Eagles Dominate Cowboys in a Tense Match
The 2025 NFL season kicked off with an unexpected match, where the Philadelphia Eagles faced the Dallas Cowboys in a game full of emotions and surprises. The match, which promised to be a classic, did not disappoint the fans, although the beginning was marked by an unusual incident.
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected from the game before the first play for spitting at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Despite this incident, the rivalry between both teams remained intense throughout the game.
The Eagles secured the victory with a score of 24-20, on a special night where the 2024 season champions’ banner was unveiled. The game was characterized by the absence of Jalen Carter in the Eagles’ defense and the Cowboys’ adaptation to life without Micah Parsons.
Both defenses needed time to adjust, but finally managed to stabilize. The match, very contested, was decided in favor of the current champions, partly thanks to a significant ball loss by the Cowboys in the third quarter. The Dallas team, under the direction of their new coach Brian Schottenheimer, showed encouraging signs in this first match.
Meanwhile, the Eagles and Carter breathe a sigh of relief after a complicated start.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Keys to the Game
Quarterback Performance: Jalen Hurts, the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, continued his good performance, taking advantage of the spaces to score two touchdowns on the ground and lead the Eagles’ offense. With this, Hurts has 16 games with multiple rushing touchdowns, extending his NFL record for a quarterback.
Key Moment: The Cowboys appeared poised to take the lead in the score in the third quarter, but the Eagles achieved an important ball recovery. Quinyon Mitchell recovered a fumble from Miles Sanders in Philadelphia territory, frustrating the Cowboys’ offense.
Highlighted Statistic: Although Carter’s ejection made headlines, the lack of discipline was a recurring theme for the Eagles, especially at the start of the game. They accumulated 93 penalty yards in the first half, the most for a team in a first half since the Cowboys recorded 107 yards in Week 13 of 2023.
Next Game: Against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, September 14th.
Dallas Cowboys Analysis
The Cowboys faced the opening game against the Eagles with no room for error, especially without Micah Parsons. The game was close, but the details made the difference.
A 51-yard pass from Hurts to Jahan Dotson in the second quarter facilitated the touchdown that gave the Eagles the lead, a lead they would not relinquish. This play was the longest allowed by the Cowboys’ defense.
In the following offensive series, Cowboys’ Miles Sanders, after a 49-yard run, lost the ball on the Eagles’ 10-yard line, a crucial mistake.
CeeDee Lamb had a final quarter to forget. He dropped a deep pass that would have put the Cowboys in the scoring zone. In addition, he failed to complete a reception on fourth down. These plays were decisive and contributed to the Cowboys’ fourth loss to the Eagles in the last five matchups.
This signified Brian Schottenheimer’s first loss as Cowboys coach.
Quarterback Performance: Prescott demonstrated his ability to run with the ball, something he didn’t do much last season. On the second drive, he avoided a defender and connected with CeeDee Lamb for an 18-yard gain. On the third drive, he escaped a sack attempt and ran for three yards. Despite being 32 years old and having had two major leg surgeries since 2020, Prescott showed that he can still move.
Trend to watch: Should the Cowboys fear running quarterbacks? Jalen Hurts scored two touchdowns on the ground in the first half and ran for 48 yards. The Cowboys will face Russell Wilson, Caleb Williams, Jordan Love, Justin Fields, Jayden Daniels, and Kyler Murray, in addition to the rematch with Hurts. Discipline in covering runs will need to improve significantly.
Highlight statistic: Javonte Williams had a favorable debut. It was the first time a running back scored multiple rushing touchdowns in his first game with the Cowboys since before Jerry Jones bought the team in 1989. Herschel Walker accomplished this in his debut in 1986.
Next game: Against the New York Giants on Sunday, September 14th.
