Dallas Cowboys Travel To The Philadelphia Eagles Week 1 NFL Action
The 2025 NFL Season opens with the Dallas Cowboys traveling to meet the Philadelphia Eagles. The current NFL champions look to start the season off right. They will face one of their biggest division rivals. We Will Have All The Latest Betting Information And Updated Game Information In This Preview.
Game: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
When: Thursday, September 4, 2025 — 8:20 p.m. ET / 7:20 p.m. CT
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
Watch/Stream: NBC & Peacock (special Thursday presentation of Sunday Night Football) (NBC, Philadelphia Eagles, ESPN.com)
Consensus betting snapshot (as of Sept. 3, 2025, mid-day CT):
- Spread: Eagles -8
- Total: 47.5
- Moneyline: Cowboys +325 / Eagles -425 (Bet105)
Other outlets list Philly at -8.5 with slight moneyline variance (e.g., Eagles -430, Cowboys +340). Lines move, so always re-check day-of.
Why this opener matters
Philadelphia begins its title defense after blasting Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX (40–22). This win cemented Jalen Hurts as Super Bowl MVP. It also showcased a ferocious defense. Dallas, meanwhile, opens a new era under head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus aims to lead them in rebounding from a disappointing 2024. The team also seeks to overcome a tumultuous offseason. (NFL.com, ESPN.com, Dallas Cowboys)
Eagles: What changed, what didn’t, and what it means
Coaching & scheme. After Kellen Moore departed to become the Saints’ head coach, Kevin Patullo was promoted to offensive coordinator. Expect continuity in structure with tweaks to emphasize timing throws and multipurpose RB usage — logical with this personnel. (NFL.com, ESPN.com, Philadelphia Eagles)
QB room & health. Philly traded for Sam Howell late in camp. He will back up Hurts. This was a timely move as Tanner McKee is recovering from a thumb injury. The transaction was announced by both teams and the league. On the line, Pro Bowl LG Landon Dickerson missed Monday’s practice (back). He returned as a full participant Tuesday. He is on track to start. That’s a major stabilizer for the interior against Dallas’ front. (Philadelphia Eagles, NFL.com, NBC Sports Philadelphia, Reuters)
Roster & identity. The Eagles’ championship run was built on trench dominance and a star core featuring Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and Saquon Barkley— last year’s Offensive Player of the Year. Philly’s front remains nasty with Jalen Carter & Co., and the offense now layers in Patullo’s sequencing to keep Hurts in rhythm and Barkley in space. The Eagles won’t abandon their physical DNA; they’ll just have more answers when defenses load the box. (NFL.com, SB Nation)
2025 outlook. The NFC East still runs through Philadelphia. There is continuity at HC (Nick Sirianni). A deep roster places the Eagles in “repeat contender” territory. Opening at home in prime time lets them plant that flag early. (Wikipedia)
Cowboys: Offseason reset and early 2025 blueprint
New leadership. Dallas pivoted to Brian Schottenheimer as head coach and hired Matt Eberflus to helm the defense. That signals a more balanced, under-center-friendly offense and a principles-first defense (zone/quarters structures, tackling, and takeaway emphasis). (Dallas Cowboys, NFL.com)
Headline moves.
- Blockbuster: Micah Parsons was traded to the Packers. The exchange included two 1st-rounders and DT Kenny Clark. Parsons then signed a massive extension in Green Bay. That’s seismic for Dallas’ pass rush and identity. (NFL.com, Dallas Cowboys)
- WR George Pickens arrived via trade to flank CeeDee Lamb — an aggressive attempt to juice explosives and tilt coverage. (NFL.com, ESPN.com)
- RB Javonte Williams signed and is expected to headline the backfield. (ESPN.com)
- CB Kaiir Elam was acquired to bolster the secondary depth chart alongside Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland. (NFL.com)
- Departures/turnover: Zack Martin retired; long-time edge DeMarcus Lawrence signed with Seattle. The trenches and edge room look very different. (ESPN.com, NFL.com)
2025 outlook. The offense’s ceiling still rides with Dak Prescott, Lamb, Pickens, and TE Jake Ferguson. However, the defense must discover pressure without Parsons. They also need to settle a rebuilt front. Eberflus’s unit can still be sound, yet play-to-play disruption is the open question. Early on, Dallas will lean on rhythm passing. They will use RPOs and play-action. This strategy protects the line. It also keeps Dak ahead of the sticks. (CBSSports.com)
Betting market read
Spread (PHI -8)
Philadelphia has overall roster continuity. They have home field advantage. They also have a clear defensive edge up front versus a Dallas line missing Martin. Public markets often push openers toward the defending champs in banner-raising settings — and that’s reflected here.
