The Dallas Cowboys remain one of the biggest draws in the NFL despite their lack of success for the last 25 years. They’re one of eight teams with five primetime games on the 2021 schedule. They join the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and the New England Patriots.
That’s five NFC teams and just three AFC teams with five primetime games.
The Cowboys don’t play a noon game until week 10 of the season when they face the Atlanta Falcons.
In total, Dallas plays 11 of their 17 games in the late afternoon game or later. Just six of their matchups are played at noon and they all come week 10 and beyond.
Week 1 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Thursday, September 9th, 7:25 pm on NBC
There’s no easing into the schedule as the Dallas Cowboys take on the defending Super Bowl Champions in week one of the regular season. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing back their entire team in an attempt to go for back to back Super Bowl Championships.
Week 2 at Los Angeles Chargers
Sunday, September 19th, 3:25 pm on CBS
It doesn’t get any easier in week two as the Cowboys play their second consecutive road game to face Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and the Los Angeles Chargers. The Cowboys will face the second team in a row with an elite pass rush. A huge test for the Cowboys offensive line.
Week 3 vs Philadelphia Eagles
Monday, September 27th, 7:15 pm on ESPN
The Dallas Cowboys finally get to unveil their overhauled defense at home on Monday Night Football against their rival the Philadelphia Eagles. The Cowboys played Jalen Hurts well in last year’s matchup, but will he be the starter for Philadelphia in 2021? Tune in to find out.
Week 4 vs Carolina Panthers
Sunday, October 3rd, 12:00 pm on FOX
The Cowboys will get to face a familiar face in a new uniform in former New York Jets Quarterback Sam Darnold. After the Carolina Panthers luckily missed out on Deshaun Watson and weren’t able to secure a top-five draft pick in the NFL Draft, they traded some picks to bring in the former first-rounder. The last time the Cowboys faced Darnold, he hit fellow former Jet-turner-Panther Robby Anderson for a huge play en route to a huge upset win for the Jets. Will the Cowboys get redemption against this duo?
Week 5 vs New York Giants
Sunday, October 10th, 3:25 pm on FOX
As noted by DallasCowboys.com, Dak Prescott and the Cowboys face the Giants on the near-one-year anniversary of Dak Prescott’s season-ending ankle fracture. Though just in week five, this matchup has the potential to impact the NFC East race down the stretch.
Week 6 at New England Patriots
Sunday, October 17th, 3:25 pm on CBS
The Cowboys get another tough road test in the first half of the season as they travel to face Cam Newton (or Mac Jones) in Boston.
Week 7 BYE WEEK
Sunday, October 24th
Week 8 at Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, October 31st, 7:20 pm on NBC
Out of the bye, the Cowboys will get to face a team that they’ve beaten three out of the last four times including 2020 when Andy Dalton hit Dalton Schultz in the endzone for a go-ahead touchdown with just 1:37 remaining on the clock.
Week 9 vs Denver Broncos
Sunday, November 7th, 12:00 pm on FOX
The last time the Dallas Cowboys faced the Denver Broncos, they were blown out 42-17 in week two of the 2017 season. The Cowboys have lost six in a row dating back to September 13th, 1998. John Elway was still the quarterback. Can the Cowboys finally break the streak against the Broncos?
Week 10 at Atlanta Falcons
Sunday, November 14th, 12:00 pm on FOX
The game that continues to haunt new Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn even after his transition to the Cowboys. Last year, the Atlanta Falcons had their matchup with the Cowboys all but wrapped up. The Falcons led by as many as 19 points in the first half and 15 points in the fourth quarter. After the Falcons went up 39-24, the Cowboys scored the final 16 points of the game, including Greg Zuerlein’s 46-yard field goal after the perfectly executed helicopter onside kick.
Week 11 at Kansas City Chiefs
Sunday, November 21st, 3:25 pm on FOX
One of the most anticipated matchups on the schedule will be the Dallas Cowboys trip to Arrowhead Stadium to face former MVP and arguably the best quarterback in the NFL, the Kansas City Chiefs. This will be one of those season-defining games for Dak Prescott and the Cowboys in 2021.
Week 12 vs Las Vegas Raiders
Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, 3:30 pm on FOX
The Cowboys will get their first shot at the Las Vegas Raiders since the infamous index card first down game in 2017. The Cowboys have won three in a row dating back to 2009, the last two being decided by seven points or less.
Week 13 at New Orleans Saints
Thursday, December 2nd, 7:20 pm on FOX, NFL Network, Amazon Prime
A familiar foe with a new face at quarterback, the New Orleans Saints will play the Dallas Cowboys without Drew Brees at quarterback for the first time in nine matchups. The last two times these teams have met, it’s been a defensive battle with the scores 13-10 in favor of the Cowboys in 2018 and 12-10 in favor of the Saints in 2020. Will this one be a defensive battle or a shootout with gunslinger Jameis Winston at the helm?
Week 14 at Washington Football Team
Sunday, December 12th, 12:00 pm on FOX
The Cowboys will face the Washington Football Team for the first time in week 14 of the season. Washington’s defense is expected to be stout, yet again, the question is how much magic does Ryan Fitzpatrick have left, and can Washington make a run with the veteran quarterback.
Week 15 at New York Giants
Sunday, December 19th, 12:00 pm on FOX
The Cowboys will get their second shot at the New York Giatns when they travel for what will likely be a pivotal NFC East matchup. Prior to last season’s week 17 loss to the Giants, the Cowboys had won seven straight and swept them in 2017, 2018, and 2019.
Week 16 vs Washington Football Team
Sunday, December 26th, 7:20 pm on NBC
With Dak Prescott at the help, the Dallas Cowboys are 7-1 against the Washington Football Team since 2016. Last season’s sweep at the hand of the 2020 NFC East Champs came with Andy Dalton at quarterback and they were outscored a combined 66-19 in the two losses.
Week 17 vs Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, January 2nd, 12:00 pm on FOX
A rematch of last year’s debacle in Arizona when the Cardinals blew out the Cowboys in Andy Dalton’s first start after the Dak Prescott injury. The Cowboys will get their second shot at Kyler Murray and Kliff Kingsbury. This late in the season, this will be a huge matchup with huge playoff implications.
Week 18 at Philadelphia Eagles
Sunday, January 9th, 12:00 pm on FOX
The Cowboys will have an opportunity to finish the regular season on a high note against a division rival in what is hopefully a tune-up game for the playoffs. A chance to rest some players with minor ailments or an opportunity to get some younger guys some playing time. However, with their being just one bye in the NFL Playoffs these days, the Cowboys may push to secure better seeding if their in the playoff picture.
