If Schottenheimer can keep his stars together in 2026, the Cowboys will be putting up a lot of points.
The biggest source of happiness for the Dallas Cowboys in 2025 was what Brian Schottenheimer did with the offense.
Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams, and Jake Ferguson all did their part in helping the Cowboys have one of the best offenses in football.
Of course, much of it was wasted thanks to a horrific defense.
But there's still more than enough to suggest that if the defense can improve to average and the offense remains intact, 2026 could be rather fruitful.
The Cowboys finished with a 7-9-1 record, despite Dak throwing for over 4,500 yards and 30 touchdowns, both Lamb and Pickens surpassing 1,000 receiving yards, and Williams rushing for over 1,000 yards.
Pickens, by the way, hasn't stopped doing his thing, as the free-agent-to-be spent Tuesday night at Super Bowl Week in the Bay Area, winning Pro Bowl Games MVP.
Pickens, one of eight Cowboys in the event, earned Offensive MVP honors for the Flag Football challenge, helping the NFC to a 66-52 comeback win.
Pickens caught three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown, scored a go-ahead TD from a Dak Prescott pass midway through the fourth quarter.
It all looked familiar and served as a reminder ...
If Dallas had a competent defense that was league average, you could make the case that the Cowboys would be a playoff team.
And for PFF's Thomas Valentine, there's one reason for optimism heading into 2026 for Dallas, and it's all because of the offense.
"The offense was one of the NFL's elite, ranking fifth in EPA per play and fourth in success rate, but the defense was one of the worst in the league," Valentine wrote.
"Decisions have to be made in the offseason. If the Cowboys retain Pickens, as well as the rest of their core, the offense could be flying again in 2026. Elite offenses persist."
Getting Pickens and Williams' futures sorted as soon as possible will ease a lot of nerves, not to mention what it will mean for the rest of the offseason.
With the potential to have over $100 million in cap space, along with two first-round picks, the offseason could be fruitful for Dallas ... if it doesn't sit on its hands.
Of course, we have seen this movie before.
But will another year of no playoff football finally spur Jerry Jones into loosening the purse strings?
He's said all the right things so far, that money isn't an object, among others, but Cowboys Nation doesn't want words. It wants action - from signing Pickens on down.
There's no denying that the Cowboys have the resources to be big players this offseason, and do so in such a way that helps their team get closer to Super Bowl success.
The offense is a reason to be optimistic heading into 2026, but if the defense isn't fixed, once again, it will be another elite offense wasted.