Predicting the day and times of the Cowboys upcoming schedule

The NFL knows how to milk every ounce of their offseason to build anticipation. The Senior Bowl, the NFL Combine, and the NFL Draft have become a bigger spectacle with each passing year to lure the attention of fans as a primer before minicamps and the start of training camps. Yet, one of the most exciting aspects of the offseason is the release of the schedule. Knowing where and when the Dallas Cowboys play further adds to the immersion of the experience. Whether it’s setting days off for PTO to watch the team play or carefully strategizing your “sick days”, the release of the Cowboys schedule is some of the most fun of the offseason, with the team releasing videos to get in on the excitement.

Like last season, we wanted to predict the dates and times of all 17 of the Cowboys’ regular season games and a bit of intel on their opponents. Here’s your predicted Cowboys 2024 regular season schedule.

Week 1 at New York Giants, 8:20 PM on NBC

The trend continues. Since 2012, the Cowboys have played against the Giants in Week 1 seven times. This year will be the eighth, as the NFL can’t help itself with this matchup on opening day. This game serves as a rematch after the Cowboys destroyed the Giants in last year’s opener 40-0.

Week 2 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 PM on Fox

Dallas hosts the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2. The Buccaneers are running it back with Baker Mayfield, who had the best season of his professional career, and Mike Evans looks to record his 11th consecutive 1,000-yard season to start his career. Tampa also had a solid draft class, taking the highly coveted Duke center Graham Barton in the first round of the draft.

Week 3 at Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 PM on Fox

This is a sneaky-tough game. Yes, the Falcons missed the playoffs last year, but they were held back offensively by the stubbornness of former head coach Arthur Smith. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is a bright, young mind with experience under Sean McVay and has tremendous weapons at his disposal with Bijan Robinson, Drake London, and Kyle Pitts. Their season may revolve around the health and play of Kirk Cousins.

Week 4 vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:15 PM (Mon.) on ESPN

The Baltimore Ravens flock to Dallas in Week 3 and the second primetime game of the 2024 season. Lamar Jackson is coming off his second MVP award, but you get the sense that while the stats and accolades are nice, the fans want more, especially in the postseason. The same goes for Dak Prescott, who was a contender for the MVP award before sputtering towards the end of the season. The Cowboys are 1-5 against the Ravens with their only win against Baltimore in Prescott’s rookie season in 2016.

Week 5 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 4:25 PM on CBS

Cincinnati has arguably one of the game’s best receivers in Ja’Marr Chase, and the team has flirted with two Super Bowl appearances under head coach Zac Taylor. The Bengals are one of the few teams to get the better of Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in recent history. Their quarterback, Joe Burrow, has to fight off the injury bug and, if healthy, can light up the scoreboard. The Cowboys have handled the Bengals in their last few matchups, winning their previous five contests.

Week 6 vs. Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 PM on NBC

The first of a pivotal matchup in the NFC East. Both teams are contrasting images of one another. The Cowboys have taken the slow, laid-back approach to the offseason, opting to replenish their roster via the draft. Meanwhile, Philadelphia has been aggressive throughout the offseason, landing Saquon Barkley in free agency and Cooper DeJean at the top of the draft’s second round. Dallas versus Philadelphia is the modern-day version of the tortoise versus the hare—more on this matchup at the finish line of the NFC East race.

Week 7, Bye Week

The Cowboys get some much-needed rest for a brutal stretch on the horizon.

Week 8 at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM on Fox

Carolina has nowhere to go but up. After hiring Frank Reich as head coach last season, he was fired during the year. 2023 #1 overall draft choice Bryce Young has a steep learning curve if he hopes to keep up with his draftmates from last year’s class, which includes Will Levis and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year C.J. Stroud. Panthers Owner David Tepper has developed a reputation for being impatient, and the Panthers have more questions than answers heading into this season.

