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The 2025 Dallas Cowboys Season: A Schedule Breakdown
The wait is over! The NFL has finally unveiled the full 2025 regular season schedule, and for Dallas Cowboys fans, it's a rollercoaster of primetime matchups, holiday classics, and some seriously tough stretches. While we knew *who* the Cowboys would play and *where*, the crucial "when" factor—the specific dates and times—was revealed on Wednesday, May 14th, leaving fans buzzing with anticipation (and maybe a little anxiety).
The season kicks off with a bang: a Thursday night showdown against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on September 4th. This primetime clash promises fireworks from the start, setting the stage for what's sure to be a dramatic NFC East battle.
- A Star-Studded Opener: Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and Micah Parsons will lead the charge against Jalen Hurts and the Eagles in a nationally televised game.
A Season of National Spotlight
The Cowboys will be featured in at least eight nationally televised games this season, a testament to their enduring popularity. This includes:
- Six primetime games (three home, three away)
- A Thanksgiving Day game against the Kansas City Chiefs (November 27th on CBS)
- A Christmas Day game against the Washington Commanders (December 25th on Netflix)
- Two Monday Night Football appearances, against Arizona and Las Vegas, tying them with the Miami Dolphins for the most MNF appearances in NFL history.
Their home opener, on September 14th against the New York Giants, marks a historic milestone: the franchise's 1,000th regular-season game. And, adding a bit of symmetry to the season, the Cowboys will close out the regular season with another game against the Giants in early January.
The full schedule reveals a challenging mix of opponents, nine of whom made the 2024 playoffs, including the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles (twice), and Washington Commanders (twice). This formidable lineup certainly tests the Cowboys’ mettle.
Winners and Losers of the 2025 Schedule
The release of the schedule inevitably leads to analysis of who benefited and who got a raw deal. Some initial takeaways:
- Winners: Washington Commanders: With eight standalone games, tied for the most in the league, the Commanders are set for a spotlight season. Their relatively soft early schedule also bodes well for their playoff aspirations.
- Losers: Dallas Cowboys: The Cowboys face a brutal stretch from Week 12 to Week 17, facing six teams that won 11+ games in 2024, including four straight who won 14+ games. This unprecedented gauntlet puts immense pressure on Dallas to start strong.
- Winners: San Francisco 49ers: Benefitting from a relatively easy schedule, the 49ers have a favorable path to a strong season.
- Losers: Philadelphia Eagles: The defending Super Bowl champions face the unusual challenge of *never* playing back-to-back home games in the 2025 season.
- Winners: Cincinnati Bengals: With the fewest travel miles of any NFL team, the Bengals could capitalize on reduced fatigue to make a deep playoff run.
- Losers: Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings face the unique challenge of playing back-to-back international games in different countries early in the season.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 NFL season promises to be electrifying, and the Cowboys' schedule is a significant part of that narrative. Their challenging slate, filled with primetime matchups and holiday games, will test the team's resilience and depth. Whether the Cowboys can navigate this challenging schedule and contend for a Super Bowl remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: it will be a season filled with excitement and high stakes.
Stay tuned for more analysis and predictions as the season approaches!
