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'Schotty's' First Month A Chance For Cowboys To Stake NFC Claim

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated May 15, 2025 10:16 AM ET

The NFL has released the full 2025 schedule, and Brian Schottenheimer and his Dallas Cowboys have a glorious chance to hit the ground running in the first month.

We know that Dallas opens the NFL season in Philadelphia against the Eagles, and then it's the New York Giants, Chicago Bears, and Green Bay Packers.

That is an interesting quartet of games.

And it presents the Schottenheimer era with a chance to flex it's NFC muscles...if its good enough.

Getting the Eagles Week 1 in what we think will be good weather and before they really hit their stride is a good thing for Dallas. The Giants will be improved, but the Cowboys "should" be accounting for them.

Now the next two.

The Bears at Soldier Field. Again, early in the season so weather won't be a factor, and with Caleb Williams and a team that were players in free agency with Olamide Zaccheaus, Drew Dalman, Dayo Odeyingbo, Grady Jarrett, Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson.

Oh, and they drafted Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III, too. Oh, one more thing: Offensive wizard Ben Johnson is taking charge of this offense. So Chicago will be anything but Easybeats.

Then, to round out the opening month, the Packers come to AT&T Stadium for the first time since curb-stomping Dallas in the playoffs in 2023. You don't think there will be some extra spice to that? Not to mention a chance to get one over a fellow NFC contender.

So, in the opening month, Schottenheimer's Cowboys will face the defending Super Bowl champs, an NFC up-and-comer with the Bears, and another NFC contender in the Packers.

That presents quite the opportunity for Dallas to plant its NFC flag in the ground early on - to stake an NFC claim - and to potentially get a leg up in any playoff ramifications.

If they're good enough, and if they are, Schottenheimer's Dallas era will start with an almighty bang.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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