Banner day for Eagles as champs maintain off Cowboys in wild one

PHILADELPHIA — The 2025 NFL season obtained off to an odd begin, with Philadelphia Eagles defensive sort out Jalen Carter being ejected for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott earlier than the primary play from scrimmage.

The rivalry recreation remained each bit as intense from begin to lightning-delayed end, with the Eagles pulling out a 24-20 win on the night time they unveiled their 2024 championship banner.

With Carter absent from the center of the Eagles’ protection and Dallas getting used to life with out Micah Parsons, each defenses took a while to stabilize earlier than finally discovering their footing.

A coin-flip of a recreation went the best way of the defending champs, thanks partially to dropped passes by receiver CeeDee Lamb and a vital turnover late within the third quarter by the Cowboys, who confirmed some encouraging indicators in Sport 1 below coach Brian Schottenheimer.

Carter and the Eagles, in the meantime, can breathe a sigh of aid after a rocky begin.

Listed here are crucial issues to know from Thursday night time for each groups:

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

What to make of the QB efficiency: Tremendous Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts picked up the place he left off, profiting from massive lanes to attain a pair of dashing touchdowns and propel the offense. He now has 16 video games with a number of dashing touchdowns, extending his NFL document for a QB (Buffalo’s Josh Allen is second with 12).

Turning level: The Cowboys gave the impression to be heading in for the go-ahead rating late within the third quarter when the Eagles got here up with a key takeaway. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell scooped up a Miles Sanders fumble deep in Philadelphia territory to thwart the drive and maintain the Eagles up 4. He celebrated together with his defensive teammates by simulating a tush push into the top zone.

Stat to know: Carter’s ejection earned the headlines, however lack of self-discipline was a theme for the Eagles, particularly early. That they had 93 penalty yards on the break — probably the most in a primary half by any workforce because the Cowboys had 107 in Week 13 of 2023. The Eagles’ excessive for penalty yards in a recreation final season was 91 (Week 16 on the Commanders). — Tim McManus

Subsequent recreation: at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (4:25 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 14)

Dallas Cowboys (0-1)

The Cowboys did not have a big margin for error going into Thursday’s opener towards the Eagles, particularly with out edge rusher Micah Parsons, who was traded every week in the past to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.

For a lot of the recreation, the Cowboys have been proper there, however the margins got here into play.

A 51-yard Jalen Hurts go to receiver Jahan Dotson within the second quarter arrange Philadelphia’s go-ahead rating and a lead the Eagles wouldn’t relinquish. It was the longest play allowed by the Cowboys.

Because the Cowboys regarded to reply within the subsequent collection, working again Miles Sanders fumbled on the Eagles’ 10 after his 49-yard run put Dallas in scoring place. It was the one turnover for the Cowboys.

CeeDee Lamb had a fourth quarter to neglect. To start out the quarter, the receiver dropped a certain first-down catch. On the potential go-ahead drive, he dropped a deep ball that will have put the Cowboys deep in scoring territory. Then, on fourth-and-3, he couldn’t come down with a diving catch. Per ESPN Analysis, it was his second profession recreation with three drops (Week 13 final season towards the Giants).

These 5 performs have been big — and led to the Cowboys’ fourth loss to the Eagles of their previous 5 conferences. It meant Brian Schottenheimer misplaced his first recreation as Cowboys coach, similar to Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson, Dave Campo, Invoice Parcells, Jason Garrett and Mike McCarthy.

It is a painful lesson of how shut and the way far-off the Cowboys are.

What to make of the QB efficiency: Neglect about Dak Prescott’s ultimate numbers. It was his skill to make use of his legs that mattered a ton. He did not do it a lot final season, and when he did in Week 9, he tore a hamstring that ended his season. On the second drive Thursday, he was flushed to his left, evaded a defender and located Lamb for an 18-yard achieve. On the third drive, he was capable of wiggle free from a possible Jordan Davis sack and scramble for 3 yards. Prescott is 32 and has had two main surgical procedures on his legs since 2020. He confirmed Thursday he can nonetheless transfer round.

Development to look at: Do the Cowboys need to worry working quarterbacks? Hurts had two dashing touchdowns and 48 yards on the bottom within the first half, most of them on scrambles. The Cowboys have video games towards Russell Wilson (twice, if he stays the Giants’ starter), Caleb Williams, Jordan Love, Justin Fields, Jayden Daniels (twice) and Kyler Murray, plus the rematch with Hurts. The Cowboys’ rush-lane self-discipline should enhance vastly from Week 1, as will working to the soccer.

Stat to know: Javonte Williams had a positive debut. Actually, it was the primary time a working again had a number of dashing touchdowns in his first recreation for the Cowboys since earlier than Jerry Jones purchased the workforce in 1989. Herschel Walker did it in his NFL debut in 1986 with Landry as coach. The Cowboys had solely six dashing touchdowns final season. That they had two on their first two possessions Thursday. In keeping with ESPN Analysis, the final working again with a number of dashing touchdowns towards the Eagles was Saquon Barkley in his ultimate recreation with the New York Giants in 2023, earlier than becoming a member of Philadelphia as a free agent. —Todd Archer

Subsequent recreation: vs. New York Giants (1 p.m. ET, Sunday, Sept. 14.)