Dallas’ debut in the 2025 season left a strong impression, despite all the drama and uncertainty that surrounded the team during the preseason. The departure of Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers sparked a wave of pessimism among fans and analysts alike.
Losing their best defensive player raised serious questions about whether the Cowboys could compete effectively against top opponents. At least in this first matchup, they showed that pride and determination would not be lacking as they began their new campaign.
Dak Prescott is the prime target for defenses
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott is currently the highest-paid player at his position. According to former NFL offensive lineman Taylor Lewan, that status automatically paints a target on his back, making him the main focus for opposing defenses every time he takes the field.
On Thursday, during ESPN’s Get Up, Lewan addressed the intense scrutiny and pressure Prescott faces as the leader of the Cowboys’ offense.
Dak Prescott has always been under scrutiny.”… “I’m on the personal belief that if he was wearing any other logo in the NFL, everyone’s going to be like this guy is really great. But because it’s the star, he has a target on his back, 24/7, and he needs to show it this year, because he got paid a lot of money and he’s supposed to stay upright and deliver the ball to George Pickens, and then also Ceedee Lamb.
Lewan stated.
Last year, Prescott signed a massive $240 million contract, giving him an annual salary of $60 million. That deal made him the highest-paid player in the entire league. With that kind of investment, expectations are sky-high for Prescott to lead the Cowboys deep into the postseason, ideally returning them to Super Bowl contention or, at the very least, to a conference championship game.
Forget week 1 and focus on the NY Giants
Despite falling short in their season opener against the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas showed encouraging signs that should give their fans a sense of optimism. The team appeared more disciplined and competitive than many anticipated, offering a glimpse of hope after a turbulent offseason marked by controversial decisions from owner Jerry Jones.
Week two presents a potentially more manageable challenge. The Cowboys will face the New York Giants, a team still shrouded in uncertainty as they prepare to debut veteran quarterback Russell Wilson under center.
This matchup could give Dallas their first victory of the year, although, as always in football, nothing is guaranteed until the game is played.
Looking further ahead, Dallas has a series of winnable games through week six before the schedule gets tougher. However, if they truly want to prove they can rise above the doubts surrounding them, they must deliver a statement performance against Washington in week seven, as the Commanders currently appear to be a much stronger team on paper.
- Week 3: at Chicago Bears (Sunday, September 21)
- Week 4: home vs. Green Bay Packers (Sunday, September 28)
- Week 5: at New York Jets (Sunday, October 5)
- Week 6: at Carolina Panthers (Sunday, October 12)
- Week 7: home vs. Washington Commanders (Sunday)
Head coach Brian Schottenheimer’s debut was promising, but the true test will be maintaining that same level of play in the challenging weeks ahead.
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