offensive production while simply becoming a substantially more reliable defensive team, 7-9-1 doesn’t have to be the beginning of a long decline.
The Case Against the Cowboys
The counterargument is straightforward: Dallas has to prove that the defensive overhaul actually worked. The early portion of 2025 exposed how serious the problem had become. After the opener against Philadelphia, the Cowboys allowed at least 30 points and 385 yards in each of their next three games. Even after some improvement during the year, Dallas couldn’t sustain a playoff push, losing four of its final five games.
A rookie-heavy defensive makeover also comes with uncertainty. Downs may be one of the most highly regarded young defenders entering the league, and Lawrence adds needed pass-rushing potential, but draft pedigree doesn’t guarantee immediate NFL production. The schedule doesn’t offer much room for a slow adjustment either. Dallas faces seven teams that made the 2025 playoffs and is scheduled to travel the fourth-most miles in the league.
Where We Land
Dallas doesn’t need everything to go perfectly to improve. A healthier and more consistent defense combined with the established offensive core should make the Cowboys more competitive than their 2025 record suggests. But the bar in Dallas isn’t merely getting back above .500. That’s where the evaluation becomes harder.
The Micah Parsons Era Is Over — What Comes Next?
The defining decision of the Cowboys’ 2025 offseason happened just before the season began. Dallas traded Micah Parsons to Green Bay in exchange for defensive tackle Kenny Clark and first-round picks in 2026 and 2027. Parsons then signed a four-year extension with the Packers. For Dallas, it ended a four-season run with one of the league’s premier pass rushers and forced the organization to rethink how it would build its defense. The first season after the trade wasn’t convincing. Dallas struggled defensively, and the pass rush became one of the obvious areas requiring attention. But 2026 finally gives us a better look at the larger plan.
One of the first-round selections acquired in the Parsons trade helped give Dallas the flexibility to enter the draft with two first-rounders. The Cowboys eventually came away with Downs and Lawrence, then continued adding defensive players throughout the draft. Dallas also views the veteran trades for Quinnen Williams and George Pickens as part of the value tied to its 2026 draft capital, because its original second- and third-round selections were used in those deals.
None of that means Dallas has “won” the Parsons trade. That’s a judgment that will take years. What it does mean is that the post-Parsons Cowboys are finally starting to take shape. Rather than replacing one elite pass rusher with another single player, Dallas appears to be trying to rebuild the defense across multiple levels.
Jerry Jones and the Cowboys: When the Owner Is Part of the Story
Most NFL owners aren’t central characters every time their team makes a major football decision. Jerry Jones is different. Jones purchased the Cowboys in 1989 and remains the team’s owner, president and general manager. His tenure produced three Super Bowl championships in four seasons during the 1990s, and his impact on sports marketing, stadium development and NFL business helped earn him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a contributor in 2017.
That combination of owner and general manager makes Dallas unusual. When the Cowboys negotiate with a star player, make a blockbuster trade or change direction after a disappointing season, Jones isn’t simply the person signing off on somebody else’s football plan. He’s part of the decision-making structure itself. The Parsons trade is a perfect modern example. So are the trades for Pickens and Quinnen Williams, the decision to use the franchise tag on Pickens and the aggressive defensive approach to the 2026 draft.
That creates one of the central tensions of the Jones era. Few owners have done more to transform an NFL franchise into a massive sports brand, and the early portion of his ownership produced three championships. But Dallas has spent decades trying to return to the Super Bowl stage that once seemed almost synonymous with the Cowboys. For better or worse, that means every new Cowboys era eventually becomes part of the Jerry Jones story too.
Why Is the Cowboys Game Blacked Out?
If you’re searching for a Cowboys blackout, first determine what “blacked out” actually means in your situation.
Another NFL Game Is on CBS or FOX
This is usually regional coverage rather than a traditional blackout. CBS and FOX divide many Sunday afternoon games among different television markets, so Dallas can be shown in one region while another matchup appears elsewhere.
For eligible out-of-market Cowboys games, check NFL Sunday Ticket. The Cowboys’ own viewing guide identifies Sunday Ticket as the option for out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
The Cowboys Are on a Different Service
Check the schedule before assuming the game has been blocked. Dallas has games on NBC, Prime Video and ESPN in addition to CBS and FOX during 2026. If the Cowboys are on Monday Night Football, for example, searching your local FOX schedule isn’t going to solve the problem.
Your Normal Streaming Service Says You’re in the Wrong Location
That’s potentially a geo-restriction. If you’re traveling and a streaming service you normally use becomes unavailable because of your temporary location, a VPN may help by changing the IP location associated with your connection.
The Cowboys Aren’t Available Where You Live
That’s where the distinction between Cowboys blackout and out-of-market coverage becomes especially important. If Dallas simply isn’t the regional Sunday game assigned to your local CBS or FOX affiliate, a VPN doesn’t replace Sunday Ticket or the required broadcaster.
Watching the Cowboys From Another State
Dallas’s enormous fanbase means plenty of Cowboys fans spend every Sunday watching from somewhere other than North Texas.
A fan elsewhere in Texas can still encounter regional coverage differences depending on the week’s schedule and local television market. A Cowboys fan in Tennessee might turn on FOX and find an NFC South matchup instead. Someone in California or New York may get Dallas frequently because of the Cowboys’ national profile but still encounter regional Sunday games where another team is selected.
