With their disappointing 2024 campaign behind them, the Dallas Cowboys can now turn their attention toward the future.
Now, what that future actually looks like as it pertains to certain players and/or coaches remains to be seen. But one thing we do know is who America's Team will face during the 2025 regular season.
While the actual '25 schedule won't be released until the spring, usually around mid-May, the full list of the 14 opponents Dallas will face next season materialized once the '24 regular season concluded.
As for how a team's 17 games are determined, the following criteria are used:
- Six games against every other team within the division — two per team; one at home and one on the road
- Four games against teams from a specific division within its conference on a rotating, three-year cycle; two at home and two on the road
- Four games against teams from a specific division in the opposing conference on a rotating, four-year cycle; two at home and two on the road
- Two games against teams from the two remaining divisions within the same conference based on the previous season's standings; one at home and one on the road.
- One game against a team from a division from the opposing conference on a rotating, four-year cycle that the team isn't already scheduled to play based on the previous season's standings.
So, how do things shape up for the Cowboys in 2025?
The Cowboys will play 10 games against playoff teams in 2025, including both of the No. 1 seeds
Here's how things break down for Dallas next season.
First, of course, the Cowboys will have their usual two games each against the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, and New York Giants.
Next, with the three-year intraconference rotation dictating that all NFC East teams will play all NFC North teams in 2025, Dallas will face the Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, and Chicago Bears.
The four-year interconference cycle dictates that all NFC East teams will play all AFC West teams, meaning the Cowboys will square off with the Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos, and Las Vegas Raiders.
As the Cowboys finished third in the NFC East, they'll play the third-place teams from the other two NFC divisions they're not already scheduled to play, meaning they'll face the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers.
Lastly, the rotating cycle dictates that every NFC East team will play the AFC East team that finished in the same position in 2024, meaning Dallas will square off with the New York Jets.
Easy enough, right?
As all AFC teams will have nine home games next season, the Cowboys will host eight games at AT&T Stadium in 2025. And here's how that split breaks down.
Cowboys 2025 home opponents
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
- Green Bay Packers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- Arizona Cardinals
Cowboys 2025 road opponents
- New York Giants
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Commanders
- Chicago Bears
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
- Carolina Panthers
For those keeping track, that's 10 games for the Cowboys against teams that made the postseason, including both No. 1 seeds. Regarding overall strength of schedule, Dallas is tied with Minnesota and Green Bay with the fifth-toughest slate in the league, as their opponents had a combined .557 winning percentage during the 2024 regular season.
So, if the Cowboys are going to get themselves back to the postseason next January, it's not going to come easy.