The Eagles survived horizontal rain and a few vertical spit to open up the NFL season Thursday night time in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Monetary Subject.
Jalen Hurts was masterful in making the Eagles’ offense hum in mid-season kind, for many of the sport, helped erase an unpleasant incident simply six seconds into the sport, when Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott.
The Eagles got here out on high of a rollercoaster journey 24-20 victory, behind two Hurts’ dashing touchdowns, whereas Dallas ripped by way of the vaunted Eagles’ protection for 307 yards of whole offense, scoring on its first 4 possessions.
The Eagles’ first punt of the sport got here with 3:16 left within the third quarter. Dallas’ first punt got here with 14:53 left to play.
The overriding storyline, nevertheless, won’t be the offense. It will likely be the spitting incident.
Throughout an damage timeout for Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren following the opening kickoff, a replay confirmed Prescott spit down on the bottom standing behind two Dallas teammates with a smile on his face. That appeared to elicit Carter’s response.
He bought up in Prescott’s face and spit on him as he peeled away. Sport umpire Bryan Neale was proper behind Carter and noticed it.
Carter now carries the good distinction of being the primary participant in NFL historical past on a defending Tremendous Bowl champion to ever be ejected in a season opener. Carter smirked as he walked off the sector. Perhaps he simply doesn’t get that spitting on somebody whether or not it’s within the toy division of the NFL or in actual life is a disrespectful, heinous act.
“One of many officers noticed (Carter) spitting on an opponent … it’s a disqualifiable foul within the sport. It’s a non-football act,” mentioned referee Shawn Smith.
Carter, who had three pointless roughness penalties through the 2024 season, which was tied for probably the most within the NFL, didn’t appear to know the load of what he did.
“It was a mistake on my facet and it gained’t occur once more,” Carter mentioned after the sport. “I really feel unhealthy for teammates and the followers that had been right here. I’m doing it for them, however I’m doing it for my household additionally. The followers confirmed probably the most love. It gained’t occur once more. I don’t attempt to do something out of the peculiar. I don’t assume I did something that Dak provoked.
“I heard the refs speaking and I heard them say this was a tossable offense, one thing like that. That’s after I knew (he was going to get ejected).”
It was very vital that Eagles’ head coach Nick Sirianni referred to as Prescott over after the sport and whispered one thing into the ear of the Cowboys’ quarterback, most likely an apology for what occurred earlier. The Eagles are actually 5-0 in season openers underneath Sirianni.
“I wished to be on the market with the blokes so unhealthy. I made a promise to the blokes it gained’t occur once more,” Carter mentioned.
Carter additionally mentioned that he had no spoken to Sirianni but, and he didn’t seem like contrite.
The sport featured a 64-minute climate delay with 4:44 left within the third quarter, and when play resumed at 11:30 p.m. EST, protection dominated the remainder of the sport. Cowboys’ defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus switched from a man-to-man protection to a zone, forcing Hurts to remain within the pocket darting blitzes from the secondary.
AJ Brown was not focused till the ultimate two minutes of the sport, although his eight-yard catch got here at essential time. Carter’s absence undercut the Eagles’ cross rush, and just about the complete Eagles’ defensive scheme, although Jordan Davis held up and Byron Younger noticed vital snaps, inflicting the sport’s solely turnover.
There was some good, some unhealthy, and one, huge ugly blotch in a sport nobody will bear in mind aside from one dumb act within the Eagles’ 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Receiver A.J. Brown’s first goal and first catch for eight yards on a second-and-11 on the Dallas 45 with 1:45 to play. The subsequent play, Hurts scrambled for 4 yards and a primary down, which clinched the sport because the Cowboys referred to as their closing timeout with 1:29 to play.
Defensive finish Jalyx Hunt coming as much as cease Javonte Williams for a two-yard loss with 6:50 to play.
Punter Braden Mann maintaining the ball away from the Cowboys’ harmful KaVontae Turpin within the fourth quarterwith a punt that landed on the Cowboys’ 11 with 7:20 to play. Mann did it once more with 3:02 to play, booming a 51-yarder that landed on the Dallas 18.
Barkley’s one-handed catch for 5 yards to the Eagles’ 45 on a second-and-three on the Eagles’ first drive of the fourth quarter.
