The Dallas Cowboys' drought without an NFC Championship Game appearance (not win, just appearance) reached 30 seasons in 2025.
This year, Dallas feels as primed to make waves after shoring up its defense and bringing back wide receiver George Pickens on the franchise tag, but is that enough to end the streak? After all, last year the Cowboys entered the season +700 to win the division and 30-1 to win the conference, both their longest odds in over a decade -- and not by a small margin. That aforementioned defense allowed a league-high 30.1 PPG and forced 13 Cowboys games over the total, two more than any other team in the league. -- Kevin Pulsifer
Note: Odds by DK Sports
and subject to change.
2026 outlook: An elite offense, but will defense catch up?
The Cowboys enter 2026 with one of the league's most proven offenses but a ton of questions on defense. Dallas ranked second in total yards and seventh in scoring last season, with Dak Prescott throwing for 4,552 yards, CeeDee Lamb and Pickens forming one of the league's best receiving duos, and Javonte Williams rushing for a career-high 1,201 yards. The big concern, however, is a defense that finished last in scoring and allowed a franchise-record 511 points, prompting the Cowboys to hire Christian Parker as defensive coordinator, trade for LB Rashan Gary, add S Jalen Thompson in free agency and draft S Caleb Downs. Dallas has enough offensive firepower to stay competitive every week, but everything hinges on how much better the defense can be. If that unit simply becomes respectable, the Cowboys should be right back in the playoff mix and become an interesting team to target in win total and postseason markets. -- Eric Moody
Best bet: Cowboys NFC East winner (+235)
The Cowboys have a legitimate path to winning the NFC East if their revamped defense takes even a modest step forward. Dallas already features one of the league's most explosive offenses, led by Prescott, Lamb and Pickens. Prescott also looks like an intriguing bet for NFL MVP at 13-1 after leading the league's second-best passing offense in 2025. If Dallas pushes toward 11 or 12 wins and Prescott delivers another elite season, both the division title and MVP conversation are firmly in play. -- Moody
