The Dallas Cowboys aren't mathematically out of the playoff race just yet, but with a 6-7-1 record and a 1% chance of making it, the postseason is slipping further out of reach with each passing week. Dak Prescott is still fighting, still saying the right things, but the reality is clear: it would take a near-miracle to keep this season alive.
And that frustration? It’s not just felt by fans.
Cowboys legend Michael Irvin-three-time Super Bowl champion and one of the most passionate voices tied to the franchise-didn’t hold back when asked about the team’s performance this year. Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, Irvin was asked to give the 2025 Cowboys a grade.
His response cut straight to the core.
"I don't want to hear how many records you broke this year, I don't want to hear what you did in statistics. I want to hear wins and losses, and are you in the playoffs with a chance to win a ring – and they are not. That's a failing grade."
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) December 18, 2025
– @michaelirvin88 on the #Cowboys. pic.twitter.com/XQo3aQQKwo
“There is no grade to give outside of a failure grade,” Irvin said. “I don’t want to hear how many records you broke this year, I don’t want to hear what you did in statistics.
I want to hear wins and losses, and are you in the playoffs with a chance to win a ring-and they are not. That’s a failing grade.”
It’s a harsh assessment, but it’s grounded in a truth Cowboys fans have been living with for nearly three decades. The franchise hasn’t advanced past the Divisional Round since the 1995 season-the last time they hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. That’s a long drought for a team that still wears the “America’s Team” label.
Prescott, now in his 10th season, has led Dallas to the postseason six times. But despite those appearances, the deep playoff run that fans crave has yet to materialize. And in a league where success is measured in January wins, not September stats, the regular-season highlights feel hollow without a postseason payoff.
Irvin did acknowledge that the Cowboys have made some positive strides this year. The addition of George Pickens has added a new dynamic to the receiving corps, and the defensive line has taken noticeable steps forward.
There are pieces in place. But as Irvin pointed out, the pieces haven’t come together in a way that translates to meaningful success.
That’s the missing link-cohesion, execution, and the ability to rise when the stakes are highest. Talent has never been the issue in Dallas. It’s been about turning that talent into wins when it counts most.
The Cowboys still have a heartbeat, but it’s faint. They’ll need to beat the Chargers this weekend just to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive. Even then, they’ll need help-and a lot of it.
For now, the conversation around the Cowboys isn’t about what could be. It’s about what hasn’t been. And until that changes, the frustration voiced by Irvin-and echoed by fans across the country-will continue to define this era of Cowboys football.