With the NFL releasing the full 2025 schedule on Wednesday, it has sparked a buzz among fans. The league threw the 49ers a bone this year, handing them the easiest schedule, maybe as a little breather after last season’s heartbreak. There are some exciting matchups lined up, too, like the Broncos and the Chiefs going head-to-head on Christmas Day. And Philly playing the Commanders on Black Friday. Jerry Jones’ Cowboys will be kicking things off in the season opener against the defending champions.

The Cowboys have an exciting schedule lined up this season, and fans definitely have plenty to look forward to. The team is set to play four Thursday games, including a high-stakes Thanksgiving clash against the Kansas City Chiefs. As the NFL dropped the much-awaited 2025 schedule, Charlotte Jones, Jerry’s daughter, couldn’t hold back her excitement. Taking to Instagram Stories, she posted the Cowboys’ slate with a fitting six-word caption that echoed the hype across the country: “Are you ready for some football?“

With four Thursday Night games, Jerry Jones’ team will be in the spotlight, something very common for them. After playing the season opener and the Thanksgiving game, Dallas will play one Thursday night game against the Lions. The two will face each other on December 4. Also, the Chiefs and Broncos are not the only teams playing on Christmas this year. After having the spotlight on Thanksgiving, Jerry Jones’ team will take the gridiron on December 25 as well, against the Commanders.

With back-to-back Thursday night games on the schedule, the team certainly faces a challenge. But Dallas is no stranger to this, having played consecutive Thursday games several times before. As NBC Sports points out, “The Cowboys have played back-to-back Thursday games several times in team history, following their Thanksgiving Day game with Thursday Night Football the following week.“

Interestingly, even with the Cowboys’ packed primetime schedule, they’re not quite leading the pack.

Cowboys close behind but fall short in primetime exposure

Playing on Thanksgiving is something that Jerry Jones has followed for decades. He has made the Cowboys America’s Team by sticking to that playbook, calling the Thanksgiving game their own. Not to mention the halftime shows during those Thanksgiving Day games. Well, Clark Hunt is trying to do the same with the Chiefs. For branding the Chiefs, Hunt took a page out of Jones’ playbook.

This year, it was reported that the Chiefs requested the NFL for a Christmas Day game. “When it comes to domestic stand-alone games, the Chiefs have requested that the NFL make them a fixture on Christmas Day, according to a league source,” reported Popper and Taylor of The Athletic. Turns out, the league not only approved Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ Christmas Day request, but they also rewarded them with something extra. This season, Kansas City has seven primetime games, the most primetime games any team has ever had in NFL history. Trailing just behind are the Cowboys, with six games.

The Cowboys are kicking off the season with their new HC, Brian Schottenheimer. Their QB, Dak Prescott, is coming back from an injury. Starting the season with tough games against the Eagles and then the Giants is going to test the team. That’s why fans are excited and hyped up about what’s to come.

So, will the Cowboys’ tough start be the spark they need to rise, or will the pressure prove too much for Schottenheimer and Prescott?