The Eagles’ first drive. Theyrammed it proper down the Cowboys’ throats with a 10-play, 70-yard drive. The massive play was Will Shipley’s 20-yard run that put the Eagles on the Dallas; 5. The Eagles ran the ball on eight of the ten performs for 56 yards. Of the ten performs, the Eagles confronted just one third down, which they transformed right into a landing.
Jalen Hurts scoring on a four-yard on the Eagles’ opening drive. It tied the rating at 7-7, although extra importantly it put the Eagles proper again on a constructive course, after Jalen Carter began them backward by spitting on Prescott proper after the opening kickoff.
The Eagles’ second offensive drive. They went 65 yards on 12 performs, consuming up 8:10. The Eagles did it by choosing away, choosing away, choosing away, with five- and six-yard good points. The play of the drive was a 15-yard Hurts’ scramble to the Dallas 9 on a third-and-five. The Cowboys appeared like they Hurts contained, however he slipped by way of the center of the sector and dodged a number of Cowboy defenders, earlier than lastly sliding in on the 9.
Hurts’ scoring for the second time on an eight-yard scramble to tie the sport at 14-14. Hurts was completely accountable for the offense, and of the sector, calmly directing the Eagles by way of scrambling and with clutch completions on third down. Hurts was merely unstoppable, catching the pylon for his second rating. Hurts turned the primary Tremendous Bowl MVP to attain two first-half touchdowns within the season opener of the next season.
The Eagles’ third offensive drive. They went 81 yards on eight performs, with the large play approaching a 51-yard reception by Jahan Dotson on a third-and-six on the Eagles’ 23. Till that completion, DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown had a mixed one catch for six yards. 5 performs later, Saquon Barkley scored his first landing of the season on a 10-yard run. The 51-yard catch was the longest for Dotson since his rookie season in 2022.
Barkley’s three-yard, tip-toe sideline catch on third-and-two on the Dallas 15 on the Eagles’ final drive of the primary half. Barkley topped it off along with his 10-yard muscle run by way of the center of the sector. Proper guard Tyler Steen did an awesome job, first hitting Cowboys’ nostril deal with Jay Toia, then reaching the second stage the place he took out linebacker Damone Clark.
Kicker Jake Elliott’s 58-yard, third-quarter area aim that gave the Eagles a 24-20 lead. The boot equaled Elliott’s whole for 50-plus yard area targets for all of 2024, when he was an uncharacteristic one-of-seven from 50-yards plus, his worst single-season price in his profession.
Linebacker Jihaad Campbell displaying why the Eagles took him within the first spherical, knocking a cross away down the center of the sector meant for Brevyn Spann-Ford. Sadly, Sydney Brown was damage on the play. Campbell mixed with fellow 2025 draft alternative Andrew Mukuba to cease Turpin for a two-yard acquire with 6:12 to play on a second-and-12.
Security Reed Blankenship displaying what seemed to be some uncommon self-discipline by the Eagles in not retaliating in opposition to George Pickens on the Dallas private foul contained in the Eagles’ 10 on the Cowboys’ first drive of the second half. Blankenship was yanked down by Pickens and jumped up in his face, although Blankenship retrained him to position the Cowboys in a first-and-22 on the Eagles’ 23.
Linebacker Zack Baun chasing down former Eagle Miles Sanders on a touchdown-saving deal with after a 49-yard run on the Cowboys’ first drive of the second half. On the identical sequence, Baun got here again to deflect a cross away from Dallas tight finish Jake Ferguson on a first-and-22 from the Eagles’ 23.
Cornerback Quinyon Mitchell’s fumble restoration with 4:44 left within the third quarter on the Eagles’ 16. It marked the primary turnover of the sport and enabled the Eagles to offset one other Dallas offensive cost to probably take the lead.
Defensive deal with Byron Younger, getting considerably extra snaps than anticipated resulting from Carter being ejected, inflicting the Sanders’ fumble within the third quarter simply earlier than the climate delay.
Blowing their first timeout of the second half with 8:26 left within the sport as a result of the Eagles couldn’t get the play in quick sufficient. On the time, the Eagles had the ball at their 45 a second-and-14.
Mitchell holding on to Pickens along with his left hand on a second-and-23 play that was flagged for a 34-yard interference name. It led to the Cowboys’ second landing.