Total (47.5)
This number implies something like PHI 28–20 as a baseline. If Dallas protects Prescott and Pickens is an immediate hit, they can push the Eagles into a higher-tempo script. Conversely, if Philly controls the trenches and leans on Barkley, the game can compress. Books have hovered in the mid-to-high 40s, signaling respect for both offenses but acknowledging Philly’s defense.
Moneyline (DAL +325 / PHI -425)
A ~19–21% implied win probability for Dallas is about right given the matchup context and venue. If you prefer favorites, laying the spread is usually more attractive. This is true for this price range unless you’re parlaying.
(Note: Some outlets show Eagles -8.5 and slightly different moneylines as of Wednesday; shop your book.)
Key matchups to watch
1) Eagles OL vs. Cowboys front
With Landon Dickerson trending toward active, Philadelphia’s elite line (Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Dickerson) faces a Dallas pass rush. This rush is now headlined by interior stalwart Kenny Clark. There is also scheme-manufactured pressure under Eberflus. Philly wants to win with duo/power plays. They use RPO looks that put LBs in conflict. Dallas must win early downs to unleash simulated pressures on 3rd-and-long. (NBC Sports Philadelphia, NFL.com)
2) Saquon Barkley vs. second-level fits
Barkley’s vision/explosiveness changes the geometry of the box. Expect Philly to stress Dallas horizontally (jet/orbit, pin-pull) then hit downhill. Dallas counter: rally and tackle, rotate safeties late, and force Hurts to string 10-play drives. If Barkley creases a few explosives, the Cowboys are playing uphill. (SB Nation)
3) Cowboys WRs vs. Eagles secondary
CeeDee Lamb is a matchup problem inside and out. George Pickens gives Dallas a true boundary hammer. He can win isolations and back-shoulders. Philly’s corners and pattern-match rules under DC Vic Fangio’s structure kept the lid on the Chiefs in February. The same disguise/rotation tools can squeeze Prescott’s windows. This is especially true if the rush affects timing. (NFL.com)
4) Jalen Hurts’ legs on money downs
Even when you call the perfect coverage, Hurts’ scramble/run element steals first downs. Dallas must keep rush-lane integrity and tackle in space. That’s harder without Parsons’ closing speed. (NFL.com)
Paths to victory
How the Eagles cover/close:
- Win the line of scrimmage (especially interior) and keep Hurts comfortable.
- Feature Barkley early to force heavier boxes, then attack 1-on-1s with A.J. Brown/DeVonta Smith.
- Defensively, mix simulated pressures with split-safety shells to take away Lamb’s best leverage and make Pickens beat top-down coverage. The opener script under Patullo should be efficient and varied. (Philadelphia Eagles)
How the Cowboys spring the upset:
- Establish some run efficiency with Javonte Williams to keep 2nd/3rd-and-manageable.
- Use motion/stacks to free Lamb and isolate Pickens on favorable corners, leaning on Dak’s quick game.
- Eberflus needs a surprise answer for Hurts’ QB run/keeper menu (creeper pressure, hot-fitting nickel). One red-zone takeaway flips the math, and special teams field position is vital as road dogs. (ESPN.com)
The bottom line
On paper, this opener tilts toward the champs. Philadelphia’s continuity and trench edge provide many ways to win. They can use a power run with Barkley, RPOs, and in-breakers to Brown/Smith. Hurts’ scramble value also contributes to this dynamic. These factors create a narrow error margin for Dallas. The Cowboys’ revamped passing game (Lamb/Pickens) is dangerous. Dak can absolutely punish single coverage. However, they’ll need clean protection. They also need a fast assimilation under a new staff to keep pace in a hostile spot.
Leans (not official picks): Eagles to win; total close to market (upper 40s). PHI -8 is more appealing than the ML if forced to a side at current prices. Prop-wise, Barkley all-purpose yardage makes sense. Lamb receptions also make sense in most books’ ranges. Always confirm day-of numbers.
Quick reference links
- Game time/channel: NBC & Peacock; kickoff 8:20 p.m. ET (7:20 CT). (NBC, Philadelphia Eagles)
- Current lines/odds: BetMGM Eagles -8, 47.5 total, ML DAL +325 / PHI -425; some books at -8.5.
- Eagles injury/OL note: Landon Dickerson upgraded to full practice Tuesday. (NBC Sports Philadelphia)
- Eagles offseason moves: Kellen Moore to Saints HC; Kevin Patullo to OC; Sam Howell trade. (ESPN.com, Philadelphia Eagles, NFL.com)
- Cowboys offseason moves: Schottenheimer has been appointed as Head Coach. Eberflus is the new Defensive Coordinator. Parsons and Pickens have been traded. Javonte Williams has been signed. Kaiir Elam has been traded. Zack Martin has retired. DeMarcus Lawrence went to the Seahawks. (Dallas Cowboys, NFL.com, ESPN.com)
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