Eagles beat Cowboys after weather delay; more details on what led to Jalen Carter ejection; Birds unveil Super Bowl banner

Just six seconds into the game, Jalen Carter got ejected from the game for spitting on Dak Prescott before even playing a snap. But it looked like beforehand like Prescott was saying something to Carter that preceded the interaction.

Now we know what, sort of.

After the hour-long weather delay, NBC showed a clip of Prescott spitting on the ground in the direction of the Eagles huddle before Carter spit on him.

What led to Jalen Carter's ejection early in the Eagles' opener?

“One of the officials observed him spitting on an opponent," referee Shawn Smith told a pool reporter during the weather delay in Thursday's game against the Cowboys.

Why did that rise to the level of disqualification as opposed to a different penalty?

It can be argued that third-year defensive tackle Jalen Carter is the most important player on the roster for the Philadelphia Eagles.

It cannot be argued that Carter, on Thursday, was the dumbest of all Eagles. Maybe the dumbest ever.

After the opening kickoff, Carter and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott exchanged words across what would be the line of scrimmage. Carter’s teammate, Ben VanSumeren, sat on the turf, some 30 yards away, contemplating what likely is a season-ending knee injury suffered covering the opening kickoff.

Jake Elliott went just 1-for-7 on kicks of 50-plus yards last season.

He's 1-for-1 in 2025.

Elliott's 58-yard field goal on the Eagles' opening drive out of halftime has the Eagles ahead, 24-20, with 8 minutes, 30 seconds left in the third quarter.

Jalen Carter got thrown out of the game before the first play from scrimmage. The Eagles have a major problem at cornerback. A.J. Brown doesn’t have a target, let alone a catch.

But the Eagles have a 21-20 lead over the Dallas Cowboys at halftime and get the ball after the break.

Saquon Barkley’s 10-yard touchdown run with 51 seconds before halftime gave the Eagles a lead after their defense finally held Dallas out of the end zone. The key play on that eight-play, 81-yard drive was a 51-yard hookup between Jalen Hurts and Jahan Dotson, who got a step on Kaiir Elam and Hurts dropped a deep ball right in his hands.

The Eagles rolled out a red carpet, wheeled a pair of oversized replica Lombardi trophies onto the field, and turned on the green lights. Green fireworks launched off the Lincoln Financial Field roof. The 2025 season started with a celebration of how the 2024 season ended.

Jeffrey Lurie, flanked by Brandon Graham, walked down the red carpet, (real) Lombardi trophies in their hands, and Graham opened the ceremony with an E-A-G-L-E-S chant.

The Eagles fight song played as a black tarp covering the new Super Bowl banner was removed.

Before Jalen Hurts and the Eagles took the field tonight against the Cowboys, the quarterback and the Jordan Brand teamed up to give a special surprise to a local youth football team.

The South Philly Sigma Sharks, a youth football program with athletes ranging from eight years to 12 years old, were surprised with "Love, Hurts" hoodies and Air Jordan 4 White Cement cleats.

Hurts' "Love, Hurts" slogan was unveiled in a commercial shortly after the Eagles won Super Bowl LIX and the Eagles quarterback wore the branding during the Super Bowl parade earlier this year.

It's the Jalen Hurts scramble show for the Eagles offense right now.

A.J. Brown hasn't been targeted, DeVonta Smith has one catch, Saquon Barkley has had to work hard for all 35 of his yards on eight totes.

But the Eagles responded to another Cowboys score with one of their own, Hurts scrambling for an eight-yard touchdown after rolling to his left. He had a nine-yard scramble two plays earlier and is up to 43 yards on five carries and two touchdowns.

No Jalen Carter, big problems for the Eagles, who don't have an answer for Dallas' offense early on in this one.

The Cowboys took a 14-7 lead on another Javonte Williams run, which capped off a nine-play, 88-yard touchdown drive.

The Eagles are having all kinds of problems defensively. They can't contain CeeDee Lamb and haven't been able to pressure Dak Prescott enough.

As fog covered the stage at Brooklyn Bowl, former Eagles — and Cowboys — wide receiver Terrell Owens stepped onto the stage to the sounds of Future’s “Superhero.” Eagles fans welcomed the Hall of Famer as he joined Nick Foles, David Akers, Fletcher Cox, and Brent Celek for the DraftKings Ultimate Kickoff event.

