The Dallas Cowboys (0-0, 2024: 7-10) face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (0-0, 2024: 14-3) in the 2025 NFL season opener at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at 8:20 p.m. ET, airing on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
This NFC East rivalry kicks off with the Eagles unveiling their Super Bowl LIX banner, adding emotional intensity to a matchup where Philadelphia dominated Dallas 75-13 across two blowout wins in 2024. With the Cowboys’ revamped offense and depleted defense facing Philly’s elite roster, here’s a betting preview with odds, key matchups, player props, and our best bet for Thursday Night Football.
Team Overview
Dallas Cowboys (0-0, 2024: 7-10)
The Cowboys stumbled to a 7-10 record in 2024, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020, plagued by injuries and defensive woes. Quarterback Dak Prescott, who missed nine games with a hamstring injury, returns healthy, boasting a 9-4 career record against Philadelphia.
Last year, the Cowboys ranked 21st in points (20.6 per game), and in the off-season added wide receiver George Pickens via trade, pairing him with CeeDee Lamb to form a potent duo. However, the defense, which allowed 27.5 points per game (31st), was gutted by the trade of star edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers on August 28, 2025. New head coach Brian Schottenheimer and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus faces a tough test.
Key Players:
- QB Dak Prescott: 1,978 passing yards, 13 TDs in eight games last season. His 2-0 ATS record as a +7 or higher underdog adds intrigue.
- WR CeeDee Lamb: Led with 101 receptions, 1,194 yards, and six TDs in 2024, a matchup nightmare for Philly’s depleted secondary.
- WR George Pickens: Averaged 18.1 yards per catch in 2023, a deep threat to stretch the field.
Philadelphia Eagles (0-0, 2024: 14-3)
The Eagles, fresh off a 40-22 Super Bowl win over Kansas City, return a stacked roster led by Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, the 2024 Offensive Player of the Year. Their offense ranked eighth in points (29.2 per game), driven by Barkley’s league-leading 2,504 rushing yards (including playoffs).
Defensively, the Eagles ranked fourth in points allowed (17.6 per game) last year. However, they lost key players like Darius Slay, Josh Sweat, and CJ Gardner-Johnson but remains formidable with young stars like Jalen Carter and Zack Baun. Philly’s 11-game home winning streak and 5-1 ATS record as home favorites bolster their case.
Key Players:
- RB Saquon Barkley: 1,838 regular season rushing yards, 13 TDs in 2024. Faces a Dallas run defense that allowed 27.5 points per game (31st).
- QB Jalen Hurts: 2,903 passing yards, 18 TDs, and 630 rushing yards in 2024. His dual-threat ability shredded Dallas for 56 rushing yards last season.
- WR A.J. Brown: 1,079 receiving yards, a big-play threat against Dallas’ weakened secondary.
Key Matchups
Eagles’ Run Game vs. Cowboys’ Run Defense:
- Philadelphia’s ground attack, led by Barkley and Hurts, faces a Dallas defense that ranked fourth-worst in rushing yards allowed (147.1 per game) in 2024. The Eagles’ top-ranked offensive line should dominate, especially without Parsons, allowing Philly to control the clock.
Cowboys’ Passing Attack vs. Eagles’ Secondary:
- Dallas’ addition of Pickens alongside Lamb gives Prescott two elite targets. Philly’s secondary, missing Slay, relies on rookies Andrew Mukuba and Cooper DeJean, who may struggle against deep threats. Prescott’s 9-4 record vs. Philly suggests he can exploit this matchup.
Home-Field Advantage and Banner Night:
- The Eagles’ 11-game home win streak and the emotional boost of their Super Bowl banner unveiling create a raucous atmosphere. Dallas’ 3-6 road record in 2024 and 6-12 ATS as underdogs make an upset challenging.
Betting Analysis
- Moneyline: The Eagles’ -425 odds imply a 77.2%-win probability, Dallas’ +320 offers upset potential, but Philly’s home dominance (10 straight wins) makes them the safer bet straight up.
- Total: The over is 4-1 in Dallas’ last five road games as underdogs and 9-5 in Philly’s home games with totals between 42.5-49. The Cowboys’ porous defense and Philly’s explosive offense push toward a high-scoring game, but a slow start due to Week 1 rust keeps it close to the line.
- Player Prop: Saquon Barkley Over 85.5 Rushing Yards (-110): Barkley’s 2024 dominance and Dallas’ weak run defense (147.1 yards allowed per game) make this a strong play. He rushed for 118+ yards in three 2024 playoff games.