Saturday, December 20th, 2025, marks a definitive dark day for the Dallas Cowboys. Following the Philadelphia Eagles’ 29-18 victory over the Washington Commanders to clinch the NFC East crown, the Cowboys have been officially eliminated from the 2025 playoff picture.
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An Era of Disappointment and a Defensive Collapse
This marks the second consecutive year the Cowboys have missed the postseason, ending a run of three straight appearances from 2021-2023. They finished 7-10 last season and currently sit at 6-7-1.
Despite significant changes this season—from hiring new head coach Brian Schottenheimer to the shocking trade of Micah Parsons—the team’s defense has been a catastrophe. They rank 31st in the league in points allowed (30.0 per game) and boast the NFL’s worst pass defense (254.8 yards per game).
The defensive failure is especially disappointing as Dak Prescott is enjoying a resurgent season with 3,931 passing yards and 26 touchdowns.
Entering the “Evaluation” Phase and Looking to the Future
With just three meaningless games remaining, the Cowboys’ mandate is now clear: comprehensive evaluation and building for 2026. Pressure will mount on the front office of Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Coach Schottenheimer to find answers to pressing questions: How to fix a disastrous defense? What is the future of expensive, oft-injured stars like Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland? And should they continue to build around Dak Prescott?
The 2025 season for the Dallas Cowboys is over. The offseason—and the decisions that will define the future of “America’s Team”—begins now.