After trading away star defender Micah Parsons, the Dallas Cowboys will be expected to stumble. In the NFC East, many will see them struggling, raising doubts about whether winning the division will even be attainable. However, according to a recent ESPN simulation, Cowboys fans will still have something to celebrate at the end of the regular season.
A season simulation by ESPN's Seth Walder has the Cowboys charting an unlikely course in 2025.
In his projection, Walder wrote that the Cowboys "win a surprise NFC East title," not by overpowering opponents but by capitalizing on vulnerability within the division.
"It wasn't that another team took the division crown from the Eagles," Walder said. "It was more about Philadelphia being sucked into the division’s overall mediocrity. And when the Eagles stumbled, Dallas took advantage."
Walder's model hints the Cowboys aren't far from playoff contention, even amid offseason turbulence. He reminds readers that the conversation entering September centers on the blockbuster trade of Micah Parsons, yet the team's backbone remains. "The foundation still included Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens," Walder wrote. Prescott, who "finished second in QBR in 2023," is enough reason to believe the offense could remain competitive.
Defense, too, will find answers. According to Walder, younger pass rushers Donovan Ezeiruaku and Sam Williams will step into larger roles.
In the end, the simulation slotted Dallas at 9-8. It's not a dominant record but sufficient to claim the NFC East crown.
Can the Cowboys pull it off? They are expected to underperform this season. But if they flip the script, it will surprise many, including the fans in Dallas.