The solution depends on the game. If Dallas is playing on NBC, ESPN or Prime Video, use the listed national broadcaster. If it’s an eligible regional Sunday afternoon game that isn’t available through your local CBS or FOX affiliate, check Sunday Ticket.
Traveling is different. If you’re temporarily away from home and the service you normally use becomes inaccessible because of your location, that’s where a VPN may potentially help.
Can a VPN Unblock Dallas Cowboys Games?
A VPN may help unblock a Cowboys stream while traveling when your temporary location is specifically what’s preventing access.
Start by checking the schedule to identify the broadcaster. If you already have access to that service but encounter a location restriction while traveling, connect to an appropriate VPN server and reopen the streaming service you normally use.
If Dallas simply isn’t the CBS or FOX matchup assigned to your television market, you’re probably dealing with out-of-market regional coverage instead. In that situation, check NFL Sunday Ticket eligibility.
Quick Cowboys VPN Setup
We recommend ExpressVPN for sports streaming while traveling.
- Check which broadcaster has the Cowboys game.
- Open ExpressVPN.
- Connect to an appropriate server.
- Reopen the streaming service you normally use.
- Sign into your existing account and check the Cowboys stream.
A VPN doesn’t provide the actual broadcast or replace any required subscription.
Affiliate Disclosure: VPNForSports may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page, at no additional cost to you.
More Than a Football Team: The Star, America’s Team and the Cheerleaders
It’s difficult to explain the Cowboys’ place in American sports purely through wins and losses.
The “America’s Team” nickname dates to a 1978 NFL Films highlight production. Writer Bob Ryan used the phrase to describe how recognizable Dallas had become nationally after the Cowboys’ sustained success during the 1970s, and the nickname stuck.
That national identity grew alongside traditions that became bigger than an ordinary NFL game. Dallas’s Thanksgiving presence became part of the league calendar. The blue star became one of football’s most recognizable symbols. The franchise eventually moved into AT&T Stadium, giving the Cowboys a venue appropriate for a team whose games frequently feel like major events.
And then there are the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.
The organization traces its roots to 1961, when the group was known as the CowBelles & Beaux. The modern squad introduced choreographed dance routines requiring extensive training in 1972, and its national profile grew rapidly during the 1970s. The group’s cultural reach became significant enough that uniforms and other historical items were accepted into the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History.
The cheerleaders have since become recognizable far beyond game day through television, international appearances and decades of association with the Cowboys. The franchise itself refers to the group as “America’s Sweethearts,” while the Cowboys’ broader cultural footprint stretches from the cheerleaders and Thanksgiving to the star and the “America’s Team” nickname.
That helps explain something unusual about Dallas: people who barely follow the NFL often still recognize the Cowboys. It also makes the viewing problem at the beginning of this guide somewhat ironic. The Cowboys can feel like they’re everywhere in American sports, yet that still doesn’t guarantee your local FOX affiliate will actually show them on Sunday.
Dallas Has the Attention. It Needs the January Results.
The Cowboys don’t have an attention problem. They don’t need to become nationally relevant. They don’t need people to learn what the star represents, and they certainly don’t need help creating expectations. The issue is converting all of that into the kind of postseason success associated with earlier generations of Cowboys football.
Dallas won three Super Bowls during the first seven seasons of Jerry Jones’s ownership, but the franchise hasn’t returned to the Super Bowl since winning Super Bowl XXX following the 1995 season. That history is why merely producing another entertaining regular season doesn’t satisfy the expectations surrounding this team.
The 2026 Cowboys at least have a clear path toward changing the direction of the current team. Schottenheimer enters Year 2, the offense retains its major weapons, Parker gets an opportunity to reshape the defense, and Downs and Lawrence give Dallas two first-round defenders around whom it can begin building. That’s the case for optimism. The skepticism comes from how many times Cowboys fans have entered a season with reasons for optimism before.
Cowboys Game Missing? Use This 30-Second Check
If you can’t find Dallas on game day, start with the simplest explanation.
- Is another game on your local CBS or FOX station? Check whether Dallas is outside your regional coverage and whether the game is eligible for Sunday Ticket.
- Is the Cowboys game on NBC, ESPN or Prime Video? Use the broadcaster listed in the schedule above.
- Did your normal streaming service stop working after you traveled? You may be dealing with a geo-restriction, where a VPN may help unblock the service you normally use.
- Are you outside the United States? Check which broadcaster holds NFL rights where you’re located.
A Cowboys blackout, an out-of-market game and a geo-block can all result in the same frustrating outcome—Dallas isn’t on your screen—but they don’t necessarily have the same solution.
Dallas Doesn’t Need Another Interesting Season
The Cowboys will be interesting. They almost always are. Jerry Jones will be discussed. Dak Prescott will be analyzed. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will draw attention. Caleb Downs will arrive with enormous expectations, and every decision involving the defense will inevitably be compared with the choice to trade Micah Parsons.
The schedule guarantees even more attention. Dallas gets the Giants on Sunday Night Football, Baltimore in Brazil, Green Bay in primetime, Philadelphia on Monday night and Thanksgiving, Seattle on Monday Night Football and Jacksonville on Sunday night. But none of that is really the standard anymore.
Cowboys fans have already experienced nationally televised games, star players, huge expectations and regular seasons that gave them reasons to believe. What this franchise hasn’t delivered in the modern era is the January run that changes how the season is remembered. That’s why 2026 isn’t really about whether the Cowboys can become interesting again. It’s about whether Dallas can finally make all that attention lead somewhere.
