Why aren’t the Dallas Cowboys playing in Week 7 of the 2024 NFL season?

The Dallas Cowboys will have to wait until the end of the month for a chance to bounce back from last Sunday’s historic defeat to the Detroit Lions. The Cowboys are one of two teams that have a bye in Week 7, with the Chicago Bears also sitting out this weekend’s NFL action.

Who do Cowboys play next in 2024 NFL season?

Following their 47-9 loss to the Lions - the franchise’s worst home defeat since Jerry Jones took over as owner in 1989 - Dallas don’t play again until October 27, when Mike McCarthy’s men visit the San Francisco 49ers in Week 8.

Dallas owner “not considering” firing McCarthy

The heavy defeat to the Lions saw the Cowboys slip back to 3-3 in the 2024 regular season - a record that leaves ‘America’s Team’ outside of the postseason spots as they chase a first Super Bowl title since 1995. However, Jones has backed McCarthy as Dallas head coach: when asked whether he could replace the 60-year-old, he told reporters: “Oh, I haven’t even considered that. I’m not considering that. Just so you’re clear, I’m not considering that.”

“Our basics are not in order”

Speaking to the media earlier this week, McCarthy said his team will work on its application of football’s “fundamentals” ahead of the 49ers clash.

“Really our basics are not in order,” he said, in response to a question about what he told his players after their blowout defeat to Detroit. “It’s stating the obvious - it starts with the turnover ratio. Fundamentals in football are part of your everyday existence and we cannot function where we are, as far as the number of giveaways and a lack of takeaways [are concerned]. So I just really kept it about football, and the technique, fundamentals and how you improve that. The number of moving parts - we need to be more connected, more uniform.”

McCarthy also explained that he and his coaching team have set about analysing how their tactical approach contributed to the Lions loss.

“We have to take a hard look at the way we played that game,” he said. “That’s what we’ve done as a staff. Did we try to get into a sprint with a car that was going faster than we were, that we couldn’t keep up with? Just all those things. I think you have to look at all that, reassess. We’ll have a good plan to go out there in San Francisco, get that win.”

NFL 2024 Week 7: full schedule

Thursday October 17:

Denver Broncos 33-10 New Orleans Saints

Sunday October 20:

9:30 a.m. ET: New England Patriots vs Jacksonville Jaguars

1:00 p.m. ET: Seattle Seahawks vs Atlanta Falcons

1:00 p.m. ET: Tennessee Tians vs Buffalo Bills

1:00 p.m. ET: Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns

1:00 p.m. ET: Houston Texans vs Green Bay Packers

1:00 p.m. ET: Miami Dolphins vs Indianapolis Colts

1:00 p.m. ET: Detroit Lions vs Minnesota Vikings

1:00 p.m. ET: Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Giants

4:05 p.m. ET: Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Rams

4:05 p.m. ET: Carolina Panthers vs Washington Commanders

4:25 p.m. ET: Kansas City Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers

8:20 p.m. ET: New York Jets vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Monday October 21:

8:15 p.m. ET: Baltimore Ravens vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

9:00 p.m. ET: Los Angeles Chargers vs Arizona Cardinals

Cowboys vs 49ers: when, where, how to watch?

The Cowboys return to NFL action against the 49ers on Sunday October 27, with kick-off at Levi’s Stadium scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET/5:20 p.m. PT. Viewers in the US will be able to watch the game on NBC, Telemundo and Universo.