The Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Dallas Cowboys in the first game of the season. This was an interesting game considering the amount of bad blood between these two bitter rivals. From a controversial start to the game to pushing and shoving after plays, and even a weather delay. This game lived up to the hype. The NFL is officially back and it’s the most wonderful time of the year. Let’s dive into the game!

First Half Takeaways

Before the first snap from scrimmage took place, there was heartbreak for the Eagles and their fans. Their best defensive player, tackle Jalen Carter, was ejected from the game for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. That is a disgusting act and has no place in the game of football at any level. Without Carter, Javonte Williams had a strong first half, scoring two rushing touchdowns and gashing Philly’s defense.

What was the most surprising thing to me in the first half was that Eagles’ superstar wide receiver AJ Brown did not have a single pass thrown his way. When you have a dominant weapon like that, you must get him involved. The Cowboys had no problems getting their WR1 involved. CeeDee Lamb had four catches for 86 yards in the first half. There were seven possessions and seven scores. The Eagles led 21-20 entering halftime.

Second Half Takeaways

The Eagles would get the ball to start the second half, work their way down, and settle for a Jake Elliot 58-yard field goal. It is noteworthy because last season, Elliot was 1-7 on field goals from 50 yards or longer. Down 24-20, the Cowboys’ running back and former Eagle, Miles Sanders, would break free for a 49-yard rush, taking the ball down to the 11-yard line. Then, four plays later, Eagles rookie linebacker Jihaad Campbell would force a fumble, and the game’s first turnover belongs to the Eagles.

Right after Philadelphia gained the momentum with the turnover, the game was suspended due to lightning in the area at the 4:44 mark in the third quarter. The delay was beneficial for both teams so that they could catch their breath. For Dallas, it’s great to cool off the Eagles’ avalanche that was pending.

I want to spotlight Jalen Hurts for a moment. Hurts has been excellent in utilizing his legs and showing his mobility in avoiding the rush and picking up key yardage. In the first half, he had six carries for 48 yards and two touchdowns, and completed 13/15 passes for 111 yards until the weather delay.

Post Weather Delay

After the weather delay, there wasn’t much action. It was clear that the delay contributed to the lackluster second half. Back and forth punts and field position. There were 41 points scored in the first half; the only points in the final 30 minutes was a Elliot 58-yard field goal.

Fly Eagles Fly

The 4th quarter was something to forget if you’re a Cowboys fan and something to relish for Eagles’ fans. It started with one of the most sure-handed receivers in the league, Lamb, dropping the first of his three 4th quarter drops. Both teams would trade punts back and forth until Prescott and the Cowboys would have the ball down 24-20 with 3:02 left and all three timeouts.

Dak would go on to play with fire with back-to-back near interceptions. George Pickens would pick up 15 yards to move the chains on 3rd & 5. The next play is what the world will be talking about tomorrow. Prescott had Lamb wide open for a 40+ yard gain, and he flat-out dropped it.

If he makes the reception, Dallas is in business right outside the red zone—three plays later, 4th & 3, game on the line. Lamb torched Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean, but he was slightly overthrown. Despite the overthrow, Lamb dove for the pass, and it hit him in the hands. His four drops on the night is a career high in drops for a game.

Instant Reaction

This was a fantastic game to start the season. I was expecting a blowout. After Carter was ejected, I believed this game would be close and tight, especially after the first four drives for both teams. What was the difference? Jalen Hurts’ legs hurt Dallas, nice pun.

When the rubber met the road, Hurts was ready. With 1:45 left on the game clock and the ball at the Dallas 37, the Eagles motioned Saquon Barkley out to spread the Cowboys’ defense. Hurts scrambled four yards on third and 3 for the first down to ice the game. AJ Brown ended with one catch for eight yards. Is that something? No, he just wasn’t needed tonight.

Final Thoughts

Tonight’s game was a great way to kick off the NFL season, featuring two heated rivals in a game that came down to the last drive. Football is back, and we are still in the honeymoon stages of the season. All fanbases are joyful that their team is playing, and it’s the most wonderful time of the year.

As always, thank you so much for checking out my instant reaction to the Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys in the first game of the 2025-2026 season! Be sure to check out our other amazing content here at New Leaf News! We hope you’re enjoying your day, and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.