If you’re a Cowboys fan, you probably spent most of January 2026 staring at the TV, wondering how a team with a Pro Bowl quarterback and a kicker who basically never misses ended up watching the playoffs from their couches. Again. Honestly, looking at the Dallas Cowboys standings NFL results for the 2025 season is a bit like reading a medical chart for a patient who is somehow both extremely healthy and completely falling apart.
They finished 7–9–1.
That little "1" in the tie column? That was a 40–40 overtime heart-stopper against the Packers back in September. It’s the kind of record that makes you want to throw a remote through a window, mostly because this team was actually good at moving the ball. They just couldn't stop anybody from moving it right back.
The Brutal Reality of the NFC East Rankings
When the dust finally settled on Week 18—a depressing 34–17 loss to the Giants, by the way—the Cowboys found themselves sitting in second place in the NFC East. On paper, second place sounds okay. In reality, they were miles behind the Philadelphia Eagles, who cruised to an 11–6 finish.
The gap between Dallas and the rest of the division was weirdly wide. While Washington (5–12) and the Giants (4–13) were busy fighting for top draft picks, the Cowboys were stuck in that "no man's land" of being too good to get a superstar rookie but too bad to actually matter in January.
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2025 NFC East Final Standings
- Philadelphia Eagles: 11–6 (Division Champs)
- Dallas Cowboys: 7–9–1
- Washington Commanders: 5–12
- New York Giants: 4–13
It’s kind of wild when you look at the points. Dallas actually scored 471 points this season. That’s a lot! For context, the division-winning Eagles only scored 379. But then you look at the "Points Against" column and your jaw drops. The Cowboys gave up 511 points. You simply cannot win in the NFL when your defense is giving up an average of 30 points a game. It’s mathematically exhausting.
Dak Prescott and the Statistical Paradox
Dak Prescott is currently 32, turning 33 this summer, and he just finished what was arguably one of his best statistical seasons ever. He threw for 4,175 yards. He led the league in completions. He made his fourth Pro Bowl.
And yet, here we are.
There’s this growing narrative in Dallas that the team is "wasting" Dak's prime. It’s hard to argue against it when you see him putting up elite numbers while the defense allows 44 points to the Broncos or 34 to the Chargers. Brian Schottenheimer, who took over the reins after Mike McCarthy was let go following the 2024 season, clearly leaned into the passing game. But "empty calories" is a phrase you hear a lot around the star these days.
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Dak's been vocal about it, too. After the season ended, he basically told reporters he’s going to do his "damnedest" to make sure they aren’t in this spot in 2026. He’s even mentioned wanting more input in front-office decisions. Whether Jerry Jones actually listens to a player—even his $240 million quarterback—is a whole different story.
The Defensive Collapse Nobody Saw Coming
The real reason the Dallas Cowboys standings NFL look so mediocre isn't the offense. It’s a defense that turned into a sieve. Remember when Dan Quinn had this unit playing like world-beaters? That feels like a lifetime ago.
In 2025, the Cowboys' defense ranked near the bottom of the league in almost every meaningful category:
- Opponent Yards Per Play: 6.1 (Gross)
- Red Zone Scoring: Opponents scored touchdowns on 66% of their trips inside the 20.
- Third Down Conversions: They couldn't get off the field, allowing a 47% success rate.
Basically, if you played the Cowboys in 2025, you were probably going to have a career day. The only bright spot was Brandon Aubrey. The guy is a machine. He made the All-Pro second team and continues to be the only reliable way the Cowboys put points on the board when the offense stalls in the red zone.
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Where did the leadership go?
With Mike McCarthy out of the picture (and currently interviewing for the Titans job, funnily enough), the 2025 season was supposed to be a "fresh start" under Schottenheimer. Instead, it felt like a continuation of the same old problems, just with more points on both sides of the scoreboard. The lack of a defensive identity was glaring. They tried to be a "bend but don't break" unit, but they mostly just broke.
Looking Ahead: The 2026 Draft and Beyond
So, where does this leave the Cowboys for the 2026 season? Because they finished 7–9–1, they’ll likely be picking in the middle of the first round. The consensus among scouts and local beat writers like Nick Eatman is that the team has to go defense. Specifically, they need help in the trenches.
Last year’s first-round pick, Tyler Booker out of Alabama, has been a solid addition to the offensive line, but you can’t out-block a defense that gives up 30 points.
Actionable Next Steps for the Front Office:
- Prioritize a Defensive Identity: Whether that's a new coordinator or a massive personnel shift, the 2025 data shows the current scheme is broken.
- Address the Secondary: Shavon Revel showed flashes of talent, but the unit as a whole was exploited by veteran QBs all year.
- Decide on the Running Game: Jaydon Blue has speed, but the Cowboys lacked a "bruiser" who could close out games and keep the defense off the field.
- Manage the Cap: With Dak's massive contract and several defensive stars needing extensions, Jerry Jones has some serious Tetris to play with the salary cap this spring.
The 2025 season was a rollercoaster that ended in a ditch. The talent is there—you don't lead the league in passing stats by accident—but the "standings" don't care about your yards. They care about your wins. For the Cowboys to avoid a three-peat of missing the playoffs, the focus this offseason has to shift entirely to the side of the ball that doesn't have a star on its helmet.
To stay ahead of the curve for the upcoming 2026 season, keep a close eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in February. The Cowboys' movement in the defensive tackle and safety rankings will tell you everything you need to know about whether they've actually learned their lesson from this year's defensive collapse.