The Dallas Cowboys began their 2025 season on Thursday night in Philadelphia and the game featured both a player getting ejected for spitting and a lightning delay. It had action to say the least.
While the Cowboys offense was fully alive in the first half and the defense was struggling, matters flipped in the second half. The Cowboys offense was given the ball by their defense and faced a four-point deficit on three occasions as the game wound down and could not put a single point up on those possessions.
That was the difference.
There is no question that the Cowboys showed fight and serious promise for the season overall. Time will tell what that translates to, but for now this is officially an 0-1 football team (0-1 in division as well).
Below you will find our breakdown of the game by quarter.
Football is back.
1st Quarter
The Philadelphia Eagles won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half. Officially speaking, the Dallas Cowboys offense was the first group in the NFL to touch a football in 2025.
But chaos broke out before the offense even took a snap. Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter appeared to spit on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott and was ejected. For real.
Needless to say this got things off on quite the foot for all involved. Ultimately things stabilized and the Cowboys offense went to work.
But went to work they really did. Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens all looked great. It was Williams who finished things off though with the first touchdown of the NFL season.
That lead was short-lived, though. Philadelphia began to move and did so with relative ease against the Cowboys defense.
They capped it off with a Jalen Hurts rushing touchdown on third and goal to tie it up at 7-7.
The Cowboys began marching down the field and looked to be on the verge of repeating their first drive.
Unfortunately a bit before the quarter ended Tyelr Smith got called for a holding penalty which looked like it was going to derail things… and then George Pickens showed up.
Technically a penalty did as Pickens drew a huge pass interference to put Dallas inside the redzone.
Ultimately the quarter ended with Dallas on the goal line with things square at 7-7.
2nd Quarter
The Cowboys ended the first quarter knocking on the door. As the second one started, they opened it as Javonte Williams scored another touchdown.
The battle kept going, though. The Eagles offense kept their form and put together an incredible drive the featured some spectacular rushing efforts from Hurts. It may have featured some non-called holding penalties with Lane Johnson and Marshawn Kneeland as well.
Ultimately the Eagles cashed in and even things up at 14-14.
Back on offense the Cowboys went and it was going to be interesting to see if the touchdown sequence continued.
The Eagles defense began to show a little teeth and did so by almost taking Prescott down for a huge loss… but he miraculously avoided it and scrambled for positive yardage.
Things ultimately stalled for the Cowboys as they got near the redzone and they were forced to settle for a Brandon Aubrey field goal which gave them a 17-14 lead.
Obviously Philadelphia is a great team and they proved it by getting into rhythm with a chance to score before halftime, and with the chance to double up in the second half who could blame them.
They made sure to not squander it. Saquon Barkley scored his first touchdown of the season with just under a minute left in the first half.
KaVontae Turpin mishandled the kickoff though which put Dallas at the 12-yard line and in a bit of a riskier situation. That did not stop them from trying, though.
Some more Eagles mistakes (obviously the Jalen Carter thing plus extra flags they kept getting drawn for like roughing the passer) helped Dallas get into field goal range with a few seconds remaining.
It was a 53-yard attempt. Brandon Aubrey, of course, was good.
3rd Quarter
The Eagles scored to end the second half, but obviously the Cowboys were able to get points as well. Either way they were looking to keep their momentum going.
It appeared as if they were going to be able to do so… until Marshawn Kneeland and Kenny Clark (!) showed up to make matters difficult.
Philly was put in a tough spot and trotted Jake Elliott out for a 58-yard field goal attempt. He lined up and drilled the thing. Props given where props earned. At this point it was 24-20 Eagles.
The Cowboys took over for their first possession of the second half and kept their foot on the gas. Javonte Williams was moving and grooving, but then Miles Sanders ripped off a big one!
Unfortunately the vibes turned for Sanders. After this the Cowboys moved backwards by way of a George Pickens penalty, but they then picked up a 3rd and 22 because of an unsportsmanlike conduct that went against Reed Blankenship. It appeared as if Dallas was given a gift and that they were going to take advantage of it until Sanders fumbled on the very next play.
It was at this moment that the lightning delay happened which provided quite the pause. Play resumed with Philadelphia having the ball following the fumble.
But the Cowboys defense must have used the break to fix some things as they had their best effort when play resumed. After a couple of cornerback blitzes from Matt Eberflus the Eagles’ drive was done in three plays which resulted in the game’s first punt.
The Cowboys began to move the ball and it was then that the quarter ended. Philly held the lead still, 24-20.
4th Quarter
The first play of the period was a 3rd and 10 and unfortunately the Cowboys were unable to convert on a pass from Prescott to KaVontae Turpin. It led to a Dallas punt. Clearly both offenses were a little cool following the delay.
Serious kudos to the Cowboys defense for standing tall again, though. They forced a second straight Eagles punt and part of the reason was a huge play by James Houston. Dallas took over at their own 13-yard line down by four with just over seven minutes left on the game clock.
The Cowboys came up dry themselves, though. It was maddening to watch as the defense was finally standing strong and the offense was nowhere to be found. Dallas punted and it felt like this was where things would finally slip away.
Amazingly… the defense did not let it slip away. They forced yet another punt. Serious kudos to Matt Eberflus.
The Cowboys offense at least moved the ball this time but found tension early on. As the two-minute warning arrived the Cowboys were facing a 4th and 3 from a bit outside of midfield.
Brian Schottenheimer chose to go for it and Dak Prescott found an open CeeDee Lamb. The ball was a bit beyond his reach, but he got his hands around it on a diving effort that ultimately was not enough. Turnover on downs.
The Eagles were able to pick up a necessary first down and took a few knees. Ballgame.
Dallas loses. Final score 24-20.
