Why Colin Cowherd Believes Cowboys Will Fail to Live Up to Expectations in 2026

It’s been two whole seasons since the Dallas Cowboys have had a winning record and earned a playoff spot. But with a lauded draft class and some notable offseason moves, will the Cowboys get their footing back and make it to the postseason again? 

Don't count on that happening, or at least that's what Colin Cowherd thinks. Cowherd said on Tuesday’s edition of "The Herd" that he took notice of Dallas’ schedule difficulty, and does not believe it will match what oddsmakers have as its projected win total for the 2026 season. 

"Over/Under is 8.5 wins. I will take the under," Cowherd said. "I think they’re a 7-10 or an 8-9 team. I like their draft, I like their personnel, but last year they played the third-easiest schedule and won seven games, and their eight games against teams with winning records, they went 1-7."

While the full schedule for the 2026 NFL season hasn't been announced, the Cowboys know who they'll face this fall. They have eight games against teams that made the playoffs in 2025, including the Philadelphia Eagles (twice), Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. One of their designated home games will be played in Brazil, taking on a Baltimore Ravens team that had a down year in 2025. They also have to travel to Green Bay to take on the Packers, and face the Texans in Houston. And that's all before mentioning their other four matchups against divisional foes, as the New York Giants and Washington Commanders appear to be in a spot to contend for the playoffs in 2026. 

The Cowboys finished their 2025 campaign 7-9-1 in the first year of the Brian Schottenheimer era, showing some improvement from Mike McCarthy's final season as head coach in 2024. Schottenheimer was elevated to head coach in the 2025 offseason