Cowboys schedule: For first time since 2005, both games against the Giants are in the early window
The Dallas Cowboys, America's Team, have six primetime games on their 2025 schedule. That total ranks second among all NFL teams, just behind the Kansas City Chiefs. The Eagles win a Super Bowl, yet they are given just five primetime matchups (it just felt necessary to put that there).
One matchup missing from all the optimal time slots for Dallas this year is against the New York Giants. Conor Orr of Sports Illustrated was the first to highlight this point in his NFL schedule column.
I'm taking a victory lap for my 2021 column on the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants no longer being premium television. Flex notwithstanding, this is the first time I can remember (research pending) this game not having even one premium time slot.
Advertisement
That sounded like an open invitation to do some digging. Even if Monday night, Thursday night, and Sunday night are considered the 'primetime slots,' any game that appears during the 4:25 pm ET window will have less competition for games or be on America's Game of the Week. Therefore, it should be considered a 'prime viewing' window for any matchup.
With that criteria in mind, it will be the first time since 2005 that the Cowboys and Giants will not have a matchup in a prime viewing window (Week 18 is currently TBD). It's not like the NFL has tried to make this change slowly. They have decided to cut cold turkey.
Last year, Dallas and New York played two Thursday night matchups, one being on Thanksgiving. The Cowboys 27-20 win over the Giants 'averaged 38.8 million viewers, the fourth most-watched Thanksgiving Day game on record and fifth most-watched NFL regular season game on record (records date back to 1988).'
Even with drawing in record-setting numbers, let's be honest—it's been a painfully one-sided matchup for years, especially in recent history.
Week 1 (2023) — Cowboys 40 Giants 0
Week 10 (2023) — Cowboys 49 Giants 17
Week 4 (2024) — Cowboys 20 Giants 15
Week 13 (2024) — Cowboys 27 Giants 20 *was 27-10 heading into the 4th quarter*
Advertisement
Dallas against New York has been a marquee matchup for the NFL, having them face off in Week 1 seven times since 2012, three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017. However, the league had to pull the plug on prime scheduling for this game with New York fading into the distance among NFC teams.
There's a chance that Week 18 could mean something if the game is put in the 4:25 pm ET window, but history will favor the fact that it probably won't happen.
You can get a discount on tickets for games from Vivid Seats ($30 off your first Vivid Seats order of $300 or more ) by using our special BTB discount code: SBN30COWBOYS
More from bloggingtheboys.com:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
38 minutes ago
- USA Today
NFL analyst says former Steelers QB Kenny Pickett deserves the benefit of the doubt with Browns
The selection of quarterback Kenny Pickett in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft might go down as one of the worst picks of former Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert. Sort of a going-away present for the Steelers in Colbert's final draft. Now, in 2025, Pickett is now on his third team in four seasons and is hoping he can get a fresh start with the Cleveland Browns and try to win the starting quarterback job. Meanwhile, most members of the Cleveland media have already requisitioned the Hall of Fame bust for rookie Shedeur Sanders and have no interest in hearing about Pickett. But NFL Network reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala says people are being too tough on Pickett. She joined the Ken Carman Show and talked up Pickett and his journey that landed him with the Browns. The Browns currently have longtime veteran Joe Flacco as the starter with Pickett as the No. 2. Then there is a battle between rookies Dillon Gabriel and the aforementioned Sanders. Since most teams only keep three quarterbacks, training camp will help the Browns decide who is the odd man out.
