What Can the Cowboys Do to Win Week 1 vs. the Eagles?
- Darius Fuladi
- Sep 4, 2025
- 3 min read
Tonight, the Dallas Cowboys face their division rival Philadelphia Eagles in the first game of the NFL season.
Philadelphia will make a splash before even hitting the field Thursday by raising their 2025 Super Bowl championship banner in front of their home crowd. On the other side, the Cowboys look to take a statement victory after missing the postseason last year, finishing with a disappointing 7-10 record. The Eagles are heavy favourites in this NFL Kickoff matchup, but the recent Micah Parsons trade has some wondering whether the Cowboys have shifted attitudes and if they are set to upset the defending champs.
Let’s look at what the Cowboys can do to win in Week 1:
Use the Parsons trade as fuel
Some may argue that trading away debatably your best defensive and best overall player a week before a matchup with the defending champs is ludicrous, especially if, in return, you only receive one player that can make immediate contributions. By trading away Micah Parsons, the organization signaled that they do not believe that the current roster will be competitive enough to win championships soon.
In a way, the front office blatantly conveying skepticism relieves pressure off the team. To win versus Philadelphia, Dallas players may need to use that doubt as motivation to go out and perform at the highest level. Hit harder, run faster, and don’t stop until the final whistle. It’s going to take a herculean effort to defeat the champs on the first opportunity and the Cowboys will have to capitalize on every bit of momentum they can.
Get the New Running Backs Involved
The Cowboys had one of the worst rushing attacks in 2024, finishing 27th in yards and last in TDs. To address this, they signed solid running backs Javonte Williams and Milles Sanders, while drafting two rookie backs in Jaydon Blue and Phil Mafah. The Cowboys will be hoping the new additions will result in a better running game in 2025 but this first week against the Eagles will be an early indicator of where they’re at.
Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott is a player who thrives off play action plays. So, it’s important that Dallas establishes the running game early on and pushes back the Philadelphia defence. Getting the new players in a groove early will also bring confidence and energy to the sidelines that could propel them to a win.
Protect the ball
Dak is a gunslinger, but it comes with a price. Over the past 4 seasons, Prescott has averaged 10.5 interceptions with a touchdown-interception ratio 2.6: 1. While not terrible stats, they display that Dak can sometimes be erratic with the football, which is costly against an elite team like the Eagles.
To take down their rivals, Dak will have to be on his A game, not only throwing the ball well but making smart decisions that keep the team in pursuit the whole time.
Ceedee & Pickens Highlight Reel
Dallas made a key acquisition to their wide receiver room this offseason trading for former Pittsburgh WR George Pickens. Pickens showed star potential in his time with the Steelers, accumulating over 2,800 yards in his three seasons with the team.
It is unlikely the Dallas defence will be able to contain the Eagles for more than a few drives tonight. Thus, it’s important that Dallas remains within scoring distance by leveraging their offensive weapons’ skillsets against Philly’s D. A successful attack tonight will consist of big yardage gains through deep balls to Pickens and quick throws to superstar wide receiver CeeDee Lamb.
Thank you for reading.
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