Eagles Claw Their Way to a Gritty Victory Against Cowboys

On a stormy Thursday night that electrified the city, the Philadelphia Eagles opened their 2025 NFL campaign with a gritty 24-20 victory over their fierce rivals, the Dallas Cowboys. The drama unfolded under the lights at Lincoln Financial Field, where the reigning champions faced adversity and weathered more than just the elements. Right from kickoff, the game was anything but routine. Defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected before the first snap for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott—a shocking twist that forced both teams to rethink their strategies. With Carter gone, Dallas seized the momentum, methodically marching down the field on their first four possessions. Javonte Williams powered in for two short touchdowns, and the ever-reliable Brandon Aubrey added a pair of field goals, putting the Eagles’ formidable defense—last season’s league leader in yards allowed—on its heels. But the Eagles, led by the unflappable , refused to wilt. Hurts showcased his signature poise, rushing for two touchdowns—neither on the notorious “tush push”—and uncorking a 51-yard bomb to Jahan Dotson that set up Saquon Barkley’s 10-yard sprint into the end zone. Barkley, though kept to 60 yards on the ground, delivered when it mattered most, ensuring Philadelphia kept pace with the surging Cowboys. Yet, it was clear: the Eagles were far from midseason form, and new questions loomed after a slow second half in which A.J. Brown was largely invisible until his lone catch in the final minutes. The evening’s tension only mounted as a fierce lightning storm halted play late in the third quarter, suspending action for over an hour with the Eagles clinging to a slim 24-20 lead. The timing couldn’t have been more dramatic; moments before, Miles Sanders had fumbled at the Eagles’ 11-yard line after a brilliant 49-yard run, only to be heroically tracked down by linebacker Zack Baun. The fumble and subsequent weather delay seemed to rouse the Eagles’ defense, who forced back-to-back punts once play resumed. Yet Dallas, undaunted despite recently trading star defender Micah Parsons to the Packers, continued to threaten. With just over three minutes left, Dak Prescott had a golden opportunity—his deep pass to CeeDee Lamb was perfectly placed, but the usually sure-handed receiver let it slip through his grasp. Two more tense incompletions later, the Eagles regained possession and ran out the clock, sealing a victory that was far more hard-fought than expected. As Head Coach Nick Sirianni noted after the game, the Eagles have now started 5-0 in season openers under his leadership. But this win, forged in adversity and delayed by the storm, showed that even champions can be tested. For Philadelphia, the journey to another title has begun—not with fireworks, but with a gritty, resilient stand against their greatest rivals.