May 16, 2026, 11:07 AM CUT

Cowboys QB Dak Prescott Shrugs Off Brutal Early-Season Setup

Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

The NFL schedule for each team for the 2026 season was released on May 14, with the Dallas Cowboys playing against the New York Giants for Week 1.

After their games with the Giants and the Commanders in the first two weeks, the Cowboys are set to play three games in just 11 days, with the Week 3 game set to be played in Brazil.

When asked about his thoughts on playing internationally for the NFL and the three-game stretch, the Cowboys QB Dak Prescott wasn't worried about it.

“The travel will be tough, but it's part of growing this game," Prescott said via Joseph Hoyt of the Dallas Morning News.

Prescott admitted that while not ideal, it was a manageable situation. He took it in stride, which revealed that the players were used to such grueling schedules, including long hours of travel and crucial games every week.

"Something that we'll manage. We'll figure out the best way to take care of our bodies. We've been a part of three games in 11 days every year, pretty much with our Thanksgiving Day game, so it's nothing new. We just have to do it earlier,” he added.

Dallas Cowboys vs Detroit Lions DETROIT,MICHIGAN-DECEMBER 4: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott 4 looks to pass during the first half of an NFL, American Football Herren, USA football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Thursday, December 4, 2025 Detroit Michigan United States PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxFRA Copyright: xJorgexLemusx originalFilename:lemus-dallasco251204_npM2x.jpg

The Dallas Cowboys will play against the Baltimore Ravens for the Week 3 game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 21. They will then play the Texans in Week 4 (September 28) and the Buccaneers in Week 5 (October 4).

"What it is: if you can get on top and win those games, it happens fast,” Prescott added. “You have to make sure you're locked in and don't let those games get by you.”

Though Prescott said he will compensate for his rest by sleeping on the plane, the schedule proves otherwise for the team, with less time for resting and training.

The Cowboys had a similar four-game stretch in the 2025 season. They played against teams that had playoff wins the previous season.

Cowboys’ 2026 Schedule Mirrors Last Season’s Tough Road

The Cowboys' 2025 schedule had the team facing one of the toughest four-game stretches during weeks 12-17 in NFL history.

But while the 2025 schedule of a four-game stretch spanned 22 days from Nov 23 to Dec 14, the 2026 season kicks things up a notch. The Cowboys' three-game stretch spans just 11 days, making this year’s schedule even more brutal.

The Cowboys were the first team in league history to face teams having 14 or more wins in the previous year for a four-game gauntlet (Week 12-15).

Per Garrett Podell of CBS Sports, they also faced six consecutive games with teams boasting 11 or more wins in the prior period (Week 12-17). The Cowboys faced the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, Chargers, and Commanders last season.

The four-game stretch was one of the toughest in the league as the top four teams combined for a 58-10 record in the previous season.

So, the 2026 Cowboys schedule demands another year of depth, defense upgrade, recovery, and consistency from the team early in the season.

Written by

Archana Ramakrishnan

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit