September 5, 2025
Good evening, football fans. What we witnessed Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field wasn’t pretty, but it was the purity of NFL football at its most raw and unpredictable.
The Philadelphia Eagles opened their Super Bowl title defense with a 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, but this game will be remembered less for the final score and more for the sheer chaos that unfolded from the very first moments.
Things Went Sideways Before They Even Started
I’ve played in, watched, and covered a lot of football games in my career, but I can’t recall many that featured an ejection before the opening snap. Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter was tossed for spitting at Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott during pregame warmups—an inexcusable act that immediately cranked up the temperature in what’s already the NFL’s most heated rivalry.
Then, on the very first special teams play, Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren suffered what appeared to be a serious knee injury covering the opening kickoff. Two plays into the season, and Philadelphia had already lost two key contributors.
That’s football for you. It doesn’t care about your scripts or expectations.
A Game of Missed Opportunities
Let’s be honest about what we saw on the field—neither team played championship-level football. This was workmanlike, sometimes sloppy, but ultimately competitive in that uniquely NFC East way.
The most glaring issue? Two of the league’s premier receivers were virtual non-factors. George Pickens, now suiting up for Dallas, managed just three catches. AJ Brown, Philadelphia’s explosive weapon, was even quieter with only one target and one reception. When your best playmakers aren’t making plays, you’re essentially spotting your opponent a significant advantage.
Both offenses found early success—the first eight drives of the game resulted in scores, which tells you everything about how both defenses looked in their season debut. Rust? Perhaps. Or maybe just two teams still finding their identity in Week 1.
Hurts Steps Up When It Matters
Credit where it’s due: Jalen Hurts looked every bit the Super Bowl-winning quarterback when his team needed him most. Two rushing touchdowns, steady decision-making, and most importantly, the poise to navigate through a lengthy lightning delay that could have derailed Philadelphia’s momentum entirely.
That’s veteran leadership. That’s championship composure.
The Cowboys, to their credit, didn’t fold. Javonte Williams provided a spark in the running game with two TDs, and CeeDee Lamb did what he could to keep Dallas competitive (albeit with a few key drops). But in a game where neither team was spectacular, the small margins matter even more.
The Lightning Break That Changed Everything
Weather delays are part of the game, but they often favor the more composed team. When play resumed after a 45-minute lightning delay, you could sense Philadelphia had used that time to regroup while Dallas seemed to lose some of their earlier rhythm.
It’s those intangible moments that separate good teams from great ones. The Eagles, even without their dominant early-season form, found ways to make the key plays when the game was there for the taking.
Looking Ahead
Seven straight wins for Philadelphia, dating back to last season’s championship run. That’s not an accident—that’s organizational culture and championship DNA showing itself even when the performance isn’t pristine.
For Dallas, this was a missed opportunity. Playing a defending champion on the road in their season opener, with early chaos working in their favor, they needed to capitalize. Coming up just short in games like these is often the difference between playoff teams and championship contenders.
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the most telling games aren’t the 45-point blowouts or the picture-perfect performances. Sometimes they’re the messy, grinding affairs where character gets revealed and champions find ways to win even when everything isn’t clicking.
Thursday night in Philadelphia was exactly that kind of game. The Eagles didn’t dazzle, but they did what champions do—they found a way to win.
In this league, especially in September, that’s often enough.
Until next week, this is your reminder that in the NFL, survival often trumps style. The Eagles proved that Thursday night.