The NFL season officially kicked off last night with one of the league’s biggest rivalries: the Dallas Cowboys versus the Philadelphia Eagles. And while the Cowboys didn’t come away with the win, I walked away feeling encouraged about some things—and concerned about others.
📸 Terrance Williams AP
Offense: Signs of Growth, but Still Flaws
One thing that stood out immediately is how much better Dallas looked offensively compared to last year. The line gave Dak Prescott some protection, and there was a sense of rhythm early on, especially with the run game in the first half. The ground attack looked balanced and kept Philadelphia guessing.
But in the second half, Dallas leaned way too heavily on the pass. And while Dak was sharp at times, the offense became predictable—mainly because 90% of his throws went to CeeDee Lamb. Don’t get me wrong, Lamb is elite, but last night he was force-fed the ball. That led to some costly second-half drops, including a few that could’ve put Dallas in position to steal the lead late. Instead of spreading the ball around and letting other weapons get involved, Dallas became one-dimensional. In my eyes, that hurt them—and maybe even cost them the game.
Defense: Missing Micah Parsons Already
Defensively, Dallas looked more disciplined than last season, but you could feel the absence of Micah Parsons. Against a mobile quarterback like Jalen Hurts, the lack of a spy was glaring. Hurts carved up the defense with his legs, scoring two rushing touchdowns and repeatedly stepping up into open lanes when the pocket broke down.
If Dallas doesn’t adjust this philosophy, things could get ugly fast. Just imagine when they face Washington’s young, athletic quarterback Jayden Daniels (JD5). Without a spy or a plan to contain mobility, it’s going to be a long afternoon.
The defense did do a nice job containing A.J. Brown, which was a bright spot. But the Eagles still found ways to move the ball consistently, and their commitment to their offensive identity was impressive.
Eagles’ Execution: Hurts and Special Teams Shine
Philadelphia didn’t do anything flashy, but they were steady and consistent. Jalen Hurts’ ability to extend plays and score with his legs was the difference. Even with Saquon Barkley not breaking 100 yards (he actually finished as their second-leading rusher behind Hurts), the Eagles never panicked. They stuck to their system.
Special teams also played a huge role. By punting away from KaVontae Turpin, the Eagles neutralized one of Dallas’s most explosive weapons. That hidden field-position battle added up across four quarters.
Final Thoughts
I didn’t expect Dallas to win this game, and honestly, I liked a lot of what I saw. The offense looks sharper, the defense has more structure, and the energy feels different than last year. But the over-reliance on Lamb and the failure to adjust to Hurts’ mobility were costly mistakes.
For the Eagles, it was business as usual: consistency, patience, and execution. For the Cowboys, it’s about making the tweaks to spread the ball, spy mobile quarterbacks, and stay balanced in both halves of football.
It’s only Week 1, but if last night was any indication, this Dallas team is heading in the right direction. I’m looking forward to seeing how they respond next week.
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