Eagles vs Cowboys preview: 2025 NFL season opener

The 2025 NFL season kicks off with a bang as NFC East rivals clash in prime time: the Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, September 4. This isn’t just any divisional matchup — it’s a statement game loaded with offseason drama, quarterback scrutiny, and questions about roster stability on both sides.

With the Eagles coming off another deep playoff run in 2024 and the Cowboys licking their wounds from a disappointing wild-card exit, the stakes feel sky-high right out of the gate. Here’s what to watch for in this electric opener.

The Cowboys’ turbulent offseason: Pressure mounts for Jerry Jones and co.

Dallas enters 2025 under a cloud of uncertainty, and the narrative swirling around America’s Team has been anything but optimistic. After yet another postseason flameout, owner Jerry Jones made bold moves to shake up the roster, but not all of them have landed well with fans or analysts.

Trading away star edge rusher Micah Parsons was a blockbuster of a shock, even if netted Dallas a haul of draft picks. Parsons, a perennial All-Pro and the heart of the Cowboys’ defense since his 2021 debut, was reportedly moved to free up cap space and address long-standing issues on the offensive line. But the trade has left a gaping hole in the pass rush, with fans questioning whether the team is rebuilding or reloading.

For quarterback Dak Prescott, the unquestioned focal point of this franchise, he now faces immense pressure to elevate a squad that’s lost key pieces. Without Parsons anchoring the defense, the Cowboys will lean heavily on their offense to outscore opponents.

Prescott’s supporting cast remains solid, with CeeDee Lamb locked in long-term and a revamped backfield featuring the arrival of George Pickens among others. But whispers of locker room tension and Jones’ public comments about “all-in” expectations have amplified the spotlight.

If Dallas stumbles early, especially with a new HC in Brian Schottenheimer, the calls for change could grow deafening. Expect Prescott to come out firing, the big question: can he hold this team together without the defensive safety net Parsons provided?

Eagles are the team to beat

On the flip side, the Philadelphia Eagles look poised to defend their NFC East crown and chase another Super Bowl berth. But have they weakened at all this offseason?

Not really. GM Howie Roseman’s wizardry kept the core intact while adding depth, despite some fairly notable departures in the likes of Josh Sweat, Milton Williams and Mekhi Becton.

Jalen Hurts, coming off a 2024 season where he threw for 3,800 yards and ran for 12 touchdowns, remains the engine. He’s spend his offseason work on pocket presence, addressing concerns about his 2024 interception spike (15). Their best player is Saquon Barkley, who when healthy and explosive, as he was last year, gives Philly a versatile ground game.

Their depth, and coaching under Nick Sirianni keep them elite. Expect Hurts to exploit Dallas’ thinned pass rush with play-action bombs to Brown, setting up Barkley to gash a linebacker corps still adjusting to Parsons’ absence.

• Jalen Hurts vs Cowboys secondary: Despite resigning DaRon Bland and Trevon Diggs returning from injury, without Parsons generating pressure, Hurts could have all day to throw. Expect a field day for Hurts.
• Dak Prescott vs Eagles front seven: Philly’s defensive line, led by Carter, averaged over 4 sacks per game in 2024. If they disrupt Prescott’s rhythm, turnovers could swing the game.
• Run game battle: Barkley vs. Dallas’ seemingly improved run defense. Awful in 2024, the Cowboys have retooled their linebacker core and should be better this year. But containing Philly’s ground attack will test their mettle.

Ultimately, the Eagles are the team to beat in this matchup and the division. Their depth and continuity give them the edge over a Cowboys team still adjusting to life without Parsons.

Expect a high-scoring affair, but Philly pulls away late: Eagles 34, Cowboys 24. This opener could set the tone for both teams’ seasons; win, and the narratives shift, lose, and the pressure cooker intensifies.