What to Make of the Cowboys Disappointing 2025 Season

The Dallas Cowboys' 34-17 loss to the New York Giants marks the end of what was a long and disappointing season for them. The season was filled with highs and lows, all stemming from the start of the offseason with the Micah Parsons trade rumors. Whether it was having a three-game win streak, beating the two previous Super Bowl teams, or losing to teams like the Cardinals, this season was one that Cowboys fans would like to put in the rearview and keep pushing past. With a whole lot of positives and a whole lot of negatives, what stood out this season for Dallas? 

Negatives

This season started for the Cowboys with the trade of their star pass rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, and while arguments could be made for either way of determining how the trade went, hindsight will be the dictator. This created a significant issue that everyone in the NFL recognized: the performance of the Cowboys' defense. This season, the Dallas defense allowed a franchise record of over 500 points, leaning towards the direction that it is Matt Eberflus's only season as their defensive coordinator. While Brian Schottenheimer has shown promise as a play caller, there are concerns regarding his play calling in specific areas of the field, which negatively impacted the Dallas offense. In the later games of the season, the Cowboys appeared to struggle significantly in the red zone, often settling for field goals rather than scoring touchdowns. The combination of these two issues was evident in games against Arizona and Minnesota, which were opportunities for the Cowboys to change the course of their season.  

Positives

Despite some offensive shortcomings, the Cowboys maintained one of the league's most prolific offenses, excelling in both the running and passing games. It was all behind the leadership of Dak Prescott, who had arguably the best season of his career, stats-wise and eye-test-wise. Throwing the football to star receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens certainly helped, as they became one of, if not the best, receiver duos in the league. The play of free agent running back Javonte Williams was huge as well, as he had the best season of his career in his first year in Dallas. With a strong offensive foundation in place, there is some hope for the defense. Dallas traded for star defensive tackle Quinnen Williams during the trade deadline, and he helped form a solid defensive front right away. Due to the trade involving Parsons and a poor record, possessing two first-round picks presents an excellent opportunity to strengthen the defense in a strong defensive draft class. What turned out to be a disappointing season still shows that the Cowboys have built a solid base for next season. They still have areas to clean up, but they hope the draft in April can help bring a glimmer of hope early for the Dallas faithful.