A Rivalry Renewed Under the Spotlight of Opening Night
The Dallas Cowboys will begin their 2025 NFL regular season on Thursday Sept. 4, with a high-stakes road game against the Philadelphia Eagles. In what promises to be an electric atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field, the Eagles will commemorate their second Super Bowl championship by raising their banner. At the same time, Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will aim to elevate his performance.
Prescott’s Mixed History Against the Eagles and in Season Openers
Prescott, now 31, holds a solid 9-4 career record against Philadelphia. However his performance at Lincoln Financial Field has been far more balanced, with a 3-3 record. Last season was particularly challenging for Prescott, who missed nine games due to a hamstring injury.
Those absences included both matchups against the Eagles, who capitalized by outscoring Dallas 75-13 and sweeping their divisional rivals for the first time since 2011.
While his numbers against the Eagles overall remain strong, Prescott’s track record in season openers is less impressive. He holds a 4-5 record in these games, with his most recent win coming last year against the Browns. His other opening day victories came against the Giants. A team that, like the Browns, did not make the playoffs.
Eagles Riding High Under Sirianni’s Leadership
Meanwhile, Philadelphia has enjoyed consistent success under head coach Nick Sirianni, reaching the playoffs in four consecutive seasons. The Eagles capped their most recent campaign with a dominant 40-22 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs to claim Super Bowl LIX in February.
Since 2004, with the exception of the 2013 season when the Baltimore Ravens faced a scheduling conflict, the defending Super Bowl champions have traditionally hosted the NFL’s opening game. These teams have fared well, posting a combined 15-5 record in those matchups.
Prescott’s Optimism for the Challenge Ahead
Despite the challenges, Prescott appears eager for the opportunity to compete on such a significant stage. Speaking during the offseason, he conveyed a sense of optimism when asked how the Cowboys stack up against the reigning champions.
“I feel like we’ve competed with the Eagles and beat them for the most part when we’ve played them,” Prescott told reporters. “I don’t want to say, ‘Check the record,’ when the other guy is holding the trophy, right? So credit to them. They’ve earned it, and they deserve it by all means. But, yeah, [we’re] very close.”
Prescott’s words reflect confidence, but his performance will need to match the quarterback who finished second in MVP voting two seasons ago. Not the one who struggled last year, taking 21 sacks and throwing eight interceptions in eight games.
A Critical Season Opener
The Cowboys will travel to Philadelphia for the highly anticipated opener against the Eagles on Thursday Sept. 4, with kickoff scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST.
For Prescott and Dallas, it represents more than just the start of a new season, it’s an early test of whether they can truly challenge the reigning champions.
