Cowboys Are Not Making Lineup Changes After Week 1 Loss

One would think that in a game they never held a lead that the Dallas Cowboys might want to make some adjustments to the lineup.

by Tzvi Machlin

Sep 16, 2026

Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer.

While there were certainly worse losing efforts on Sunday than the Dallas Cowboys’ loss to the rival New York Giants, one would think that in a game they never held a lead that they might make some adjustments to the lineup.

Nope.

Speaking to the media this week, Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer announced that there will be no changes to the lineup despite the 28-20 loss.

“Not any panicking from Cowboys HC Brian Schottenheimer after one game. He says the team will not make any changes to the lineup after Sunday’s loss in New York. They will continue to lean on the players that built trust in camp,” Nick Harris of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote on Wednesday.

New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo (44) runs with the ball before being tackled during a week one opening game between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys at Metlife Stadium on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in East Rutherford, NJ.

Losing faith?

Cowboys fans already had limited faith in Schottenheimer, dating all the way back to his promotion from offensive coordinator at the end of the 2024 season following the dismissal of Mike McCarthy.

In response to this move, many believe that he is heading even closer to losing his job than achieving his first winning record:

“He should be panicking. Lose Sunday and the season is over. First win wouldn’t be until Nov. 1 against the Cardinals,” one user wrote. “Win Sunday, or it’s No. 1 overall pick time.”

“There’s a shocker. The head coach who has shown he can’t make changes or adjustments continues to prove that,” another remarked.

“Zero urgency in this team for many years. They weren’t ready to play week 1. If…they beat Washington, they will act like that’s more like it. Only to get bullied by the Ravens and Texans the following weeks. Time to start thinking about new HC candidates…” wrote a third.

“Yeah he might be fired mid season. Crazy thing for a coach to say after rated 32nd starting defense being the panthers who gave up 500 yards of offense lol. He’s gone!”

Sep 13, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) passes the ball against the New York Giants during the first quarter at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Against the Giants, the Cowboys looked almost exactly the same as the one that struggled to reach 7-10 last season: The offense was decent but unable to keep up with how much the defense struggled.

The Cowboys were also outgained by 13 minutes on time of possession.

If Schottenheimer plans on keeping his job for the rest of the season, let alone at the end of it, he’s going to need to find some remedy for what ails his team ASAP.