Week 9 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:25 PM on CBS

The last time the Cowboys went to Pittsburgh, the game went down to the wire and became an instant classic thanks to a touchdown run by Ezekiel Elliott in the closing minutes. Mike Tomlin-led teams are always challenging, and who will be their quarterback once the game comes around will be a mystery. The Steelers acquired Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, giving the Black and Gold an unpredictable aspect heading into the matchup.

Week 10 vs. New York Giants, 4:25 PM on Fox

The second of two games versus Big Blue. Week 10 could serve as a crossroads for the Giants. Daniel Jones is under much pressure after the Giants passed on a quarterback in April’s draft with their top pick. By this time in the season, he should be closer to his old self following an ACL injury. The question is, is Jones’ old self still a viable quarterback option? The Giants have invested a lot in Jones, and coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are giving Jones one last try before looking elsewhere. Their defense will look different without Don Martindale calling the defense and Leo Williams now with the Seattle Seahawks.

Week 11 at Washington Commanders, 4:25 PM on Fox

Dallas flies to the Nation’s capital to visit the Washington “Cowboys,” who have several ex-Cowboys throughout their organization, namely head coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt. The Commanders look to rebuild the organization with Tyler Biadasz, Dante Fowler, and Dorance Armstrong.

Week 12 vs. New Orleans Saints, 4:25 PM on Fox

New Orleans has talented skill players led by Chris Olave and Alvin Kamara, but they are weighed down by the uneven quarterback play of Derek Carr, who battled injuries to remain on the field last season. Taysom Hill is an ever-dangerous gadget option, making it hard to know what to expect from them. Meanwhile, Rashid Shaheed looks to occupy the number two role as a receiver for New Orleans and impactful on special teams.

Week 13 vs. Houston Texans, 4:25 PM (Thur.) on Fox

The irony of Thanksgiving representing food, family, and football while setting the table for an in-state rivalry between two playoff teams from last season is as rich as the food on the table that day. The upstart Texans have reloaded the offense for their gunslinger quarterback in C.J. Stroud, with whom Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons has developed a friendly rivalry. Everything is bigger in Texas, and so should be the star power of this afternoon shootout at AT&T Stadium.

Week 14 vs. Detroit Lions, 8:15 PM (Thur.) on Amazon Prime

A rematch of the most controversial call in the league last year. Taylor Decker was flagged for an ineligible receiver penalty on a two-point conversion that likely would have won the game for the Lions. Last year’s penalty drama will be discussed all week in the game’s lead-up. That game foreshadowed the aggressiveness of Lions head coach Dan Campbell and what was ultimately his undoing in the NFC title game. Expect the Lions to want their revenge against the Cowboys.

Week 15 at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 PM on Fox

To be the man, you have to beat the man. If the Cowboys have any chance of standing toe-to-toe with the 49ers, they have to show more fight than they have in their last three meetings, including two playoff losses and being outscored by the 49ers 78-45 in that span. The Cowboys can pull themselves off the mat against the defending NFC champion and maybe shock the world with a late-afternoon win at Levi’s Stadium.

Week 16 at Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM on CBS

The Browns were a surprise playoff team that survived countless injuries at quarterback and to their lead runner, Nick Chubb. Chubb is ahead of schedule in his recovery but has some obstacles to clear. The Browns have entrusted the franchise to Deshaun Watson, but he is currently looking like one of the worst trades in the franchise’s history at his current trajectory. Kevin Stefanski’s defense will do much of the heavy lifting led by the spectacular Myles Garrett.

Week 17 vs. Washington Commanders, 4:25 PM on Fox

Washington approaches the close of their first season in the Jayden Daniels era. We’ll save predictions for a later date, but you imagine this game featuring both teams going opposite directions nearing the end of the regular season.

Week 18 at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:20 PM on NBC

Finally, over the last few years, the NFC East race has gone down to the wire, with NFL fans wanting a de facto NFC East title game between the Eagles and Cowboys. Ask, and receive. In a game flexed into a primtime slot, Dallas and Philadelphia play for the NFC East title, and the Cowboys have the opportunity to be the first repeat NFC East division title winner in 20 years.