The 2025 NFL schedule isn’t finalized in terms of game dates and times, but the matchups for each team have been announced. I believe it’s fair to start evaluating the Dallas Cowboys’ opponents now that the schedule is out, since teams likely have the Cowboys marked on their calendars already.
Our beloved Dallas Cowboys didn’t qualify for the playoffs in 2024, and head coach Mike McCarthy has been fired as a result. The team’s season ended with a 7-10 record and a third-place finish in the NFC East, marking the nineteenth consecutive season without a division winner repeating. Philadelphia finished the regular season with a 14-3 record, taking home the NFC East title and the second seed in the conference.
Washington finished just behind Philadelphia, securing a playoff spot with an unexpected 12-5 record. Ranked behind them was Dallas, with the New York Giants finishing last in the division with a 3-14 record, which earned them the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Today, I’ll be starting a series looking at the quarterbacks the Dallas Cowboys will be facing in the 2025 season, with one division opponent featuring a new starting quarterback.
Philadelphia Eagles
I was stuck watching the hated Philadelphia Eagles win their Wildcard game against the visiting Green Bay Packers on Sunday afternoon, and can confidently say that Jalen Hurts will stay the Eagles’ starting quarterback for years to come.
Hurts is a quarterback above the average who benefits from his unique ability to run with the football. Because of this, teams have to account for him on every snap, as he can use his legs to get out of the pocket and move the chains.
The Cowboys hold a 3-4 record when facing the Eagles with Hurts as their starting quarterback, with each of those game results seeing him perform below his career norms with a total of seven games. By limiting the threat that comes from Hurts’ running ability and making him remain in the pocket to pass the ball, the Cowboys have traditionally been successful in those situations.
Considering the Eagles’ strong 2024 record of 14-3, I’d consider a split of the season series a victory. It’ll be several months before we find out the details.
Washington Commanders
One of the biggest surprises of the 2024 season came in Washington. The Commanders, under head coach Dan Quinn in their inaugural year, concluded the season 12-5 and secured a second-place finish in the NFC East.
Washington was one of the biggest spenders in free agency, adding numerous free-agent players to rebuild the team according to Quinn’s vision. Despite this, their most significant move was selecting quarterback Jayden Daniels as second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft.
In former quarterback Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive system, Daniels used his exceptional talent to propel himself into the NFL Rookie of the Year discussion by totaling 4,459 yards and 31 touchdowns. He utilized his legs to gain 891 of those yards, resulting in 55 first downs during the season.
The Cowboys were able to limit Daniels’ impact in both games this season, but with DC Mike Zimmer likely stepping down in 2025 – will the new defensive coordinator be able to maintain that control?
New York Giants
The wild card in the 2025 division is the New York Giants. The Giants benched quarterback Daniel Jones mid-season and later released him to waivers. As substitutes, Tommy DeVito and Drew Lock don’t exactly have Giant fans feeling optimistic about their future.
After going 3-14 in the regular season, the Giants will start 2025 with a fresh slate at quarterback and the third overall pick in the draft. They’ll have a variety of options to consider, including Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward. The question remains, will the Giants even choose a quarterback that high in the draft?
They could build into the depth chart using that pick, and opt to find a quarterback on the free agent market. Maybe a name like Kirk Cousins or Sam Darnold could fill the position temporarily for a year. Either way, the Giants will have a new quarterback under center next season.
Looking for more great stories like this? Follow Inside The Star on MSN to see additional exclusive NFL coverage.
More must-reads:
- There were several key takeaways from the Green Bay Packers’ victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
- Watch: Troy Aikman offers tough verdict on Cowboys’ head coach’s first game
- Here are 11 Wild Card Round games that saw a starting quarterback throw for 300+ yards.
