The 2025 NFL season began with fireworks as the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles held off long-time rivals Dallas Cowboys in a thrilling 24–20 victory that had everything: controversy, weather drama, and late-game heroics.
The night started with instant tension. Just six seconds into the game, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott after a heated exchange. The shocking act set the tone for a scrappy, penalty-filled battle. Carter later apologized, admitting it was a mistake that let down his teammates.
Despite the early chaos, both teams traded blows in a high-energy first half. The Eagles leaned on quarterback Jalen Hurts, who delivered 214 total yards and two rushing touchdowns, while newcomer Saquon Barkley added a powerful score on the ground.
The second half brought even more drama when a lightning storm forced a 65-minute delay, emptying the stands and pushing players into locker rooms as rain pounded the stadium. Once play resumed, momentum swung back and forth, with the Cowboys pushing hard behind Prescott and star receiver CeeDee Lamb, but costly drops and a late fumble proved fatal.
The Eagles, despite nine penalties and the loss of guard Landon Dickerson to a back injury, clung on as Hurts scrambled for key yards to seal the win. For Dallas, the narrow loss was a reminder of how slim the margins are in the NFL’s fiercest rivalry.
This wasn’t just another opener—it was a spectacle. Between Carter’s ejection, the weather delay, and the nail-biting finish, fans got a full season’s worth of drama in one night. The Eagles march on with their title defense intact, while the Cowboys are left wondering what could have been.