To celebrate the Eagles home opener, the former wide receiver — who spent two seasons in Philadelphia and three seasons in Dallas — made it clear who he was rooting for in Thursday’s matchup.

“Our own Philadelphia Eagles versus the Dallas Cowboys, who suck by the way. Yes, I said that,” Owens said.

Back and forth they go here at Lincoln Financial Field.

After Dallas cruised down the field with ease, Jalen Hurts led a 10-play, 70-yard drive and ran it in himself on a 4-yard scramble.

Hurts was 3-for-3 for 33 yards on the drive, connecting twice with Dallas Goedert and once with Will Shipley, who had a 19-yard reception and also a five-yard carry. Saquon Barkley ran four times for 21 yards.

Without Jalen Carter on the field, the Cowboys made it look easy on their first drive.

They needed six plays to cover 53 yards and capped their first drive with a one-yard Javonte Williams run.

CeeDee Lamb got loose on Adoree' Jackson for a 32-yard catch and run down to the 1-yard line on a key third down. Jackson was called for defensive pass interference against Lamb on the next play before Williams plunged it in.

Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was disqualified from the game before the first play from scrimmage.

While Eagles fullback Ben VanSumeren was being tended to on the field, Carter approached the Cowboys huddle area and appeared to spit on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

Carter was escorted off the field by Eagles chief security officer Dom DiSandro.

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Rob Mac and Glenn Howerton stood in the middle of H Lot, raised a glass of their Four Walls Whiskey and led the fans in an Eagles chant.

The duo arrived at the TrueFan Tailgate moments after Mac posed for a photo with Eagles play-by-play announcer Merrill Reese at Lincoln Financial Field ahead of the Birds’ opener against the Dallas Cowboys. 

The Always Sunny actors stood side-by-side with Eagles fans as they celebrated the start of the season. Mac, a Philadelphia native and the show's creator, hasn't been shy about showing off his Eagles fandom over its 17 seasons — including episodes like “The Gang Wins the Big Game” and “The Gang Gets Invincible.”

The Eagles’ seven inactives for Thursday night are in, and free agent edge rusher Azeez Ojulari is one of them.

Ojulari, who the Eagles signed to a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $4 million, did not have a strong camp but seemed to improve as the summer went on.

Fellow edge rusher Ogbo Okoronkwo was also scratched. The Eagles elevated edge rusher Patrick Johnson as one of their two practice squad elevations for game day.

The SEPTA service cuts might have been ordered to be reversed, but for Transit Forward Philadelphia what matters is service in the long run.

“It’s so important we have a long term solution,” said coalition manager Stephen Bronskill. “When they come back next week we need them to hear from riders.”

Despite the judge's order, the coalition moved forward with their demonstration outside NRG station with a dozen protesters handing out fliers inviting folks to send letters to state elected officials demanding the return of the Sports Express service. A sponsor, FanDuel, paid for the service for Thursday's game.

Carlos Pimentel, 59, had a week off work and decided to come to Philly from Toronto to watch the Eagles play.

“I was amazed to see them win the Super Bowl. I couldn’t believe it, so I wanted to see them play,” Pimentel said.

Trying to get to the stadium proved to be another surprise. Boarding the Broad Street Line from City Hall, Pimentel couldn’t help but wonder why trains were taking so long. When one finally came, an ocean of people pushed him in — folks standing shoulder to shoulder, no wiggle room.

The Eagles arrived in style on opening night. Here's a look at some of their pregame fits ...

Jalen Hurts

Saquon Barkley

Tim Logan, of Royersford, has been tailgating Eagles games since 1999. As the self proclaimed “Mayor of F2 Lot,” Logan believes the Cowboys- Eagles rivalry is one of the biggest in the NFL. 

“[I hate] the fact that they live in the past,” Logan said. “I mean, I grew up when Dallas was really good. Everybody around the Philadelphia area who are Dallas fans, they weren't from Dallas. Like, I appreciate a Dallas fan who's from Dallas. I'm OK with that.

“But if you're from this area, it's been 30 years since they won a Super Bowl, 29 or whatever it is. Stop being America's team. You're not America's team anymore.”

The Eagles elevated safety Marcus Epps and outside linebacker/edge rusher Patrick Johnson for Thursday night's game.

Their inactive active roster players won't be announced until 90 minutes before kickoff.

