The NFL season opener between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles started like a fireworks show and ended like a flickering candle.
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Philadelphia edged Dallas 24-20 on Thursday night in Philadelphia, a game that looked destined for a shootout before halftime but wound up being something not seen in the league in three decades.
Each of the first eight possessions ended in points — all seven drives in the first half plus Philadelphia's opening drive of the third quarter. The Eagles led 21-20 at the break and stretched it to four with a field goal to begin the second half.
From there, nothing.
The final eight possessions all ended without points, marking the first time in 30 years that an NFL game has opened with eight straight scoring drives and closed with eight straight empty ones.
Dak Prescott came out sharp, matching Philadelphia's power run attack that carried them to a Super Bowl last season. But a lightning delay seemed to zap the rhythm of both offenses, and CeeDee Lamb's costly drops buried Dallas' comeback chances.
The Cowboys were expected to push the defending champions, and they did, but the night turned into a tale of two halves. From 41 first-half points to a scoreless slog, the opener gave fans a little of everything.
Between the bizarre scoring split and a star defensive lineman being ejected just six seconds into the game, the NFL's first contest of the year was anything but ordinary.
Damn, this is literally your only job! 2 massive drops. You make millions - to catch the football - when the game is on the line. Smh CeeDee Lamb !! pic.twitter.com/LzsbXqraqh
— Blake Bednarz (@BlakeBednarz) September 5, 2025
