Facing the sting of a losing streak and playoff elimination, Brian Schottenheimer and the Dallas Cowboys are digging in their heels, vowing to finish the 2025 season strong. Despite the challenges, Schottenheimer is unwavering in his commitment to the team's approach for the final two games. "We're building something special," he insists.
"Our focus is on playing the Commanders," Schottenheimer stated, emphasizing the team's drive to win. He highlights the players' passion and camaraderie, stating, "They want to play, they want to play well, they love one another, they care about one another. For me, that's really cool."
In his inaugural year as head coach, Schottenheimer has navigated numerous hurdles, both on and off the field. But here's where it gets controversial... Even with the season's disappointing outcome, he believes the team has much to play for, including building momentum for the 2026 season.
"We're in year one. We've done some things that we're proud of this year. Certainly not the success in the win-loss column, that's very evident, we're disappointed about that," Schottenheimer admitted. "But again, I'm fueled by the fact that we get to play an NFC East opponent this week and then next week, and we want to win to sustain some success. We have a chance to go potentially 5-1 in the division." This highlights the significance of divisional matchups and the Cowboys' potential for a winning record within their division.
Schottenheimer underscores the team's commitment to winning, stating, "Our players are all about that, that's the culture we're trying to build." He recognizes the varying approaches teams take in the final weeks, but he sees his players eager to compete.
"We play a physical game, everybody understands that. These guys, when they go out, they don't think that way. They play. That's what they've been taught to do since they were 5 years old. You just go and you play," Schottenheimer explained.
He is confident in his team's drive, stating, "I guarantee you if I took a poll of guys in that locker room that wanted to play, every hand would shoot up for all the reasons that I've said. They love one another. They know we're building something special here. Quite honestly, we'd love to not have a losing record, and then potentially go 5-1 in the division."
And this is the part most people miss... Schottenheimer is also considering worst-case scenarios, especially regarding veteran players like Dak Prescott. "It's definitely an option, but we want to finish strong," he said, "We want to build on that momentum. Dak's playing great." He adds, "We're not going to be cavalier with this thing."
Over the offseason, Schottenheimer prioritized building a strong team culture. Despite the team's record, he believes the foundation is solid and needs adjustments to translate into more wins.
"It says we're not playing good enough football, it's saying I'm not coaching good enough football. I don't think it's got anything to do with the culture," Schottenheimer clarified. "The fact that these guys are still playing hard, the fact that these guys are still going out there and practicing the way that they are, if you didn't have culture, I'd be more concerned… That tells you we've built this locker room the right way. We've built this locker room to sustain, we just got to get some things fixed."
Their next chance to prove themselves is on Christmas Day, marking their fourth and final Thursday night game, a league record. Schottenheimer acknowledged the team's physical condition but expressed excitement for the opportunity.
"These guys are not ready to run, they're hurting right now," Schottenheimer said. "Watch the film three or four times, and we played physical yesterday. We did. We didn't play great in a lot of areas, but we did play physically, so our guys are sore and they're banged up. We'll get them back, but it's pretty cool to play in front of the world on Christmas Day."
What do you think? Do you agree with Schottenheimer's assessment of the team's culture? Do you think the Cowboys can turn things around next season? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
