Jerry Jones predicts a Cowboys Super Bowl run for the 2024 season, but Vegas sets a 7.5 win total. Can Dallas prove the doubters wrong this year?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Another year, another Oxnard sunrise, and another dose of unbridled optimism from Jerry Jones. As the Cowboys wrapped up Day 3 of training camp, the owner declared the team has a 'great chance' to be a contender. The only problem? Las Vegas isn't buying it, slapping a meager 7.5-win total on the 2025 season and giving Dallas the 19th-best odds to win it all. The stage is set for a season-long battle between the Cowboys' belief and the world's doubt.
'We got a great chance to put together a team here this year that could be where we would like for it to be.' - Jerry Jones
It wouldn't be training camp without a bold proclamation from the owner's suite. Jerry Jones and Head Coach Mike McCarthy met the media with chests puffed out, determined to wash away the bitter taste of last season's 7-10 finish. But while the Cowboys' leadership talks championships, the oddsmakers see a different picture. A +4600 Super Bowl line and +550 odds to win the NFC East tell a story of a team with a mountain to climb. After going 3-3 in the division and a frustrating 5-5 in one-possession games last year, the team's ability to close out tight contests will be the first thing they need to fix to prove Vegas wrong.
Talk is cheap, but the real work is happening on the practice fields of Oxnard. With no major injuries to report through three days, the focus has shifted to competition and evaluation. All eyes are on the trenches and the receiving corps, where key roster battles are taking shape. First-round pick Tyler Guyton is getting his first taste of NFL action at offensive tackle, while fellow rookies like wide receiver Ryan Flournoy and defensive tackle Justin Rogers are also under the microscope. These early, pad-less practices are crucial for building chemistry and allowing the coaching staff to see which new faces can help bridge the gap between last year's disappointment and this year's aspirations.
Despite the modest external expectations, the energy in Oxnard is anything but. Fans flocked to the open practice sessions, eager for their first glimpse of the 2025 squad. Social media was buzzing with highlights and photos, a clear sign that Cowboys Nation is ready to believe again. This annual pilgrimage to the California coast serves as a powerful reminder of the team's massive following and the passion that fuels the organization, regardless of what the betting slips say. For the players, that energy is a welcome boost as they begin the long grind toward Week 1.
For now, it's all about fundamentals and installation. But soon the pads will come on, the hitting will start, and we'll get a much clearer picture of whether this team is closer to Jerry's vision or Vegas's projection. The next few weeks in Oxnard will be critical in setting the tone for a season where the Cowboys have everything to prove.
