First-time head coach Brian Schottenheimer is determined to lead the Dallas Cowboys back to the postseason. But will he?
Last season for the Dallas Cowboys was a trainwreck by any metric you want to use.
Beginning with the lack of signings in free agency (by design) to the poor play on the field, coupled with the devastating injuries that saw the likes of Dak Prescott, Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence, Daron Bland, Trevon Diggs, and others all miss significant time, it was a year from hell.
But what about the outlook for 2025?
This is Brian Schottenheimer's ship, and while he's only been in the job for a couple of months, changes, both big and small, are being made.
With an emphasis on a player's character, not just their ability, Schotty has brought in leaders via free agency and the draft, clearly changing the direction of the franchise's day-to-day business.
And for CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin, with a renewed focus, better player health, and a defensive change, Dallas might be set to return to the postseason under Schottenheimer.
"Dallas was looking to improve upon a 12-5 finish and playoff run going into 2024," Benjamin writes. "Instead, Dak Prescott went down again and Mike McCarthy apparently got tired of working under Jerry Jones. Now it's Schottenheimer's turn to run "America's Team" after two ho-hum years as McCarthy's offensive coordinator. And it's quite possible Prescott's return to health, plus a freshened-up defense, will bring the first-time coach into playoff relevance."
Granted, this is all subjective, and in truth, no one knows how a team will fare until real NFL bullets are flying.
But if the Cowboys can make a clean-ish run with injuries, coupled with Schottenheimer's fresh approach both on and off the field, maybe the season will have a positive vibe.
Considering the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders aren't going anywhere in terms of the NFC pecking order, and with both in Dallas' division, the playoffs do feel like a tall order.
Now, that doesn't mean they can't be obtained, but a lot would have to go right for the Cowboys to make it back to the postseason.
Will there be a Schotty-led bounce-back in 2025? Well, that's the hope, right?
