Eagles Win High Stakes Rivalry Season Opener Against the Cowboys

The first game of the 2025 season did not disappoint eager fans anticipating an exciting year. The reigning Super Bowl champions opened their season with a win, defeating the Dallas Cowboys by a final score of 24-20 at Lincoln Financial Field. The night began with the Eagles hanging their banner, boosting confidence and stirring excitement in favor of Philadelphia. Though it was a Week One game, this match-up involved high stakes and intense emotions on both sides. For the Eagles, it was an opportunity to kick off a season of defending their title. For the Cowboys, it was a chance to overcome their fiercest rival and demonstrate their resilience after losing defensive powerhouse Micah Parsons.  

Within six seconds of the first kickoff of the season, Eagles defensive rock Jalen Carter was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct. For the Cowboys, this was something of an equalizer for the defenses. The Cowboys were likely to depend on Dak Prescott’s rhythm of quick passes, but with Carter out of the game, a run strategy opportunity opened and was effective early on. The first touchdown of the 2025 season was run by Javonte Williams in his debut game with Dallas.

In their 2025 debut, the Eagles’ offense put up some impressive stats that met their fans’ expectations. The face of the franchise, QB Jalen Hurts, threw for 152 yards, once again proving his passing ability. Hurts’ legs also did not disappoint for the offense tonight as he earned 62 rushing yards and two of his rushes for touchdowns. Hurts’ ability to convert on third downs was crucial to win the game.

The Birds’ star running back, Saquon Barkley, also effectively showed up in Week One, stamping that his redemption arc is in full swing. Barkley rushed for 60 yards out of the backfield, breaking through the Cowboys’ defense with ease. Without Parsons’ impressive pass-rush skills, the Cowboys struggled to stop Philly’s run game. Another standout player for Philly’s offense in Week One was Dallas Goedert. Goedert had seven receptions for 44 total yards and was a reliable outlet when Hurts found himself dangerously deep in the pocket. Jahan Dotson also made a huge 51-yard catch that Philly was able to convert to a touchdown. Though the game was neck and neck, Philly’s offensive efforts were more than enough to overcome their division rival for a successful Week One.

The Cowboys answered their rivals behind Dak Prescott, who threw for 188 yards and helped the team earn two touchdowns. He also made some clutch runs to evade sacks. Prescott and his star receiver CeeDee Lamb showed off their chemistry, making many successful passes and even a few long-ball connections early in the game. Lamb proved his dependability as Prescott’s go-to man, with seven receptions for 110 yards, despite missed connections later on.

Another highly utilized player was Javonte Williams, with 54 rushing yards to score two touchdowns. Expectations for George Pickens were high, though he only notched three receptions for 30 yards. The Cowboys’ kicker, Brandon Aubrey, made a few timely field goals on drives when the team couldn’t make it to the end zone. The efforts of this special teams player did not go unnoticed, as they were crucial in keeping the game close. Despite leaving everything out on the field tonight, it was not enough to overcome the defending champions.

A notable shift in Dallas’ defensive tone occurred early in the third quarter, when Kenny Clark and Marshawn Kneeland broke through the offensive line to make the first sack of the season. After rotating the defensive line consistently throughout the duration of the game, this moment felt like a breakthrough for the Cowboys. In response, later in the third quarter, Philly’s cornerback Quinyon Mitchell recovered a fumble from Miles Sanders for the first turnover of the 2025 season. One fault of the Eagles’ defense in this game was reckless fouls that kept Dallas’ drives alive for much longer than they should have been, giving them every chance to make a comeback.

The game was delayed due to weather conditions with 4:44 left in the third quarter. After this, Dallas’ defense really began to up the pressure to shut down Hurts and the run game. The tush-push also made a few appearances in the fourth quarter, and though it was taxing for the offensive line, the Eagles found success in their signature play. The game ended after a series of unsuccessful drives from both teams, though two missed catches by Lamb late in the fourth could have flipped the fate of the game.

The season-opening game set the tone for both teams as they proceed with the rest of their 2025 campaigns. Both Dallas and Philly entered with high expectations, but only the Eagles were able to start on the right foot and pull away with a big win. Scuffles and plenty of flags kept the game interesting for passionate fans, but it will not be the last time these rivals face off this season. In Week Nine, the Birds will be on the road against Dallas at AT&T Stadium, where the Cowboys will come back with nothing less than vengeance. In Week Two, Dallas will face the New York Giants for another NFC East showdown. As for the Eagles, they are set to face the Kansas City Chiefs for the first time since they beat them in Super Bowl LIX, which will be a must-watch game for football fans everywhere.