Will the 2025 season crush Cowboys' Super Bowl dreams? New schedule raises big questions about Jerry Jones' team's playoff run

The Dallas Cowboys have made plenty of noise this offseason. From trading for dynamic wide receiver George Pickens to loading up on running backs and installing Brian Schottenheimer as their new head coach, the franchise has shown a clear intent to shake things up after last year’s disappointing 7-10 finish. But the question remains—will any of these moves actually matter when the games begin?While fans might be buzzing about the new additions and coaching shakeups, The Sporting News’ senior NFL writer Vinnie Iyer isn’t buying into the hype just yet. “The Cowboys went 7-10 as the third-place NFC East team last season,” he wrote, “and it's difficult to expect a bump to above .500 with a transitional offense under new coach Brian Schottenheimer and some lingering defensive issues.”The core concern isn’t just internal—it’s the brutal division Dallas competes in. The NFC East isn’t getting any easier. The Philadelphia Eagles enter the new season as defending Super Bowl champions, and their fellow NFC title game contenders, the Washington Commanders, are also gaining momentum. Iyer believes both of these teams will exceed expectations again. Even the New York Giants, after a smart veteran-heavy offseason, are projected to outperform their 5.5-win line.In such a competitive landscape, someone is bound to be left behind—and it looks like the Cowboys are the odd team out in many experts’ projections.Yet, as history often reminds us, preseason predictions only go so far. The gridiron doesn’t operate on speculation. Every team, including Dallas, will get the opportunity to write their own story. Whether they rise above the noise or fall further behind remains to be seen.As for their Super Bowl prospects? Let’s just say Las Vegas isn’t exactly sold. According to BetMGM, the Cowboys sit at +5500 odds to win Super Bowl LIX. That places them in the middle of the pack, sandwiched between the Miami Dolphins (+5000) and the New England Patriots (+6600). Despite the high-profile trade for Pickens, oddsmakers don’t see the Cowboys suddenly emerging as serious title contenders.And the road to proving the doubters wrong won’t be easy. Dallas opens their season against the Philadelphia Eagles in a high-stakes Thursday night clash—an immediate litmus test against a team they’ll likely be chasing in the standings all year.Then comes a gauntlet: from Week 12 to Week 17, the Cowboys face a daunting six-week stretch that includes matchups with the Eagles again, the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs, playoff hopefuls like the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, a high-powered Los Angeles Chargers squad, and a much-improved Washington Commanders team. It’s the kind of run that could make or break a season.Ultimately, the Cowboys have talent and ambition, but they’ll need more than that to survive the firestorm of the 2025 schedule. For now, all eyes are on Brian Schottenheimer’s revamped offense and how quickly it can find its rhythm. If the pieces fall into place, Dallas could surprise everyone. But if not, the critics—like Iyer—might once again be proven right.Also Read: Colts delete schedule release video after Tyreek Hill joke sparks backlash from fans and NFL community