The Cowboys left Philly with a tough 24–20 loss in their season opener, falling just short in a hard-fought game. While the final score went the Eagles’ way, the margin was slim, less than a touchdown but more than a field goal. Even in defeat, the Dallas offense showed promise and gave fans reasons for cautious optimism. Let’s take a closer look at what went right, what went wrong, and what this game means for the rest of the season.
First half
The Cowboys received the ball to start the game and got off to a strong start, marching down the field on the opening drive. Javonte Williams capped it off with a one-yard rushing touchdown at the goal line his first of two on the night. Both offenses moved the ball well throughout the first half, with neither defense able to get consistent stops. By halftime, the Cowboys trailed by just a single point, 21–20, in what was shaping up to be a shootout.
Second Half
The second half opened much like the first had ended, with Philadelphia quickly marching down the field and adding a field goal to take a 24–20 lead. Dallas responded right away, moving the ball into the red zone after an explosive 49-yard run from former Eagle Miles Sanders. But just when it looked like the Cowboys were about to punch it in, disaster struck when Sanders fumbled in the Red Zone, and Philly recovered deep in Dallas territory.
Not long after, weather issues delayed the game for nearly an hour. The pause clearly threw both teams off rhythm, as neither offense could get much going the rest of the way. Both defenses traded stops, forcing multiple three-and-outs, until Dallas finally began to build some momentum. A short catch by Jake Ferguson and a first down soon after gave the offense life, but the drive stalled on a critical 3rd-and-10 when CeeDee Lamb went deep but couldn’t haul in the pass.
Offensive side of the ball
Dak Prescott
Dak Prescott threw for 188 yards on 21 completions in 34 attempts a number that looks deceptively low considering how well he played. He passed the eye test all night, making good reads and delivering accurate throws, but was let down by drops from his receivers that stalled drives and kept his stat line from looking better.
CeeDee Lamb
On the flip side, CeeDee Lamb’s stats look deceptively high. He finished with 7 receptions for 110 yards, but this was far from his best outing. Lamb had 3–4 tough drops, several of which hit him right in the hands. One of them nearly turned into a tipped interception that would have been disastrous. Had he brought those in, his total could have been closer to 150–160 yards the kind of production Cowboys fans know he’s capable of.
The run game
The run game was one of the focal points heading into this matchup, and it was definitely an improvement from last season. Javonte Williams, the lead back, rushed for 54 yards on 15 attempts, averaging 3.6 yards per carry.
Miles Sanders added 53 yards on just 4 attempts, including an explosive run, but his costly fumble in the end zone was a critical turning point that hurt the team badly.
This revamped Dallas backfield showed flashes of potential, with both backs contributing big plays, but as it stands this is not yet the ground attack of a championship team. We’ll be watching closely in the coming weeks to see if consistency develops and if Dallas can truly lean on this duo moving forward.
The Defense
The defense did not play well for the first three quarters of this game. Full stop. With missed tackles on critical plays, the Philly offense ran the ball all night and Dallas simply didn’t have an answer.
There were some bright spots, though. Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland both had strong games in coverage, combining to allow just two targets for 12 yards. They limited A.J. Brown to a single catch — though it was a costly one late in the game.
In the fourth quarter, after a rain delay, the Dallas defense finally started to show some life. A few timely three-and-outs and improved run-stopping gave the Cowboys a chance to get back into the game. It wasn’t dominant, but it was better than many expected given how the night started.
The Pass Rush
The pass rush was largely ineffective. Dallas managed just one sack and a handful of pressures, struggling to generate consistent disruption. Without a steady push up front, Jalen Hurts had too much time to work, and the defense paid the price.
Player of the game
This week, the clear Player of the Game was Dak Prescott. Even with a lower-than-preferred stat line, he had a strong outing and was the bright spot on the Cowboys’ offense. If Prescott continues to play at this level and if key teammates step up the way we know they can Dallas has a leader under center who can carry this team to wins throughout the season.
What all this means going forward
From what I saw last night, this is a Dallas team that can win games. Whether they will or not depends on their ability to focus and clean up some key issues on both sides of the ball. Next week, the Cowboys head to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants, another divisional rival. That matchup should give us an even clearer picture of what to expect from this team in 2025.
Closing thoughts
A four-point loss on the road against the defending champions isn’t the result Cowboys fans wanted, but it also isn’t a reason to panic. This team showed enough to believe growth is possible, especially if the offense cleans up mistakes and the defense finds its footing. Week 1 was a tough test, and while Dallas came up short, it laid a foundation the team can build on. The season is long, and the journey has just begun.
