Best NFC 2025 NFL Draft picks
USA TODAY’s Tyler Dragon breaks down which teams in the NFC drafted the best this year.
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The NFC has been the weaker of the two conferences in recent memory, but the Dallas Cowboys continue to fall short year after year.
Despite recent regular-season success, quarterback Dak Prescott has yet to lead Dallas beyond the divisional round in the postseason. The Cowboys have not been in the NFC Championship game since they won the Super Bowl in 1995.
According to the latest Super Bowl odds, the Cowboys are currently priced at +6600, placing them behind 18 other teams with better odds.
Dallas is one year removed from three consecutive 12-5 finishes but finished third in the NFC East in 2024 with a record of 7-10. The silver lining? There hasn’t been a repeat division champion in the NFC East for the last 20 seasons. The NFL is known for its parity and the NFC East is a prime example of that trend each year.
The Cowboys have made relatively few headlines this offseason and have engaged in minimal transactions. This is largely because of the uncertainty surrounding contract negotiations – or the lack thereof – with their star defensive player, Micah Parsons.
The most significant offseason move occurred when the team parted ways with head coach Mike McCarthy following the regular season and hired offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer as its new head coach.
The new coaching staff quickly focused on rebuilding the once-dominant offensive line by selecting Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the 12th overall pick in the draft. With Zack Martin’s retirement, addressing the offensive line became a pressing need.
Dallas faced multiple injuries to key players last season and will rely on returning a healthy squad in 2025. With an offensive core led by All-Pro wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, “America’s Team” hopes it can end a 30-year Super Bowl drought.
Below is a look at Dallas’ opponents for the 2025 NFL season.
Cowboys 2025 opponents
Here’s the full list of Cowboys opponents for 2025:
HomeNew York GiantsPhiladelphia EaglesWashington CommandersGreen Bay PackersKansas City ChiefsLos Angeles ChargersMinnesota VikingsArizona CardinalsAwayNew York GiantsPhiladelphia EaglesWashington CommandersChicago BearsDenver BroncosDetroit LionsLas Vegas RaidersNew York JetsCarolina Panthers
As they do every year, the Cowboys will play two games against each of their NFC East opponents at home and on the road.
In addition, they will play all NFC North teams and all AFC West teams once as part of the NFL’s rotating schedule.
The final three opponents – Panthers and Cardinals in the NFC and the Jets in the AFC – are based on their (third-place) finish in the division.
When is the 2025 NFL schedule release?
The NFL will announce the complete schedule for the 2025 season on Wednesday, May 14.
The schedule release has become one of the league’s major events during the offseason. On this day, the NFL reveals the full 18-week lineup of matchups for all 32 teams.
This year’s schedule release is happening one day earlier than last year’s, which took place on May 15. The NFL shared the 2024 schedule at 8 p.m. ET on that date.