Eagles Defeat Cowboys 24-20 in Lightning-Delayed Opener/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Philadelphia Eagles opened the NFL season with a hard-fought 24-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys. Jalen Hurts rushed for two touchdowns as the defending champions overcame a weather delay and the ejection of star defender Jalen Carter. The game ended after a dramatic fourth-quarter stop sealed the Eagles’ victory.
Eagles vs. Cowboys Season Opener: Quick Looks
- Eagles win 24-20 in lightning-delayed Thursday night NFL opener.
- Jalen Hurts scores two rushing touchdowns; Saquon Barkley adds one.
- Game delayed 65 minutes due to lightning in Philadelphia.
- Eagles’ Jalen Carter ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott.
- Cowboys miss late fourth-down chance to win the game.
- Eagles debut 2024 Super Bowl banner during pregame ceremony.
- Michael Jordan attends game; Hurts mimics his iconic shrug.
- Dallas coach Brian Schottenheimer loses head coaching debut.
Deep Look: Eagles Edge Cowboys 24-20 in Wild, Weather-Delayed NFL Kickoff
In a chaotic and highly anticipated NFL season opener, the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles outlasted the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 in a Thursday night thriller filled with unexpected drama, a lengthy lightning delay, and a fourth-quarter defensive stand that saved the game.
Hurts Starts Strong, Ends Stronger
Quarterback Jalen Hurts was the engine behind the Eagles’ offense, scoring two rushing touchdowns and orchestrating three touchdown drives in the first half. Hurts’ scores of 4 and 8 yards came in the red zone and helped the Eagles become the first defending Super Bowl champions since the 2011 Green Bay Packers to score touchdowns on their first three drives of a season.
Adding to the momentum was Saquon Barkley, who rushed for a 10-yard touchdown in his Eagles debut. While Barkley finished with only 60 rushing yards, his impact was felt early as he helped set the offensive tone.
A Special Appearance and a Signature Celebration
As the Eagles honored their 2024 Super Bowl title with a pregame banner ceremony — held inside the locker room per head coach Nick Sirianni’s direction — all eyes turned to a special guest in the crowd: Michael Jordan. Shown on the jumbotron to loud applause, the basketball legend received a tribute of sorts from Hurts, who shrugged after one of his touchdowns in a nod to MJ’s iconic gesture.
“Yeah, you have a special guest, a special friend in attendance — there’s only one thing you can do, and that’s win,” Hurts said postgame.
Lightning Strikes and Emotions Flare
The night was not without its controversies. The game was delayed 65 minutes due to lightning in the area, halting play with 4:44 remaining in the third quarter and the Eagles clinging to a 24-20 lead. That score would hold through the end.
Earlier, just moments after the banner ceremony, Philadelphia’s All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The incident occurred following the opening kickoff and sent shockwaves through the stadium.
Carter later apologized, and Hurts said he spoke with his teammate to address the unsportsmanlike behavior. Prescott, meanwhile, insisted the situation was a misunderstanding:
“I wouldn’t spit on somebody,” he said, adding that he was simply spitting straight ahead, as usual.
Carter’s ejection is likely to draw the NFL’s attention under the league’s renewed focus on sportsmanship enforcement in 2025.
Cowboys’ Missed Opportunity
Despite the distractions, Dallas had multiple opportunities to steal the win, including a late drive that ended on a failed fourth-and-3 conversion with under two minutes left. Prescott’s pass fell incomplete, sending what remained of a weather-depleted Eagles crowd into celebration at 12:18 a.m., the game’s official end time.
Running back Miles Sanders, now with Dallas, nearly put the Cowboys in position for the win late in the third quarter but fumbled inside the 10-yard line. Eagles rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell scooped up the ball and was tackled by Prescott to prevent a score.
Cowboys’ Bright Spots and Debut Woes
New Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, promoted from offensive coordinator, lost in his head coaching debut but remained confident.
“I still think we can win a Super Bowl,” Schottenheimer said. “It’s not going to change. We’ve got the right guys and good players.”
Wide receiver CeeDee Lamb was the offensive highlight for Dallas, catching seven passes for 110 yards, though he missed a crucial catch in the second half. For Philadelphia, top receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith were unusually quiet. Brown had just one target and one catch for eight yards, while Smith posted only three catches for 16 yards.
Coach Sirianni praised his receiving corps, saying, “A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are selfless.”
Key Stats and Final Moments
- Jake Elliott sealed the Eagles’ scoring with a 58-yard field goal.
- Javonte Williams scored both of Dallas’ touchdowns on 1-yard runs.
- Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey converted field goals from 41 and 53 yards.
- Eagles offensive lineman Landon Dickerson exited the game with a back injury.
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