3 Biggest Must-Win Games on the Cowboys' 2023 Schedule

1. Week 5 @ San Francisco 49ers

You might think an early-season matchup against a fellow favorite in the NFC is one of those games I mentioned above that wouldn't be a crushing loss, but that's not the case here.

Every returning Cowboys player is going to have this one circled with revenge on their mind, and it's important that we prove last year's Divisional Round result was nothing more than a fluke.

Taking on the 49ers early in the season gives Dallas a tremendous opportunity. San Francisco is a team that's expected to be in contention but could very well get off to a slow start before rounding into form later in the year.

Whether it's Brock Purdy returning from his torn UCL or Trey Lance trying to prove that he's a legit NFL starter, the Niners offense has a lot to prove and a lot to figure out early in the season.

Considering we may be competing with San Francisco for a first-round bye in the playoffs when all is said and done, holding the tiebreaker with a head-to-head win could prove crucial.