The Philadelphia Eagles began their title defense with drama, controversy, and just enough resilience to hold off their rivals. On the same night they raised their 2024 championship banner the Eagles squeezed out a 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys in a season opener that had just about everything.
The chaos started before the first snap when defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on quarterback Dak Prescott. Losing a star defender so early could have unraveled the Eagles but the team steadied themselves and leaned on Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts to get the job done.
Hurts Picks Up Where He Left Off
Hurts once again reminded everyone why he’s one of the league’s most dangerous dual threats. He ran in two touchdowns and carved out lanes whenever the pocket broke down. With that, he extended his NFL record to 16 games with multiple rushing touchdowns by a quarterback. Buffalo’s Josh Allen sits second on the list with 12, a testament to how dominant Hurts continues to be with his legs.
The biggest momentum swing came late in the third quarter. With Dallas marching toward what looked like a go-ahead score, running back Miles Sanders lost the ball deep in Eagles territory. Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell scooped it up, preserving Philadelphia’s lead and sparking a raucous celebration. He and his teammates mimicked the Eagles’ infamous “tush push” as the crowd roared.
Still, discipline was a glaring issue for Philadelphia. The Eagles racked up 93 penalty yards by halftime alone more than they had in any full game last season. Carter’s ejection may have grabbed headlines, but those mistakes nearly cost them the game.
Cowboys Let Chances Slip Away
For Dallas, this one will sting. Playing without newly traded Micah Parsons, the Cowboys needed a near-flawless effort. Instead, a series of small but costly mistakes doomed them.
CeeDee Lamb, normally Prescott’s most reliable weapon, endured a nightmare fourth quarter. He dropped a sure first-down pass, let a deep ball slip through his hands on a potential game-changing drive, and failed to reel in a diving catch on fourth-and-3. According to ESPN Research, it was just his second career game with three drops the other also coming in Week 13 last year.
Prescott, to his credit, showed flashes of mobility many thought were behind him after multiple leg surgeries. He extended plays, scrambled for yards, and kept Dallas alive until the final whistle. But Hurts’ two rushing scores and Sanders’ fumble proved too much to overcome.
It was a tough first outing for new Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer, and a reminder that against the defending champs, even the smallest mistakes can tip the scales.
