Week 4 gives Cowboys fans a full menu of reasons to cheer for the other side.
Dallas still needs to handle its own business against the Houston Texans, but the help from around the league matters too. After Monday night’s Eagles loss to the Bears, the NFC East looks a little less suffocating, and this weekend offers another chance to chip away at the teams sitting in Dallas’ way.
Start in the division, where the rooting choices are simple: pull for the Rams over the Eagles, the Cardinals over the Giants, and the Colts over the Commanders.
Philadelphia is the one that matters most. The Rams are only 1-2, but a loss for the Eagles would do more for Dallas’ bigger picture. If Philly drops two straight, and does it at home, the temperature around that crowd could get ugly in a hurry.
New York got a break last week against the Titans, who may be the worst team in the league, and the Giants are sitting at 2-1. Arizona should be a tougher ask, and it will be interesting to see how Jameis Winston reacts to New York’s acquisition of J.J. McCarthy.
Washington is coming off a huge upset over Seattle, but Indianapolis is in the mix too at 1-2 and only a game behind Jacksonville in the AFC South. Daniel Jones has already thrown three interceptions this season, and that’s the key piece here: how he handles the Commanders’ opportunistic defense.
There’s also plenty to root for in NFC-on-NFC matchups. The Cowboys should want the Bucs to beat the Packers, the Panthers to beat the Lions, and the Falcons to beat the Saints.
The Tampa Bay-Green Bay game carries extra weight because Dallas sees both teams soon, with Tampa next week and the Packers in Week 6. The Bucs are 0-3 and down to backup QB Jalon Daniels. Even if they manage a win and get some confidence, they still have to turn around and travel to Dallas on a short week for Thursday Night Football.
Green Bay feels closer to a breakdown. Matt LaFleur is under fire, Jordan Love is shaky, and the Micah Parsons mockery has started back up.
A Packers win could stop the slide and maybe help them find some rhythm. A loss, though, could send them spiraling, and that would be ideal for Dallas’ Week 6 matchup and for clearing out another NFC obstacle.
The Panthers-Lions game is an easy one. Detroit is 2-1, Carolina is 1-2, and the Lions are the more likely team to get rolling and become a problem in the conference. If Dallas can get to 2-2, every little bit matters in the race to stay close to the top of the NFC.
Falcons-Saints is a tougher call, but the lean here is against New Orleans. Both teams are 1-2 and neither looks especially dangerous, though the Saints feel a little closer to figuring things out.
The AFC can help Dallas too. The Cowboys should be rooting for the Jets over the Bears, the Dolphins over the Vikings, the Broncos over the 49ers, and the Chargers over the Seahawks.
Minnesota and San Francisco are still unbeaten, while Chicago and Seattle are 2-1. If Dallas can get on a run, it would be nice to keep home-field advantage and even the No. 1 seed within reach. Any of those NFC contenders taking a hit would help.
There’s one AFC-only game that matters for a different reason: Browns over Steelers.
Dallas’ future draft picks keep getting more tangled with Pittsburgh, and the Joey Porter Jr. trade is the latest wrinkle. The Cowboys still have the Steelers’ 2027 fourth-round pick, so there’s every reason to keep pulling against them and hoping that pick moves as early in Saturday afternoon as possible.
The other AFC matchups don’t affect Dallas, so those are up to fantasy teams and personal preference.
In Other News...
Cardinals Rookie Back Is Giving Fans A Real Draft Debate
As October arrives, this rookie class is still waiting for a true breakout at quarterback, but the early returns at other spots have been more encouraging. Around the league, a handful of first-year players have already carved out real roles, from Jets tight end Sadiq to Cowboys linebackers Barham and Reese, while running back Jeremiyah Love and linebacker Trotter have also started to make their presence felt for their teams.
For Dallas, the most relevant takeaway is how quickly some of these rookies are forcing coaches and fans to pay attention. The Cowboys have already seen promise from Barham and Reese on defense, and the broader draft conversation is getting harder to ignore as more first-year players keep stacking good weeks. With so many early impressions still forming, the rookie debate is just starting to sharpen for teams that value immediate impact. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Face An Early Gut Check As Doubts Start Growing
The Cowboys head into Week 4 with more than just another AFC South test on the schedule. A trip to face the Texans brings injury questions on both sides, but Dallas is dealing with a particularly uneasy situation in its secondary while the offense is also drawing fresh scrutiny over Brian Schottenheimers play-calling.
For a team trying to steady itself early in the season, this is the kind of matchup that can sharpen the conversation fast. Dallas is already managing multiple key absences on defense, and the pressure only grows when the offense does not look as comfortable as it should, making Sunday a useful early measure of where the Cowboys really are. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Ferguson Gets Pulled Into A Relationship Debate Fans Will Have Thoughts On
A little off the field banter has reached Jake Fergusons orbit after Haley Cavinder and Claire Kittle appeared together on a podcast and started comparing relationship styles. The conversation centered on a familiar old issue: whether couples should work through disagreements before going to sleep or let the argument sit until the next day. Claire Kittle made the case for not going to bed angry and keeping the peace with goodnight kisses, while Haley Cavinder said she prefers to sleep on it and revisit things later.
For Cowboys fans, it is one more reminder that Fergusons name keeps popping up beyond the box score during the early part of the 2026 season. He has already been part of Dallas passing game with receptions and receiving yards on the board, while George Kittle has been doing his usual work for San Francisco. The football side of the story is straightforward enough, but the podcast debate gives Ferguson another moment in the spotlight for reasons that have nothing to do with routes, catches or yards. [Read more 🡒]