The Dallas Cowboys finally ran out of road. After years of dodging international play—their last game outside the U.S. was back in 2014—the NFL appears to be collecting on that debt. And the 2026 schedule? It reads like a punishment, especially right out of the gate.

Let's start with the opening stretch, which is less a schedule and more a gauntlet. In Week 3, the Cowboys head to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for a showdown with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens. That alone would be a tough assignment. But what comes next is where the NFL really twists the knife. One week later, Dallas has to visit the stingy Houston Texans defense on a Sunday—no extended rest, no travel cushion. Then, just days after that, they face a short-week Thursday night game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And if that weren't enough, the following two weeks bring trips to Lambeau Field to face the Packers and a visit to the Eagles. Ouch indeed.

The travel miles are piling up, and the reward for all that globe-trotting? A bye week that doesn't arrive until Week 14. That's shockingly late for a team logging this many air miles. On the bright side, the timing does split up games against the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, which could offer a mental breather. But if the Cowboys suffer any early-season injuries, that prolonged wait before a reset could feel like an eternity.

Now, about the primetime slate. The NFL deserves credit for loading up on marquee matchups this season, but one game feels like a missed opportunity. On paper, this particular primetime showdown is the most "meh" of the Cowboys' national TV appearances. Considering that games against the Rams, 49ers, and Texans are all relegated to non-primetime slots, this one had to make the list. Still, you can see the league's logic: putting two rivals on the national stage while the John Harbaugh hype is at its peak in New York makes for good business. It just might not make for great football—at least not for Cowboys fans.