FRISCO, Texas – With the offseason program in the rear-view mirror, training camp is the last thing standing in front of the Cowboys before the 2025 season begins.
The team will head to Oxnard in mid-July before starting the preseason with three games to ramp up for their NFL opening night matchup against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
That game comes at the beginning of September, an early yet important opening four games for the Cowboys as Brian Schottenheimer jumps into his first month as an NFL head coach.
With preseason in the books, let's examine the Cowboys' schedule for the first month of the regular season football calendar:
Sept. 4 – at Philadelphia
Series History: Cowboys lead all-time series 74-58
Last Meeting(s): Nov. 10, 2024 – Eagles 34, Cowboys 6 / Dec. 29, 2024 – Eagles 41, Cowboys 7
Biggest Storyline: Could there be many better openings to the NFL season? Under the lights, standalone game between two bitter rivals that have seen a lot of change in one offseason. On one hand, the Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl win and enter the year with a new-look roster that still has the core that got them a Lombardi Trophy, and the Cowboys come into town for Brian Schottenheimer's first regular season game as an NFL head coach with the chance to play spoiler on a celebratory night in Philadelphia to start off the year on the right foot.
Eagles Offseason Recap: The Eagles lost 11 free agents this offseason, and where they'll feel it the most is on their defense after Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Darius Slay and C.J. Gardner Johnson. They all played integral roles on Philadelphia championship team, but the Eagles still have elite talent on the defensive side of the ball in guys like Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith, plus the additions of Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba through the draft. Offensively, Saquon Barkley is coming off one of the best season in NFL history at the running back position, but the Cowboys did relatively well slowing him down as much as they could in their two meetings last season.
Sept. 14 – vs. NY Giants
Series History: Cowboys lead all-time series 77-47-2
Last Meeting(s): Sept. 26, 2024 – Cowboys 20, Giants 15 / Nov. 28, 2024 – Cowboys 27, Giants 20
Biggest Storyline: The Cowboys haven't lost to the Giants since January 3, 2021, marking eight straight victories for Dallas over their division opponent. Brian Schottenheimer will look to get off on the right foot and start 1-0 at AT&T Stadium by making in nine straight games in Week 2 in the hopes of it being the beginning of the Cowboys' previous dominance at home where they went a combined 16-1 in 2022 and 2023.
Giants Offseason Recap: The Giants selected Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter with the third overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, continuing to bolster their pass rush arsenal that also includes Brian Burns, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and former Cowboy Chauncey Golston who signed with New York in free agency. They were one of two teams that traded back into the first round to select again, picking Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart with the 25th overall pick, joining a veteran room that features Russell Wilson and Jamies Winston. They also added some help in the secondary in the form of Paulson Adebo from the Saints and Jevon Holland from the Dolphins in the hopes to improve their turnover numbers, after finishing -8 in turnover margin in 2024.
Sept. 21 – at Chicago
Series History: Cowboys lead all-time series 16-12
Last Meeting: Oct. 30, 2022 – Cowboys 49, Bears 29
Biggest Storyline: Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus makes his return to Chicago after spending the last two seasons and 12 games there as the Bears' head coach. Eberflus went 14-32 in his 42 games as the head coach and Chicago could never consistently find their footing, but now Eberflus is back in Dallas and calling the defense, something that he's done well in the past. In 2023, the Bears were 1st in the league in rushing yards allowed and interceptions, the two hallmarks of an Eberflus called defense that he and the Cowboys hope will be on full display in Week 3.
Bears Offseason Recap: First overall pick Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times in his rookie season, the third most times a quarterback has been sacked in a single year in NFL history. In response, the Bears traded for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney, signed center Drew Dalman, traded for guard Jonah Jackson, and drafted Boston College OT Ozzy Trapilo in the second round. Additionally, they picked Michigan TE Colston Loveland with the 10th overall pick and Missouri WR Luther Burden in the second round, surrounding Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson with plenty of offensive weapons. They've invested a lot in the offense, and hope veteran presences like All-Pro corner Jaylon Johnson and newly signed DT Grady Jarrett can continue playing at a high level on the defensive side.
Sept. 28 – vs. Green Bay
Series History: Packers lead all-time series 22-17
Last Meeting: Jan. 14, 2024 – Packers 48, Cowboys 32
Biggest Storyline: In their sixth meeting in Arlington, the Cowboys will be looking to beat the Packers for the first time at AT&T Stadium. Green Bay is 6-0 there, with five wins over the Cowboys and a win over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. The last time these two teams met, the Cowboys suffered a shocking wild card round loss to a young Green Bay team, and will look to finally get over the hump against them on their home turf come Week 4.
Packers Offseason Recap: For the first time in 23 years, the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2025 when they called Texas wideout Matthew Golden's name. They doubled down at the position in the third round with TCU's Savion Williams to give Jordan Love plenty of options on the outside. In free agency, Green Bay's two big moves were signing guard Aaron Banks and CB Nate Hobbs to four year deals as they look to return to the playoffs for the third straight season in a brutal NFC North division that sent three teams to the playoffs last year.
