Philadelphia Eagles edge Dallas Cowboys — how it went and what the victory means

The Philadelphia Eagles opened their 2025 NFL season with a nail-biting 24–20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, but the defending champions hardly looked like a finished product.

Philadelphia, who stormed through 2024 by winning 16 of their final 17 games on the way to a Super Bowl title, struggled to put away their divisional rivals. The win only came after Dallas wide receiver CeeDee Lamb dropped two potential game-changing passes in the closing minutes. A clean catch on either play could have flipped the result in the Cowboys’ favor.

The night was far from ideal for Nick Sirianni’s team. The Eagles unveiled their championship banner before kickoff, but the celebratory mood took an early hit when defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected before the first play from scrimmage for spitting toward Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. With Carter sidelined, Dallas’ offense carved through Philadelphia’s defense with surprising ease, scoring on its first four possessions.

Still, the Eagles found enough offense to keep pace. Jalen Hurts ran in two touchdowns and connected with Jahan Dotson on a 51-yard strike that set up Saquon Barkley’s 10-yard score just before halftime. That sequence gave Philadelphia a 21–17 lead, though Prescott responded quickly to set up a Dallas field goal that cut the margin to 21–20 at the break.

Dallas Sucks Chants have erupted at Lincoln Field.

Eagles win 24-20 over the Cowboys.

Dak was easily the best player on the field tonight.pic.twitter.com/v2dlyKwwNC

— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 5, 2025

The second half brought more drama, including a one-hour lightning delay midway through the third quarter. When play resumed, Philadelphia’s defense tightened, forcing Dallas into mistakes. A fumble by former Eagle Miles Sanders at the 11-yard line denied the Cowboys a chance at a go-ahead score.

The Cowboys still had opportunities late. Down by four with just over three minutes remaining, Prescott launched a deep ball to Lamb that could have set up first-and-goal. Instead, the pass slipped through Lamb’s hands. On fourth down moments later, another deep attempt fell just beyond his reach. The Eagles ran out the clock from there, escaping with an opening-week win that felt more like survival than dominance.

A.J. Brown was a virtual non-factor, finishing with only one catch in the final two minutes, while Barkley managed 60 rushing yards—well below his 2024 pace. The Eagles’ defense looked shaky without Carter, and the offense sputtered at times in the second half. Still, in a league where opening weeks rarely define the season, Philadelphia has time to correct mistakes before tougher challenges arrive.

Eagles beat the Cowboys after CeeDee Lamb drops 4 passes in a Dak masterclass pic.twitter.com/7FPOKyMQCI

— Max Loeb (@loebsleads) September 5, 2025

For Dallas, the loss was bitter. Without Micah Parsons, who was dealt to the Green Bay Packers last week, the defense still showed grit. And if not for a few missed opportunities, they might have spoiled the champions’ celebration.

Philadelphia’s win might not have been pretty, but it was gritty. For a team that started slowly last season before turning into a juggernaut, the message is clear: the Eagles aren’t soaring yet—but they’re still finding ways to fly.