The 2025 Dallas Cowboys season was weird. Honestly, if you just glance at the final record—a messy 7-9-1—it looks like a total disaster. But football is rarely that simple. While the defense was statistically the worst in the league, the offense actually hummed. Dak Prescott came back from a rough 2024 to put up monster numbers, but even a 4,500-yard season couldn't save a team that gave up 30 points a game.
NFL Scores Dallas Cowboys: The 2025 Game-by-Game Reality
Looking back at the NFL scores Dallas Cowboys fans endured this year, the volatility was exhausting. They started the season with a narrow 24-20 loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia. It felt like the same old story: close, but not quite there. Then came Week 2, a wild 40-37 overtime thriller against the Giants where Dak finally looked like himself again.
But the wheels came off in Week 3. A 31-14 thumping at the hands of the Chicago Bears exposed a defense that simply couldn't stop the run. That became a recurring theme. The tie against Green Bay in Week 4 (40-40) was perhaps the most "Cowboys" game of the century—explosive offense, zero defensive resistance, and a result that left everyone unsatisfied.
A Thanksgiving Highlight in a Dark Year
If there was one bright spot, it was November 27. The Cowboys hosted the Kansas City Chiefs and pulled off a 31-28 upset. It was the most-watched regular-season game on record, peaking at over 61 million viewers. For one afternoon, Brian Schottenheimer’s squad looked like world-beaters. Prescott was efficient, the offensive line held firm, and the Cowboys actually looked like they belonged in the playoff conversation.
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Unfortunately, that momentum was short-lived. A 44-30 loss to Detroit the following week served as a cold reminder that you can't win in this league if you allow 40+ points regularly.
Why the Defense Failed Despite Offensive Success
Matt Eberflus, the defensive coordinator who was eventually let go after the season, had a nightmare year. The Cowboys finished 32nd in points against, allowing a staggering 511 points over 17 games. That’s roughly 30.1 points per game. You can have Patrick Mahomes at quarterback and still struggle to stay above .500 with those kinds of numbers.
The stats tell a lopsided story:
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- Offense: 7th in the league for points scored (471).
- Defense: 32nd in the league for points allowed (511).
- Turnover Margin: A dismal -9.
Dak Prescott finished the year with 4,552 passing yards and a 30:10 TD-to-INT ratio. Those are elite numbers. He even topped 300 yards in four of the last six games. But when the NFL scores Dallas Cowboys posted consistently featured the opponent in the 30s or 40s, Prescott was essentially playing a game of catch-up he couldn't win.
The End of the Road and the Week 18 Whimper
By the time Week 18 rolled around, Dallas was already eliminated from the playoffs. They faced the Giants at MetLife Stadium, hoping to at least finish with a .500 record. Instead, they got rolled. The 34-17 loss was a microcosm of the whole season. Dak played the first half, Joe Milton took over in the second, and the defense looked like they’d already checked out for the offseason.
It was a frustrating way to end a season that had "Super Bowl or bust" expectations back in August. Now, the franchise enters 2026 with a massive $74 million cap hit for Prescott and a coaching staff that needs a total defensive overhaul.
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What to Watch for in 2026
If you’re tracking the NFL scores Dallas Cowboys might produce next season, keep an eye on the coaching carousel. Mike McCarthy, who took the 2025 season off, is already being interviewed by the Titans and even the Giants. There’s a very real chance Dallas faces their old coach in 2026.
For the Cowboys to turn 7-9-1 into a winning record, the fix is obvious:
- Find a Defensive Identity: The 4-3 alignment under Eberflus was a sieve. The new DC needs to fix the run defense immediately.
- Protect the Investment: Dak is 32 and still productive, but the offensive line needs reconfiguring to keep him upright.
- Capitalize on Talent: Adding George Pickens was a win, but the team needs more than just a passing attack to compete in the NFC East.
The 2025 season proved that you can't just outscore your problems. Until Jerry Jones and the front office address the defensive side of the ball with the same urgency they give the offense, the "America's Team" headlines will continue to be about missed opportunities rather than championship trophies.
To stay ahead of the curve, watch the 2026 draft closely. The Cowboys are picking higher than they have in years, and their focus almost certainly has to be on the defensive line or a lockdown corner. If they ignore those needs again, expect more of the same high-scoring losses that defined their 2025 campaign.