Each and every game is important in the NFL, but there are certain ones that probably carry more weight than others for the Dallas Cowboys. With one of the toughest schedules in the league, this is something the Cowboys need to take to heart this year. One single loss could be the difference between making the playoffs or not.
With that in mind, we decided to identify what we believe to be the five toughest games on Dallas’ schedule this year, excluding NFC East division rivals. Each one of these teams are playoff contenders, and as such, should be tough matchups for the Cowboys with playoff hopes hanging in the balance.
After an international game in Rio de Janeiro against the Ravens followed by a road game against the Texans, the Buccaneers will come to Dallas. Due to all of the traveling in back-to-back weeks, anyway you look at it, this is a tough matchup against a talented team. Hopefully playing at AT&T Stadium for only the second time on the year will invigorate them and result in a victory. Otherwise, a loss could affect their postseason hopes as well as their seeding in the playoffs.
After facing the Buccaneers, the Cowboys get a 10-day reprieve before they hit the road again to take on the Packers. The matchup between these two teams last season ended in a 40-40 tie in overtime and is expected to be a close game once again. Green Bay always plays the Cowboys tough regardless of what’s on the line, but considering this could be Micah Parsons’ first game back this year there could be added incentive to win. Again, this is yet another important game for Dallas as far as how it impacts the postseason.
Ever since Kyle Shanahan started running things, the 49ers seem to have the Cowboys number. These two teams could potentially meet up in the playoffs if things play out right, making this a preview of a possible future. It also features two players who swapped teams via trade this offseason, Osa Odighizuwa and Dee Winters. This adds even more intrigue to an important matchup in the NFC. Hopefully the Cowboys can take advantage of home field advantage. A win here could cement them as serious contenders.
Playing the defending Super Bowl champions in the tough environment at Lumen Field could possibly be considered the toughest game on the Cowboys schedule this season. While the Seahawks have lost some key players both offensively and defensively this offseason, they are still considered one of the top teams in the league this year. This will be a grueling matchup for the Cowboys considering the the top teams they face previously up to this point, but hopefully they can tough it out before heading into their bye week.
After trading for Myles Garrett and the potential return of Aaron Donald from retirement, the Rams are one of the heavy Super Bowl favorites right now. This is a team who invested heavily on the defensive side of the ball and has enough talent on offense to stand toe to toe with Dak Prescott and Company. Dallas will be coming off their bye week hopefully rested and recuperated, but for the second game in a row will be attempting to pull off a victory on the road in hostile territory. At this point the season, this came could have huge playoff implications.
Multiple sources have confirmed to The Kitchen a blockbuster Major League Pickleball trade that sends Tyra Black from the Dallas Flash to the Columbus Sliders in exchange for rising women’s player Danni-Elle Townsend.
Dallas will also get an undisclosed amount of cash as part of the deal — the max per trade is $200,000.
The deal had not been made official by the league as of Sunday night, but is expected to go through.
UPDATED ROSTERS
Columbus Sliders: Andrei Daescu, CJ Klinger, Alexander Crum, Parris Todd, Tyra Black, Judit Castillo.
Dallas Flash: JW Johnson, Augie Ge, Ivan Jakovljevic, Danni-Elle Townsend, Brooke Buckner, Albie Huang.
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Columbus is having a strong season so far (12-4), and this trade makes them a serious threat to repeat as Major League Pickleball champions.
Black has previously had success with both Todd and Daescu on the PPA Tour, earning a silver in women’s doubles with Todd at this year’s Indoor National Championships in January and a bronze with Daescu in mixed doubles at the Mesa Cup in February.
It’s unclear which lineup the Sliders will go with in mixed doubles — Daescu has had success with both Todd and Black. It’s worth noting that Black has played almost all of her MLP matches with a lefty (Augie Ge) the past three seasons, so she would presumably be a good fit with CJ Klinger.
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The trade also makes sense for the Dallas Flash, who are having a down year by their standards (4-6). Black was only eligible to be kept through the remainder of 2026, while Townsend can be kept through 2028. So this move allows them to build for the future with Townsend, who has been having a great rookie season in MLP. She is 10-6 in women’s doubles this season and 9-6 in mixed doubles.
The Dallas Cowboys entered this offseason with a clear objective: to get significantly better on defense. To accomplish that goal, they added several defenders in free agency and the draft, and they may now have more defenders than they actually need.
Since Dallas has been so bad defensively, that’s not a bad thing. It just means they will have a competitive offseason and training camp, as players duke it out for roster spots. The standouts will emerge, and enter the regular season with the team, but some guys will be sent packing.
While it’s still early in the offseason, signs are already pointing to a steep uphill battle for one defender who came to Dallas this offseason. That defender is cornerback Derion Kendrick, and his time with the team could end before ever playing a game.
Kendrick only signed a one-year deal worth $1.315 million with the Cowboys, so it was clear from the start that he’d have to battle for everything. As things currently stand, the battle isn’t looking all that good for Kendrick. DaRon Bland and Cobie Durant are in line to be the two starting corners, and first-round pick Caleb Downs is penciled in as the nickel.
Behind them are Shavon Revel Jr., Devin Moore, and Reddy Steward, all guys who are higher on the priority list than Kendrick. That leaves Kendrick fighting for a third string spot, and those are usually claimed by younger players who play a big role on specials teams. Kendrick will have to prove his value early in training camp or he could be looking for a new team.
The veteran corner was drafted in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Rams in 2022, and became a contributing player for them. As a rookie, Kendrick started six of the 15 games he played in, and then started 12 in year two, while playing in all 17 games.
It seemed like Kendrick was on his way to being a late-round gem, but his career was turned upside down when he tore his ACL in July of 2024. He missed the entire 2024 season, was eventually waived by the Rams, and claimed by the Seattle Seahawks.
After 10 games in Seattle, he was waived and claimed by the Rams, going back to Los Angeles to finish the 2025 season.
That journey led him to the Cowboys this offseason, and unless Derion Kendrick has a strong training camp, the journey may continue with another team.
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