Feb 9, 2025; New Orleans, LA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) against the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl LIX at Ceasars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The calendar has flipped to September. There's a chill in the air. Football is officially back.
On Feb. 9, the last time the Philadelphia Eagles graced television screens, the Birds were raising their second Lombardi Trophy high. Thursday night, they'll return to action and kick off a brand new season against the reviled Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles are entering this matchup as 8.5-point favorites over the Cowboys, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Here's how our On Pattison staffers think Thursday's matchup will go:
Tim Kelly
Score: Eagles 27 - Cowboys 17
Game MVP: Saquon Barkley
Jerry Jones overplayed his hand and is now without Micah Parsons. Kenny Clark should help to improve the run defense, but not enough to stop the reigning Offensive Player of the year in Barkley.
I think it's more than fair to have skepticism about Barkley holding up physically this year given both his injury history and workload last season.
But the 2025 NFL season will resemble the 2024 campaign on opening night, with Barkley running all over the yard.
Anthony SanFilippo
Score: Eagles 33 - Cowboys 27
Game MVP: Micah Parsons... oh wait...
The game won't be as close as the score I predicted. In typical Dak Prescott fashion, he'll put up some meaningless points and yards late in the game to make his fantasy managers happy (of which I am one, sadly). But the Cowboys defense wasn't very good before Parsons became a cheese head, and they aren't going to be any better now - which should make for some fun offense from the Birds all night. I expect a Saquon Barkley touchdown, a TD reception for DeVonta Smith and, of course, a Tush Push TD for Jalen Hurts. Easy win. Then we can start talking about the real season ahead beginning in Week 2.
Grace Del Pizzo
Score: Eagles 35 - Cowboys 24
Game MVP: Saquon Barkley
The Cowboys' run defense was subpar before Jerry Jones fumbled away a generational talent in Micah Parsons. Now it is significantly worse. I expect that Barkley will run rampant over the 'Boys, and I also think backup RBs Will Shipley and AJ Dillon could get in on the fun. For the sake of not running Barkley into the ground, the Eagles will need to spread their backfield touches a little more evenly this year.
Dallas won't make it easy, especially with their offseason addition of WR George Pickens and the Eagles' CB2 position being a giant question mark. It'll be closer than many fans will expect for the first half, but the defending champs will pull away late in the game and walk away with a comfortable win.
There will be things to improve upon – there always are after Week 1, especially when the starters didn't play at all in the preseason – but if nothing else, this team knows how to win, and they'll overcome the rust to do just that.
