The expectations for the Dallas Cowboys heading into the 2025 season are the lowest in recent memory. In fact, their preseason win total is set at 7.5, which is the lowest oddsmakers have put the total since 2003, per Pro Football Reference. Their Super Bowl odds are among the worst in the NFC and most believe Dallas will be lucky to make the playoffs this year.
However, that is not the consensus take around the national media. There are a few who believe that the Cowboys could be in for a much better season than anyone anticipates. The reason is due to the improved passing game targets, more young offensive linemen and better health with star players.
In a recent article by ESPN and their team of beat reporters, they discussed the NFC East and the biggest questions surrounding each team. At the end of the piece, the reporters were asked who they thought would win the division during the 2025 season. Nearly all selected the Eagles, but Jordan Raanan picked the Cowboys.
"But since everyone is down on the Cowboys this season, it only makes sense they surprise and win the division. There is still some high-end talent on that roster and Dallas was good for at least 12 wins each of the previous three years that Prescott played double-digit games. So this is largely contingent on him being healthy. But to count the Cowboys out with Prescott potentially having the best weapons of his career seems silly. They will surprise."
One ESPN reporter thinks the Cowboys will take back the NFC East in 2025
The Cowboys do have a lot of high-end talent, including several first-team All-Pro selections at key spots (wide receiver, pass rusher, cornerback). And the hope is that a healthy Prescott could lead Dallas back to double-digit wins and into the postseason.
Time will tell if Brian Schottenheimer proves to be an upgrade over Mike McCarthy, but there are reasons to be optimistic about the team going into the season.
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The biggest question is if the rest of the roster is ready to compete for a division title. Dallas has lost a ton of talent over the last three seasons in free agency and has not drafted well enough to replace them. Losing key players like Jourdan Lewis, Rico Dowdle, Chauncey Golston, and Eric Kendricks in free agency has really hurt the middle of the roster.
If the Cowboys can find a handful of players to step up and fill those roles, it wouldn’t be surprising if they did get back on top in the NFC East. Plus, no one has won this division in back-to-back seasons since the early 2000s, so we should expect some chaos.
Will it be the Cowboys who will run the NFC East again in 2025? It’s not quite as far-fetched as it may seem in late June.