The NFL season kicks off Thursday, with the Philadelphia Eagles internet hosting the Dallas Cowboys at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock.
The Cowboys are coming off a tumultuous offseason, the place they employed rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer and traded edge-rusher Micah Parsons to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
Unsurprisingly, “America’s Staff” is an underdog heading into its sport in opposition to the defending Tremendous Bowl champions. As of Wednesday night, FanDuel Sportsbook lists the Eagles as an 8.5-point favourite. Nonetheless, the Cowboys might pull off the upset. Listed below are 5 methods they’ll accomplish that:
1. Cowboys QB Dak Prescott goes off
After Prescott grew to become the league’s highest-paid player ($60M annually) in 2024, he appeared underwhelming. The 32-year-old QB went 3-5 in eight begins and posted a below-average 41.9 QBR earlier than struggling a season-ending hamstring damage in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9.
Thursday’s matchup in opposition to the Eagles could possibly be an ideal alternative for Prescott to get off to a a lot better begin in 2025. He has dominated the NFC East rival all through his profession. Per StatMuse, he is 9-4 in opposition to Philadelphia and has accomplished 66.8% of his passes for 3,402 yards, 24 landing passes and eight interceptions.
Philadelphia, in fact, is a a lot better crew than it has been up to now, however Prescott nonetheless would not concern the Eagles. In February, he steered there is not a spot between Dallas and Philadelphia. Shredding the divisional rival’s protection would assist him again up that declare.
2. Eagles WR A.J. Brown appears rusty
Brown missed a big chunk of coaching camp after struggling a hamstring damage in early August.
The Eagles are itemizing the three-time Professional Bowler as lively for Thursday, and he has stated he expects to play. After lacking a lot time, although, Brown might look rusty in opposition to a Dallas secondary that options star cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland. Bland may want to earn his money after signing a four-year, $92M deal on Monday.
The Eagles’ passing offense will turn out to be a lot much less efficient if Brown is not rolling. He completed with 67 receptions for 1,079 yards and 7 TD catches in 13 video games final season.
3. Cowboys DT Kenny Clark helps stymie the run sport
Many Cowboys followers most likely want they’d saved Parsons as a substitute of Clark, whom they acquired within the blockbuster trade with Green Bay. However they will admire him if he helps Dallas resolve one among its greatest defensive points: the lack to cease the run.
Per TeamRankings, the Cowboys ranked twenty ninth within the league in dashing yards (137.1) final season. Dallas proprietor Jerry Jones has stated that Clark offers the crew a “better chance to stop the run” than Parsons did.
That is debatable, however the level stands: Clark is dependable in opposition to the run. The three-time Professional Bowler had a career-high 9 stuffs in 17 video games final season. (A stuff is a deal with on a working play that ends in no achieve or destructive yards.) The Eagles offense might certainly sputter if he makes star RB Saquon Barkley go backwards a number of instances.
4. WR George Pickens appears like Cowboys’ greatest offseason acquisition
In May, the Pittsburgh Steelers despatched Pickens to the Cowboys. Whereas gifted, he wore out his welcome in Pittsburgh due to maturity considerations.
The previous Georgia Bulldogs star is coming into the ultimate yr of his rookie contract, which can pressure him to be on his greatest habits. Pickens doesn’t seem keen on attempting to show something this upcoming season.
Regardless, if Pickens and Cowboys four-time Professional Bowl WR CeeDee Lamb jell in Week 1, the Eagles secondary could possibly be in for a difficult evening. The previous Steeler had 174 receptions for two,841 yards and 12 TD catches in three seasons with Pittsburgh.
5. Play-calling modifications disrupt Eagles’ offensive move
One of many few negatives of successful a Tremendous Bowl is that different groups poach your teaching workers. The Eagles lost offensive coordinator Kellen Moore after he grew to become the New Orleans Saints HC in February.
Philadelphia subsequently promoted Kevin Patullo to interchange Moore. He has familiarity with the group, having served as a go sport coordinator and affiliate head coach over the previous 4 seasons. Nonetheless, the 44-year-old assistant will likely be making his play-calling debut for the Eagles on Thursday.
In his Monday news conference, the OC did not make clear how a lot of the offense has modified this offseason. Whether or not Patullo has revamped it or not, it would not be stunning if the unit would not excel in Week 1.
