The Dallas Cowboys are no strangers to an eventful offseason, and 2024 has been no different. Following an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate terms with Mike McCarthy, the Cowboys were forced into a coaching change. Unfortunately, the hiring of Brian Schottenheimer as head coach didn’t spark much excitement among the fanbase. However, things have slowly started to shift for the better. Despite a rocky start, Dallas has made several promising hires around Schottenheimer, raising the hope that the team can still compete at a high level in the upcoming season.

Dallas Cowboys: 2025 Playoff Prediction Amidst a Restructured Offseason

The Cowboys enter 2025 with a clear objective: make the playoffs. With their history of bouncing back from disappointment, this might just be the season where the tides turn. After a season of high expectations followed by a letdown, including the bitter fact that their division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles, took home the Super Bowl trophy, optimism remains cautious. Fans, still nursing the wounds of a lackluster performance, are hesitant to believe in the future just yet.

The key to success for the Cowboys next season lies in the restructuring of their coaching staff, along with a strategic draft pick and smart free-agent signings. The team is focusing heavily on improving its ground game, with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer and his assistant Klayton Adams charged with making significant changes to the running game. For years, the Cowboys’ ground attack has been inconsistent, leaving Dak Prescott with limited alternatives. Schottenheimer’s goal is to balance the offense more effectively, giving Prescott the tools to succeed.
Dallas’s management, led by Jerry Jones, is clear about its expectations: the playoffs are a non-negotiable outcome. With a revamped coaching staff and sufficient time to implement these changes, Jones is determined to avoid any surprises or excuses that might derail the team’s progress. The hope is that with a fresh approach and careful planning, the Cowboys will break through the playoff barrier, something the team has struggled to do in recent years.

In a bold prediction for the 2025 season, Connor Orr of SI.com sees a playoff berth in the Cowboys’ future. Orr suggests that despite the team’s recent underachievement, their star power at critical positions will push them to succeed. He points out that the Cowboys’ star players, like Prescott, Micah Parsons, and others, give them a strong foundation, even if their offseason has been shaky. He also adds that the Washington Commanders may face challenges in Year 2 under their current regime, opening the door for Dallas to capitalize.
“The Cowboys will make the playoffs in the first year of the Brian Schottenheimer regime. Because that’s kind of how it happens, right? We spend all offseason talking about how awful the process was while forgetting that Dallas has star power at nearly all critical positions. The casualty here, in my mind, is a Commanders team that hits a Texans-like wall in Year 2 when everyone is expecting a kind of rocket ascension.”
However, for this prediction to become reality, the Cowboys must be strategic in their offseason moves. Jerry Jones must be diligent in the draft and avoid neglecting key positions or allowing valuable starters like Micah Parsons to leave. Any missteps could result in another disappointing campaign. Dallas has a tendency to rise when expectations are low and falter when they are high. The key to overcoming this pattern lies in focusing on player retention, making the right draft picks, and securing the right free agents.

If the Cowboys get these elements right, 2025 could finally be the year they live up to their potential. However, overlooking these crucial aspects could lead to another frustrating season, no matter how many coaching changes are made. Only time will tell whether Dallas can break the cycle and meet their playoff aspirations.