JUST IN:Tuesday Discussion: Where Do the Cowboys Stand in the NFC?
As we move deeper into the NFL offseason and teams begin preparing for training camps, the conversation naturally turns to power rankings and team projections. Among the most debated teams in the NFC is, as usual, the Dallas Cowboys. Love them or hate them, the Cowboys remain one of the most polarizing franchises in professional sports. But where do they truly stand in the NFC heading into the 2025 season?
In my opinion, the Dallas Cowboys are firmly in the upper tier of the NFC — likely in the top three — but just shy of being the definitive conference favorites. The San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions may currently have a slight edge, but the Cowboys are right behind them, and depending on a few key factors, they could very well be the team to beat.
Let’s start with the obvious: Dallas has one of the most talented rosters in the conference. Quarterback Dak Prescott is coming off a strong statistical season, and although his playoff performances remain a point of criticism, his regular-season consistency keeps Dallas in contention year after year. With the return of wide receiver CeeDee Lamb, who has emerged as one of the league’s top playmakers, the Cowboys possess a passing attack capable of challenging any defense in the league.
Defensively, Dallas is also in excellent shape. Micah Parsons continues to be a game-wrecker and arguably the best defensive player in the NFC. The defensive unit, coordinated by Dan Quinn last season and now under new direction, remains one of the stingiest and most aggressive in football. The secondary, led by Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, can match up with almost any wide receiver corps in the NFC.
However, Dallas’s issues arise not in talent but in execution and coaching during high-stakes games. The Cowboys have been a regular-season powerhouse, but they haven’t advanced past the Divisional Round of the playoffs since the mid-1990s. Until they can shake that stigma and perform under postseason pressure, it’s hard to place them at the very top of the NFC.
The 49ers, with their elite defense and multi-dimensional offense, remain the team to beat. The Lions are hungry, young, and well-coached. But make no mistake — Dallas is right there in the mix. If they can get over their playoff hump and improve their situational football, especially in crunch time, they have every piece necessary to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
In conclusion, I would place the Cowboys at #3 in the NFC heading into the 2025 season. They’re contenders, but they still have something to prove — especially when the games matter most.