Newsweek
42 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Odell Beckham Delivered Quick Response to NY Giants Demand
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Waiting for his next NFL team to call, free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. seems open to that team being the New York Giants. As Beckham was one of many pro athletes to flock to Fanatics Fest this weekend, the veteran wide receiver was ordered by an audience member to join the Giants. An amused Beckham gave the fan what he wanted. "I got you," said the 32-year-old wideout. A fan tells Odell he should sign with the Giants at Fanatics Fest. 'I got you,' Odell Beckham Jr. 👀 (via @AryePulliNFL) — SleeperGiants (@SleeperGiants) June 21, 2025 Life in the NFL hasn't treated Beckham too well lately. Although his 2021 run with the Los Angeles Rams allowed him to earn his first Super Bowl ring, it came at a tough cost. After scoring in the Super Bowl, Beckham left the game during the first half with a knee injury. The team feared he tore his ACL. Beckham's worst fear was confirmed. Since Beckham's eight-game run with the Rams, he took a season off for recovery and joined the Baltimore Ravens for the 2023 NFL season. In 14 games with the Ravens, Beckham caught 35 passes for 565 yards. He ended up scoring three touchdowns during the regular season. Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants runs in for a touchdown during their game against Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium on October 8, 2017 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants runs in for a touchdown during their game against Los Angeles Chargers at MetLife Stadium on October 8, 2017 in East Rutherford, New two playoff games with the Ravens, Beckham caught just four passes for 34 yards. He failed to find the end zone in both games. Last year, Beckham looked forward to another fresh start as he joined the Miami Dolphins for the year. He started the season off on the PUP list, dealing with an injury. By October, Beckham finally made his Dolphins debut. He appeared in just nine games. After catching nine passes for 55 yards, Beckham and the Dolphins agreed to part ways. The veteran wide receiver was waived in mid-December. He hasn't been picked up since. Beckham is a long way from the player he was when he joined the Giants as their 12th overall pick in 2014 out of LSU. At the time, Beckham burst onto the scene with a 1,305-yard campaign as a rookie, scoring 12 touchdowns. He dominated secondaries throughout his first three seasons, averaging over 1,300 yards per season and totaling 35 touchdowns. During the 2017 season, Beckham played in just four games as he dealt with an ankle injury. Although he managed to cross the 1,000-yard threshold for the fourth time as a member of the Giants in 2018, New York traded Beckham to the Cleveland Browns during the 2019 offseason. Since leaving, Beckham eventually made it clear that he was still quite fond of his time with the NY Giants. It doesn't come as a surprise that he didn't shoot down the idea of going back to them recently. For more New York Giants and NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Dolphins' Tyreek Hill opens 'full court press' on Jalen Ramsey return
Miami wide receiver Tyreek Hill had a lot to say over the weekend from Fanatics Fest in New York City. Hill made his thoughts known on how the Buffalo Bills have defended him over the years. But, the 31-year-old receiver also started his public campaign to lure star cornerback Jalen Ramsey back to South Florida. "Oh, I'm going to hang out with Ramsey next week, man. So, I'm going to get him back. Full court press. I'm getting Ramsey back in a Dolphins jersey. I don't care what they said. Tampering, whatever. "We need Ramsey. He's a dog. He's one of the best corners in the league, man. Great leader. A great teammate, too. That's what he doesn't get a lot of credit for. We just need him on the Dolphins, man," Hill said. Ramsey has been at the center of trade talks dating back to April when Miami general manager Chris Grier said a Ramsey deal was "in the best interest" of all parties. As the Dolphins have worked to orchestrate a trade, Ramsey was an excused absence during Miami's recent mandatory minicamp. ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter said at the end of last week on "The Pat McAfee Show" that he still believes a Ramsey deal will get done before training camp. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler followed up on the Saturday morning edition of "SportsCenter" and reported that the Dolphins remain optimistic about finding a trade partner. If it's truly irreparable, then Miami will have to move Ramsey. But, is there still a scenario where Hill and others can get in the ear of Ramsey and sell him on the idea of remaining in South Florida? Of course, that would be contingent upon the front office pivoting from its stance that it needs to deal Ramsey. Though it still seems unlikely that Ramsey is a part of the Dolphins' future or on the roster come training camp, it's tough to argue against the idea that keeping Ramsey doesn't make Miami a better football team. Ramsey is a seven-time Pro Bowler, a three-time first-team All-Pro and a Super Bowl champion. If there's a pathway to keeping a corner around that's notched 108 passes defensed and 24 interceptions over the course of his career, then Miami would be silly to not explore it.
