The Cowboys are destined to finish with a dismal 6-10-1 record in Brian Schottenheimer in his first season as an NFL head coach, per an NFL.com prediction.
FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys sit at 3-5-1 and are coming off their bye week, knowing that in most every way, their season is on the line against the Las Vegas Raiders.
A win needs to be obtained this week on "Monday Night Football.'' And the Cowboys are 3-point favorites, however comforting that is to you.
But after that? It's Struggle Town for Dallas.
The Philadelphia Eagles, Detroit Lions, and the Kansas City Chiefs present a three-week stretch that will either end Dallas' season or give it the hope many thought it wouldn't see in 2025.
We've called it "The Triple Gauntlet.'' And it is ominous.
Along those lines, NFL.com's Ali Bhanpuri, in his predictions for the second half of the season, has the wheels well and truly falling off of the Cowboys Wagon with a final and dismal 6-10-1 record for Brian Schottenheimer in his first season as an NFL head coach.
What is interesting - and by the odds, not at all wrong - is that Bhanpuri has the Cowboys going 0-3 in the gauntlet post-Raiders, with the only wins after Las Vegas being against the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants.
And let's be frank: If you were a betting person, would you put money on Dallas topping Philly, KC and Detroit?
(Psst: Here's a hint. No, you would not.)
Of course, at 6-10-1, the playoffs aren't going to be achievable for the Cowboys, and it would be a horrifying way to end the season. But this prediction is obviously based on what has transpired so far, and not even the most optimistic fan of "America's Team'' can argue with the vision of Dallas missing the playoffs.
Could there be an upturn in form, especially from the defense? Sure.
However, that is more hope than actual belief that it can happen, and given the passing attacks Dallas will face, it could get late, early, for Schottenheimer and company.
Either way, the 2025 season, ending with the record NFL.com is predicting, would be the worst mark since that fateful 2020 season that saw Mike McCarthy go 6-10.
And that isn't at all how Schottenheimer envisioned his first season would go.