The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 regular-season schedule has been released, and it’s clear that the team is in for a challenging year. With eight 2023 playoff teams on their slate, Dallas will face numerous tough contests. Here, we rank the three most difficult matchups on the Cowboys’ 2024 schedule.
3) Week 1: AT Cleveland Browns
Opening the season against the Cleveland Browns may seem like a surprising choice for one of the toughest matchups, but the Browns are set to pose significant problems for the Cowboys in Week 1. While Dallas is favored in all but three games this season, Cleveland is one of the teams tipped to edge them out.
Cleveland’s offense will be led by a healthy Deshaun Watson, who helped the team achieve a 5-1 record in his starts last year. The Browns’ receiving corps, featuring former Cowboy Amari Cooper and the newly-acquired Jerry Jeudy, adds further firepower.
Defensively, the Browns will test Dallas’ new-look offensive line from the get-go. With 49 sacks last season, Cleveland ranked sixth in the NFL, and their pass rush is spearheaded by three-time All-Pro Myles Garrett. Additionally, the Browns’ secondary is formidable, having not allowed any team to pass for over 290 yards in a game last season. Their defense led the league in defensive EPA/Play and success rate, underscoring the challenge they present.
2) Week 11: VS Houston Texans
The Week 11 matchup against the Houston Texans promises to be an exciting game, marking the first-ever clash between Micah Parsons and C.J. Stroud. Despite the home-field advantage, the Cowboys face a Texans team that emerged as a contender in the AFC last year.
Under first-year head coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans posted a 10-7 record, a dramatic improvement from their previous seasons. Houston quarterback C.J. Stroud had a stellar rookie year, with 23 touchdowns and only five interceptions. This offseason, the Texans added Stefon Diggs to their already potent offense, creating a formidable wide receiver trio with Tank Dell and Nico Collins.
This matchup is expected to be a high-scoring affair, with Dallas’ defense needing to contain Houston’s explosive offense. The challenge posed by Stroud and his receivers will be one of the biggest tests for the Cowboys’ secondary all season.
1) Week Eight: AT San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers have consistently been the Cowboys’ kryptonite. Since their Divisional Round playoff matchup in the 2021 season, the 49ers have dominated Dallas, winning their last three encounters, including a 42-10 blowout on Sunday Night Football last season.
This game is undoubtedly the toughest on Dallas’ schedule. It will serve as a crucial measuring stick to determine if the Cowboys are true Super Bowl contenders. San Francisco’s well-rounded team, combined with their recent success against Dallas, makes this the most formidable matchup of the season.
As the Cowboys prepare for a challenging 2024 season, these games will be critical in shaping their path. Facing top-tier competition right from the start will test their resilience and readiness, setting the stage for a potentially defining year in Dallas football.