Epps' elevation makes four active safeties for the game. The Eagles only have three — Reed Blankenship, Sydney Brown, and Drew Mukuba — on the active roster. Epps rejoined the Eagles last week after he was cut by the New England Patriots.

As the countdown to kickoff continued in South Philly, Eagles fan TJ Zak stood with his friends in C Lot with a reminder of last year’s Super Bowl win over the Kansas City Chiefs hanging above him — a flag with the 40-22 final score flew from the pole of a nearby truck.

But the 55-year-old from Kennett Square native didn’t pay that banner any attention. He expects to do the same once he heads inside Lincoln Financial Field for the banner ceremony for last year’s Super Bowl win, which is set to take place at 8:10 p.m., just before kickoff.

“They're going to raise the banner, hopefully right in front of Jerry Jones, so he can see that,” Zak said. “But it's going to be an electric time. And just like the Eagles are not coming out for it, I think I'm going to stay in the concession area too. Because once the game starts, there's a new season.”

For five seasons, defensive back Darius Slay was a mainstay in the Eagles secondary. Slay, who was named to three Pro Bowls and finished with nine interceptions in 74 games with the Birds, now plays across the state for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Though the Steelers don’t open their season until Sunday against the New York Jets, Slay will be watching his old team raise the banner tonight from teammate DeShon Elliott’s house.

“[The banner ceremony] is going to be crazy, it’s going to be lit, man,” Slay told reporters on Thursday. “I’m so thankful for the [Eagles] organization. … I’m always going to be thankful for my time in Philly.”

Tyrese Maxey became a fan favorite in Philly almost immediately after joining the 76ers.

His infectious energy and big smile resonated with fans and endeared him to the city.

But no one is perfect. At least that's likely what many in the city are thinking about Maxey today, after he started his Thursday with a message for his "PHILLY FAM" in advance of the Eagles' season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Eagles are favored over the Dallas Cowboys tonight, and a win will take them all the way back to 1933.

The Birds all-time record during the regular season is 638-639-4, so a victory will even out their winning percentage to .500.

As Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio points out, the last time the Eagles' cumulative regular-season record was .500 was 92 years ago, seven games into their inaugural season. The Birds were 3-3-1 that year before dropping their final two games, and haven't gotten back to .500 since.

Two hundred and seven days after winning their second Super Bowl, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles will begin their quest for a repeat against the Dallas Cowboys in the 2025 NFL kickoff game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Thursday’s game will air on NBC, which will also be broadcasting the Super Bowl next year in Santa Clara, Calif. So while the game will look and feel familiar to Sunday Night Football viewers, the network is rolling out a couple of new features you might miss if you blink.

“Our telestration presentation will be notably different,” Sunday Night Football coordinating producer Rob Hyland said on a recent episode of the Sports Media with Richard Deitsch podcast.

After two uncharacteristically splendid weeks of weather in the Philly region, the atmosphere is about to take an annoying turn, just in time for the Eagles’ opener and the unveiling of the Super Bowl banner.

Showers are possible, especially during the first half of the game when the Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys Thursday night, forecasters said, but the threat of lightning may linger longer, said Bob Larsen, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc.

“It’s not the rain so much we’re concerned about,” he said. “It’s the risk of lightning that raises the red flag.“ He said the threat could persist until 11 p.m.

All eyes remain on Jalen Carter.

He is the Eagles’ linchpin. The straw that stirs their defense. But for all he has accomplished in just his first two NFL seasons, the 24-year-old seemingly has not yet reached his ceiling.

The Eagles don’t necessarily need him to top out this season. But much of their success will hinge on Carter’s playmaking and the attention he draws away from his fellow D-linemen.

Mark Campbell insists he owns clothing that doesn’t bear the Eagles logo. Those close to him can hardly tell. According to Carol, his wife of 45 years, Mark, 75, wears some type of Eagles gear every day of the week.

Football is in his blood like it’s in his wardrobe. Mark’s cousin, John Brown, was an offensive tackle who played for the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers for a decade in the 1960s. Mark coached his son, also named Mark, in youth football. A Camden native, Mark saw his love for football intensify during the Eagles’ Randall Cunningham era of the late ’80s and early ’90s, when he would regularly take clients of his mortgage banking business to games at the Vet on the company’s season tickets.

