Sunday’s matchup at Lucas Oil Stadium brings together two teams badly in need of a reset, as the Dallas Cowboys (3-5) visit the Indianapolis Colts (2-6) at 1 p.m. ET. Dallas is coming off a crushing 33-30 overtime loss to Arizona in which it led 24-10 early in the fourth quarter and 30-24 in the final minute, only for Gardner Minshew to lead an 80-yard game-tying touchdown drive before Chad Ryland won it with a 42-yard field goal in overtime. Dak Prescott completed 19 of 29 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown and added a five-yard rushing score, but Dallas managed only 261 total yards and went three-and-out on its lone overtime possession. The loss dropped the Cowboys to 3-5 and magnified a season-long problem: the defense. Dallas is allowing 26.6 points and 385.4 yards per game.
The bigger issues for Indianapolis are on the offensive side of the ball where the Colts average just 20.1 points per game. Yes, it seemed obvious the Colts were waving the white flag following midweek trades of DeForest Buckner and Quentin Nelson but to make sure there was no doubt of their intentions, they endured a smack from Jacksonville on Sunday, 42-7. The Jaguars led 28-0 at halftime and finished with 366 total yards, while the Colts’ offensive woes were on full display turning the ball over three times and amassing a mere 243 yards. Daniel Jones endured a particularly rough afternoon, finishing 19-of-28 for 144 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions, including a 92-yard pick-six, before Anthony Richardson replaced him late. Reports Monday indicated that Jones is expected to remain the starter against Dallas, with Richardson staying in the backup role.
Sunday’s game is beyond a must-win for Dallas if they are to continue to entertain any hopes of even competing for a playoff spot. The Colts’ offense has been pedestrian on its better days, but the Cowboys have made even bad offenses look elite.
The most recent meeting between these teams produced one of the wildest quarters in Cowboys’ history. On December 4, 2022, Indianapolis trailed 21-19 entering the fourth quarter in Arlington before Dallas erupted for 33 unanswered points to win 54-19. Prescott threw three touchdown passes, Tony Pollard ran for 91 yards and two scores, and the Cowboys forced five turnovers, including Malik Hooker’s 38-yard fumble-return touchdown against his former team. The recent series has otherwise gone back and forth: Indianapolis shut out Dallas 23-0 in 2018, Dallas won 42-7 in 2014, the Cowboys earned a 38-35 overtime victory in 2010, and Dallas won 21-14 in 2006.
Let’s dive into the numbers and see if we can’t find an additional sweat or two.
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Game Details and How to Watch: Cowboys vs. Colts
- Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Time: 1:00P
- Site: Lucas Oil Stadium
- City: Indianapolis, IN
- TV/Streaming: FOX
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Latest Game Odd: Cowboys vs. Colts
The latest odds as of Tuesday courtesy of DraftKings:
- Moneyline: Dallas Cowboys (-278), Indianapolis Colts (+225)
- Spread: Cowboys -6
- Total: 51.5
This game opened with Dallas favored by 1.5 points, but then the fire sale began in Indy. The Total has dropped a point after opening at 52.5.
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Rotoworld Bet Best Bets
Expert Picks & Predictions: Cowboys vs. Colts
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NFL calendar based on data points like past performance, player matchups, betting trends, and weather forecasts.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projection next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Sunday’s game between the Cowboys and the Colts:
- Moneyline: NBC Sports is staying away from a play on the Moneyline.
- Spread: NBC Sports is recommending a play on the Cowboys -6.
- Total: NBC Sports is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 51.5.
Here’s why the Cowboys’ -6 is the best bet:
On paper, this game is a total mismatch in the trenches following Indy’s trades last week. In addition, Dallas ranks 7th in offensive DVOA (12.4%), 7th in points scored (27.38 per game), 7th in touchdown percentage (4.69%), 4th in third-down conversion rate (47.52%), and 2nd in sack rate allowed (3.64%). That’s an offense that protects its quarterback and finishes drives. Indianapolis is the opposite. The Colts rank 28th in offensive DVOA (-13.2%), 26th in points scored (20.12 per game), 32nd in passing touchdowns (0.62 per game), 31st in yards per pass attempt (5.74), and 29th in touchdown percentage (2.89%). They’ve thrown nine interceptions (30th) and scored just 15 touchdowns all season (26th). The case for the Colts gets worse when looking at the numbers on the defensive side of the ball. Indianapolis ranks 30th in points allowed (27.75 per game), 30th in yards per play allowed (6.49), 30th in yards per carry allowed (4.88), 30th in yards per reception allowed (13.66), and 27th in yards per pass attempt allowed (8.37). They’ve allowed 22 touchdowns (22nd) and generated just two interceptions (31st)
Cowboys vs. Colts: Betting Trends and Stats
- The Cowboys are 4-4 against the spread this season
- The Colts are 4-4 against the spread this season
- Dallas is 6-2 to the OVER this season
- Indianapolis is 5-3 to the OVER this season
Quarterback Matchup: Cowboys vs. Colts
- Cowboys: Dak Prescott
2026 Statistics: 8GP, 2046 Passing Yards, 14 TDs, 5 INTs, 93.2 RTG, Sacked 11 times - Colts: Daniel Jones
2026 Statistics: 8GP, 1542 Passing Yards, 5 TDs, 9 INTs, 68.7 RTG, Sacked 22 times
Cowboys vs. Colts: Top Playmakers
Cowboys
- RB Javonte Williams
2026 Statistics: 8GP, 134 carries for 528 Yds, 8 TDs / 20 receptions on 25 targets for 104 Yds, 1 TD - WR CeeDee Lamb
2026 Statistics: 8GP, 60 receptions on 92 targets for 709 Yds, 6 TDs - WR George Pickens
2026 Statistics: 8GP, 39 receptions on 62 targets for 533 Yds, 2 TDs
Colts
- RB Jonathan Taylor
2026 Statistics: 8GP, 148 carries for 610 Yds, 8 TDs / 21 receptions on 30 targets for 202 Yds, 0 TDs - WR Josh Downs
2026 Statistics: 8GP, 30 receptions on 50 targets for 330 Yds, 1 TD - TE Tyler Warren
2026 Statistics: 6GP, 34 receptions on 46 targets for 231 Yds, 2 TDs
Cowboys vs. Colts: Injury Update
Cowboys
- CB Caleb Downs (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- TE Jake Ferguson (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- WR KaVontae Turpin (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- TE Luke Schoonmaker (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- LB Dee Winters (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- S P.J. Locke (concussion) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- LB Malachi Lawrence (ankle) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
Colts
- WR Anthony Gould (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- LB Bryce Boettcher (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
- CB Justin Walleyuke (undisclosed) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game
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