In Frisco, Texas, the anticipation is building as the NFL has unveiled the Cowboys’ 2025 schedule, setting the stage for the first year of the Brian Schottenheimer era. The Cowboys will kick off their campaign under the lights in their season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, September 4—a matchup with significant implications as both teams are considered strong contenders in the NFC.
The scheduling gods didn’t hold back on the holidays either. The Cowboys will be playing on Thanksgiving against the Kansas City Chiefs and again on Christmas Day against the Washington Commanders, making this season a crucial test of mental and physical resilience as they navigate high-stakes matchups during these festive events.
This season’s schedule is peppered with intriguing clashes against playoff teams from a year ago, specifically the Vikings, Lions, and Packers. Additionally, the Cowboys will embark on a historic venture, facing the Raiders for the first time in a regular-season game in Las Vegas on November 17—a long-awaited trip to Sin City that fans are eager to see unfold.
Diving into the numbers, the Cowboys will make history by playing four Thursday night games in 2025—the most ever for a team. These include their opening game against the Eagles, as well as thrilling matchups against the Chiefs, Lions, and Commanders later in the season. Fortunately for the Cowboys, only two of these games will require a quick turnaround, following their holiday showdowns against Kansas City and Washington.
Markedly, the Cowboys will also be featured in six primetime games throughout the 2025 season, mirroring their high-profile presence from the previous year. After a mixed performance in 2024 (3-3 in primetime), Dallas will face formidable opponents under the bright lights, including the Eagles, Packers, Cardinals, Raiders, Lions, and Vikings. This visibility is critical for building momentum as the Cowboys aim to improve upon last season’s disappointing 7-10 finish.
On top of that, 2025 marks the seventh occasion in team history where the Cowboys will face both teams that participated in the previous year’s Super Bowl. This year, the showdown against the Eagles is a given, while they will also host the Chiefs, solidifying the stakes as they face both of these elite teams within just four days.
As if that weren’t enough, the Cowboys will have their mettle tested against eight playoff teams from the 2024 season, including their division rivals—the Eagles and Commanders—as well as conference powerhouses like the Broncos and Chargers. The upcoming schedule is undeniably a gauntlet, especially considering it includes three of the four conference championship contenders, placing added pressure on the Cowboys to rise to the occasion.
Reflecting on past seasons, it’s worth noting that the Cowboys last played on both Thanksgiving and Christmas Day in 2010—a challenging year punctuated by the loss of quarterback Tony Romo. The narrative unfolds further as they prepare to face a daunting lineup leading into the holidays in what could be a pivotal moment for the franchise.
As fans gear up for the opening tilt against the Eagles, they will be counting down the 16 weeks until kickoff. In the meantime, the team will focus on vital off-season preparations, including OTAs and a mandatory mini-camp, before beginning their training camp in Oxnard.
Adding to the historical context, it’s been a long time since the Cowboys clashed with the Chiefs on Thanksgiving, with their last meeting in 1995 resulting in a Dallas victory. The fond memories of that game and the Super Bowl victory later that season serve as a reminder of the franchise’s storied past as they look to rejuvenate their championship aspirations.
Finally, as the Cowboys prepare for one of the most challenging stretches of their schedule—from Weeks 12 to 17—they will face a lineup of opponents that collectively won an impressive 81 games in the previous season. With each matchup against the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Vikings, Chargers, and Commanders, the pressure mounts. The Cowboys’ ability to navigate this grueling stretch will be critical to achieving postseason success and redefining their identity under new leadership.
The Cowboys are entering a pivotal chapter, and as the schedule unfolds, fans and analysts alike will keep a close watch on just how far this team can go in the 2025 season.