These days, Mark’s style isn’t just an outward expression of his soul. It also starts conversations with strangers, not only because of the logo on the front of his new favorite jersey, but also because of the name on the back. Mark proudly dons his No. 30 Campbell jersey for his grandson, Jihaad, around town in Cherry Hill, drawing intrigue from fellow Eagles fans.

Micah Parsons a Philadelphia Eagle?

While the former Dallas Cowboys defensive star was ultimately traded to the Green Bay Packers, the Eagles made "a strong push" to acquire Parsons over the summer, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.

While it was always unlikely the Cowboys would have traded Parsons to a division rival, especially once coming off a Super Bowl victory, a trade between the two teams isn't unheard of.

In two meetings last season, the Eagles scored 75 total points vs. the Cowboys with more than half their 724 total yards coming on the ground. And they were without quarterback Jalen Hurts in the second game. Credit goes to Saquon Barkley and an elite offensive line, but Dallas also had one of the worst run defenses in the NFL. The Cowboys finished near last in most statistical categories.

Owner Jerry Jones cited improving the run defense as one reason for trading Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers. Big-bodied defensive tackle Kenny Clark came in return. But Clark is seemingly on the downward arc of his career. As for the Cowboys’ other offseason changes in personnel, they acquired off-ball linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr., but lost maybe their top run stopper up front in defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence.

The most significant change for Dallas, though, may be the arrival of new coordinator Matt Eberflus. He’s been around a while, and in fact, ran the Indianapolis Colts defense when Eagles coach Nick Sirianni oversaw the other side of the ball in Indy. Sirianni and Co. also faced an Eberflus-helmed defense with the Chicago Bears three seasons ago. He has different players now, but the essentials of his scheme will be in place. He’ll run an aggressive 4-3 front and play a lot of two-high safety zones on the back end. You need good pass rushers in that system — well, any system, for that matter — and no Parsons should make life easier for the Eagles.

This season marks 30 years since the Cowboys last won the Super Bowl, a drought that has one former quarterback tossing barbs at owner Jerry Jones.

Troy Aikman, the former Cowboys star turned Monday Night Football announcer at ESPN, joined The Rich Eisen Show this week to preview the 2025 NFL season. Naturally, the discussion turned to the Cowboys and the perception, as Eisen put it, that Jones and his team "are more concerned about the Cowboys as a brand and a business than winning another championship."

While Aikman doesn't doubt Jones wants to win, there is a question about how much the team's desire to remain in the limelight contributes to their lack of championships the past three decades.

Tanner McKee (right thumb) was ruled out of Thursday’s home opener against the Dallas Cowboys on the Eagles’ final injury report released Wednesday afternoon.

McKee, the backup quarterback to Jalen Hurts, is the only player on the active roster unavailable to play.

The 25-year-old injured the thumb on his right hand on Aug. 18 when he hit a helmet after throwing, sidelining him for the last two days of training camp. He did not participate in practice all week, but he was present to take mental reps during the drills open to the media at the beginning of practice.

There will be extra SEPTA trains running for Thursday’s Eagles home opener, after all.

Absent state funding as SEPTA implemented major service cuts, FanDuel will sponsor the 10 additional express trains to the Eagles game, shuttling tens of thousands of people to and from the South Philadelphia sports complex. The sports betting platform will also foot the cost of fares for fans leaving the stadium, the team announced Wednesday.

SEPTA last month cut its additional sports service as part of its 20% service cuts across the board, as the nation’s sixth-largest mass transit agency faces a $213 million budget deficit that it is relying on state government to help fill. Meanwhile, officials in Harrisburg have been at a budget stalemate and unable to reach a deal to fund mass transit.

Way too much ink has been spilled over where Jalen Hurts ranks among the league’s top quarterbacks. Even as the 2025 season is about to get underway, there’s still no real consensus on where the reigning Super Bowl MVP should fall on a top-10 list — or if he should even be included at all.

Joe Montana, for his part, told Pat McAfee Tuesday that Hurts was fourth on his list of which quarterback he’d pick to start a franchise, behind Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, and Justin Herbert (while Patrick Mahomes was suspiciously absent).

Meanwhile, NFL.com ranked Hurts 11th on its weekly list of best quarterbacks, behind Herbert, Jayden Daniels, and CJ Stroud, among others, and one spot ahead of Geno Smith. In fact, Hurts was nearly in the third tier of QBs, a group that includes Bo Nix and Sam Darnold, on writer Nick Shook’s weekly ranking. But at least he knew what he was getting into.