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NFL robs Commanders of the perfect way to start 2025 with a bang because of its weird love affair with the Cowboys

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Evan Winter | Last updated May 12, 2025 8:38 AM ET

The NFL schedule release is this week so naturally, all the little leaks and planned mini-announcements will dominate headlines and talking points over the next few days.

The Washington Commanders franchise found itself in the middle of a rumor last week when it surfaced that Jayden Daniels and Co. will journey to Madrid, Spain to take on the Miami Dolphins in November. That's been the only "nugget" regarding the Commanders' 2025 schedule, so far.

Many people also thought the Commanders would be a great option to play the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles during the season opener on Thursday night. Sure, the Eagles routed Washington in the NFC Championship Game, but the teams played two closely-contested matchups during the regular season, offering a baseline for future matchups.

Well, go ahead and scratch that off the list. The Commanders were passed over as the Eagles' opening-night opposition thanks to the NFL's love affair with the Dallas Cowboys:

NFL schedule: The defending Super Bowl champion #Eagles will open the 2025 NFL season on Thursday night, September 4, against the Dallas Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/a6vbYLK9t6
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) May 12, 2025

Look, I get it. No matter how bad or bland they are, the Cowboys bring ratings. But it's not like the Commanders have a vast fanbase that's as rabid as any of the rest. And it's not like they're coming off an incredible year with an incredible quarterback who has already made all kinds of history in just one NFL season.

The Commanders are one of the league's hottest teams and the Cowboys are, well, a team coming off a playoff-less season and has all kinds of questions from the head coach, to the starting quarterback, and so on.

The aura of Daniels alone will drive non-Eagles and non-Commanders fans to the TV and honestly, the thought of the Cowboys should repel a lot of those people, as they've been forced to sit through so many primetime games involving the star in the past.

But, nope. The NFL wants the Dallas Circus involved in one of the biggest games of the year. Fingers crossed it turns out to be an entertaining game and not a snoozer that could've been much better had the NFL been more concerned with providing intriguing matchups instead of lining its pockets.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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