Defensive finish Nolan Smith getting a 15-yard flag for taunting after making a pleasant play on former Eagle Miles Sanders on the Cowboys’ third drive. It preserved the Dallas drive, and led to a Cowboys’ area aim and a quick 17-14 lead. Smith was later nailed for roughing the passer on the Cowboys’ final drive of the primary half, which resulted in a Dallas area aim.
Blankenship’s private foul on Ferguson in the long run zone with 4:52 to play within the third quarter. It got here on a third-and-22 on the Eagles’ 23 and gave Dallas new life. The non-public foul, a 12-yard stroll off, was the Eagles’ fourth private foul of the sport for 57 yards. Fortuitously, Mitchell picked up a Sanders’ fumble on the Eagles’ 10.
Jalen Carter getting tossed from the sport for spitting on Dak Prescott earlier than the primary NFL snap from scrimmage six seconds into the 2025 season. Carter may as nicely had spit on Nick Sirianni, his teammates, and the followers that got here to see him. There is no such thing as a different approach to say it, than it was simply flat out dumb. It is usually the explanation why lots of groups handed on Carter popping out of the 2023 draft. To spit on Prescott, or any participant for that matter, and to do it proper in entrance of an official made no sense. Carter got here proper over to Prescott throughout an damage delay for Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren following the opening kickoff, for what cause Carter could solely have the ability to say, then spit on Prescott with umpire Bryan Neale proper behind him. What occurred was unprofessional, immature, and egocentric. Carter let his feelings get the higher of him. He tried to return off as an intimidator and walked off the sector as a nationwide joke. He not solely bought tossed from the sport, Carter could also be dealing with a considerable tremendous and probably a suspension for his stupidity. The Eagles watched as their finest defensive participant was tossed. He additionally fired up a Dallas group that already got here into the sport extremely motivated. As a substitute of focusing to his injured teammate VanSumeren, Carter needed to get into it with Prescott. Hopefully, Carter will present some class and apologize to Prescott. Perhaps Carter simply doesn’t get it that spitting on somebody within the toy division of NFL soccer or in actual life is a disrespectful, horrendous act.
Eagles’ private fouls, and 9 penalties for 110 yards. The Eagles bought an ejection and 7 whole penalties for 93 yards within the first half alone. Merely unacceptable. That’s on Sirianni to put down the hammer. Carter, and two on Smith, exhibits simply how a group higher than the Cowboys may reside hire free within the collective heads of the Eagles’ protection. Will Vic Fangio survive the Dallas movie session?
The Eagles’ protection on Dallas’ opening drive. After Carter bought tossed, the Eagles appeared and performed dumbfounded. With ideally suited area place beginning on the Dallas 47, with an enormous due to Carter, Prescott then proceeded to carve up the Eagles. They traveled 53 yards over six performs and made it look straightforward. Over the six performs, the Cowboys confronted one third down.
Cornerback Adoree’ ‘Don’t Name me Izel Toast Jenkins’ Jackson getting roasted on the Cowboys’ first drive, when Prescott hit CeeDee Lamb with a 32-yard reception to the Eagles’ 2. Jackson was 5 yards away. The subsequent play, Prescott, recognizing his pigeon, appeared Jackson’s means once more in the long run zone, attempting to cowl Lamb once more. This time, Jackson interfered with Lamb and the Cowboys banged it in for a 7-0 lead with 11:49 left within the first quarter. Jackson later missed Lamb on a deal with on the Cowboys’ second drive. Lamb caught a 26-yard cross on a third-and-two with Jackson on him, which introduced the ball to the Eagles’ 33. Late within the third quarter, on third-and-one on the Dallas 35 after the climate delay, Prescott hit Lamb for 14 yards throughout the center—with Jackson nowhere to be discovered. Jackson appeared misplaced.
The Eagles’ protection on Dallas’ second drive. This time, the Cowboys traveled 88 yards on 9 performs, chewing up 5 minutes, 59 seconds. As said above, the large play was Prescott to Lamb for 26 yards on a third-and-two, over Jackson. The drive was helped significantly by Mitchell’s 34-yard interference penalty when he clearly held Pickens along with his left hand. The Eagles’ first quarter protection. They allowed the Cowboys 9 first downs, allowed them to go two-for-two on third-down conversions, pound away for 117 yards of whole offense, and a median of seven.8 yards a play, controlling the ball 9 of the quarter-hour within the opening quarter.
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