Blogging The Boys
These games will determine the Cowboys’ season
It’s finally here. The NFL schedule has been released and the Dallas Cowboys kick off the 66th season in their franchise’s history in grand fashion. Ahead of the full schedule being released, we were informed that the Cowboys would be hosted by the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, September 4th. This marks the second time the Cowboys have opened the season against a defending Super Bowl champion since 2012 when the Cowboys defeated the New York Giants 24-17 at Metlife Stadium.
We also learned that the Cowboys would host Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas Chiefs for Thanksgiving at AT&T Stadium. However, after seeing the Cowboys’ full schedule, those games against Philadelphia and Kansas City will have major implications for the Cowboys’ season among others. Here are the five games that will define the Cowboys season.
Minnesota went 14-3 last year and it’s impressive because they did it without their 2024 first-round draft choice, J.J. McCarthy, who spent the year on injured reserve after the team moved on from Kirk Cousins. It speaks to the coaching job of Kevin O’Connell and putting his players in a position to be successful. Justin Jefferson is a top three receiver in the NFL and a threat to gash the Cowboys’ secondary.
As a team, the Vikings are still a shade behind Detroit, but very much a Wild Card contender. Potentially losing a head-to-head matchup versus a direct challenger for a playoff spot is never a good thing and can only mean trouble when the year-end playoff scenarios come into play. Minnesota also added defensive tackle Jonathan Allen from the Washington Commanders who is sure to give the Vikings a boost to their interior defensive line. On paper, this a winnable home game for Dallas but could haunt the Cowboys in the postseason chase should they lose.
As mentioned, the NFL provided the fans with a must-see TV game in the Cowboys’ traditional Thanksgiving Day timeslot. The TV ratings will be through the roof as families across the nation gather around the table to watch the Cowboys vs. the Chiefs. Holiday spectacle aside, it’s an opportunity for the Cowboys to silence their critics. The Cowboys are being handed a litmus test against one of the best teams in recent memory. The outcome could also have a positive effect heading towards the postseason.
Since 2020, the Cowboys are 19-10 (.665) following the Thanksgiving game. It’ll be interesting how the young Cowboys’ offensive line responds to Steve Spagnuolo’s defensive front led by Chris Jones. Conversely, it’s so a great barometer for Eberflus for how he handles an offense of that caliber if the Cowboys have deep playoff aspirations.
Unfortunately, the Cowboys have let the division catch up with them and the longtime lowly Commanders overnight have accomplished a feat the Cowboys haven’t since 1995, making an NFC title game. Much of their...
