The Philadelphia Eagles started their Super Bowl defense with a 24-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL’s 2025 season opener at Lincoln Financial Field.
Both offenses sputtered in a drawn-out second half that featured a 64-minute delay late in the third quarter due to lightning in the area. When they returned, neither team scored in the remainder of the game. Eagles quarterback Hurts helped seal Philadelphia’s win on the final drive by converting a third-and-3 with a scramble up the middle, eliciting cheers from the crowd for the reigning Super Bowl MVP.
The game started on a dramatic note when Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter was ejected before the first offensive play of the game after spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Prescott first spat at the ground in Carter’s direction, smiled and laughed. Carter then walked toward the Cowboys’ huddle, leading to the two exchanging words and Carter spitting on Prescott.
After that, the first eight drives of the game all resulted in scores, delivering an exciting start to the season’s first game.
With the Eagles leading 24-20, the Cowboys entered the red zone shortly before the weather delay. However, Miles Sanders fumbled the ball on the 10-yard line, and the Eagles were set to take over possession when the teams had to exit the field, taking the game’s momentum with them.
A key turnover changed the tide
A key play in the game came right before the weather delay, when Jihaad Campbell and Byron Young combined to force a fumble from Sanders, a former Eagle, with the Cowboys 10 yards away from taking the lead. The takeaway came one play after the Cowboys’ drive was extended by a personal foul on Eagles safety Reed Blankenship on a third-and-22. That was Dallas’ best chance to take control of the game.
Instead, the Eagles regained possession, and the Cowboys never came close to scoring again. In a sloppy game, the Eagles will take pride in the turnover differential — the Eagles forced one and did not turn the ball over. In a four-point game, that proved to be the difference. — Zach Berman, Eagles senior writer
Jalen Hurts delivers again
Hurts has made it a habit to say he desires to win and doesn’t care how it looks. The Eagles squeezed out four scoring drives to start the game, with Hurts scrambling for the majority of his yardage. Apart from a 51-yard bomb to Jahan Dotson, Hurts stuck to short completions in a conservative effort.
He rushed for 62 yards on 14 carries with two touchdowns. Hurts finished 19-of-23 passing for 152 yards and didn’t target A.J. Brown until an 8-yard completion on the final drive. — Brooks Kubena, Eagles staff writer
Philly’s concerns on defense
The Eagles’ defense still has a major concern at its CB2 spot. Adoree’ Jackson was targeted on completions of 32, 26 and 23 yards during the first half. He also committed a pass interference against CeeDee Lamb. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio stuck with Jackson in the second half but shifted the game plan to no longer have Quinyon Mitchell travel with George Pickens. They held the Cowboys scoreless in four second-half drives.
Still, the gap was narrow. Lamb nearly hauled in a final fourth-down throw with Cooper DeJean trailing close behind. Fangio will return to the drawing board with Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs up next. — Kubena
Cowboys come up short
Four drops from Lamb was easily the most surprising outcome from the Cowboys’ side. I’m not sure he had three drops all of training camp. In the final minute, it looked like he was patting his chest to take blame for the situation the team was in. Rightfully so, the Cowboys were in position to steal that game, and it was there for the taking, with their best player being the target multiple times. Those were absolutely the opportunities you want in that situation.
For most of the night, it looked like Dallas’ defense was going to be the reason the team came up short. However, late in the third, particularly after the hour-long rain delay, the Cowboys stepped up. They got some pressure on Hurts and tackled better, but it wasn’t enough. While the defense has plenty to work on, it was encouraging to see the second-half improvement after it looked like they wouldn’t get a stop all night. — Jon Machota, Cowboys staff writer
(Photo: Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)