There are not a lot of exciting football moments in May, but the one we do have is the NFL schedule release. With the full schedule for the 2025 season now released, it’s time to start looking forward to this season’s upcoming games! I love every second of Cowboys football God blesses me with but there are some games that just have a little extra something to them that gives you goosebumps just thinking about them. For me, these 5 games have the most of that “goosebump” factor heading into the season:
5. Cowboys @ Commanders (Christmas)
This rivalry is finally starting to feel like a rivalry again. The Commanders for the first time in a long time have a legitimate team, with an NFC Championship appearance last season solidifying their spot as among the best in the conference. Getting a chance to prove your mettle against a divisional opponent in their stadium with everyone watching…that’s prime goosebump material right there. Also with how late in the season this game is, it very well could be with a playoff spot on the line. It’s hard not to be hyped for this match up!
4. Cowboys @ Lions (TNF)
This game will be the next iteration in a growing rivalry. Two years ago, the Cowboys won after a controversial penalty call revered a successful Detroit Lions two point conversion. Last year, the Lions took advantage of an injured Cowboys squad to get their revenge, blowing the Cowboys out of the water. The Lions are one of the most exciting and electric teams to watch in the entire NFL, with an explosive offense that can win in many different ways. Mix that explosiveness with the serious dislike these two teams are beginning to have for each other, and you have a recipe for a game that hopefully leaves us all thrilled.
3. Cowboys vs. Packers (SNF)
The Green Bay Packers have continuously delivered Cowboys fans their most painful moments over the past decade, starting with the Dez catch (he caught it!) and going through the absolute demolition the Packers unloaded on the Cowboys the last time they made the playoffs. A chance at redemption of any kind for all the pain the Packers have inflicted on the Cowboys is enough to get my blood stirring. Every Cowboys fan will be closely watching this game, wondering if this year is the year the curse is broken and the Packers don’t deliver us a heartbreak. All these intense emotions combined with the fact these are both playoff caliber teams gets me feeling giddy just thinking about the upcoming duel.
2. Cowboys vs. Chiefs (Thanksgiving)
The Kansas City Chiefs are the closest thing we have in the NFL to a true dynasty. While their embarrassing and unfortunate loss to that team from Philadelphia in the Super Bowl last season certainly damages their claim as the next great dynasty, it does not erase all of their previous Super Bowl success. The Chiefs still boast the best QB and head coach in the game, and with a revamped roster, instantly should be favorites to win the AFC again. The Cowboys getting a chance to test themselves against the face of success in the NFL for the past half decade or so will be nothing short of exhilarating. With this being a Thanksgiving game, it will likely also be the most viewed game in the entire NFL this season. The whole world will be watching to see if the Cowboys have what it takes to give the Kansas City Chiefs a real challenge. And, given how late this game is in the season, it could possess serious playoff implications for both teams. It is hard to beat the excitement this game will generate, which is why there is only one game this season that will.
1. Cowboys @ Eagles (TNF)
The Philadelphia Eagles have always felt like the Empire from Star Wars to me- a vast, evil, powerful entity the Cowboys battle valiantly against every season. Watching them hoist the Lombardi last year was the most painful, gut-wrenching way the season could have ended for us Cowboys fans. And now, they want to bolster their celebration of their victory by embarrassing the Cowboys on national TV while they raise their new Super Bowl banner. Eagles fans are probably licking their lips, relishing a chance to humiliate their ultimate division rival even further. Nothing, and I mean nothing, would feel better than for the Cowboys to march into the Eagles stadium and come away with a win. The joy of winning, of ruining the Eagles banner raising night and dashing their hopes of further humiliating the Cowboys, all while proving the Cowboys legitimacy this season by knocking off the team that won the Super Bowl last year, would be unrivaled. The pain of losing, of giving the Eagles and their fans even more to gloat about over an already hurting Cowboys fan base, of the realization the Cowboys may not have done enough to truly compete with the Eagles this season, and of making the Eagles Super Bowl celebration even sweeter, would be unbearable. There are no higher stakes. While a playoff spot may not be on the line, the pride of both teams will be. However the game ends, it is undeniable that the anticipation of it will fill Cowboys fans with excitement, anxiety, and every other emotion one could possibly feel about a football team. This is the sort of thing sports were made for. Two bitter rivals leaving it all out on the field. Got goosebumps yet?
