NFL Kickoff Game 2025: Eagles Host Cowboys in Season Opener

Eagles vs. Cowboys Rivalry

This NFC East showdown is the perfect way to start the season. The two teams have a long history, and this game has major implications right from Week 1.

Philadelphia Eagles: The Defending Champions
The Eagles are coming off a dominant 14-3 season that ended with a Super Bowl victory. Their offense is built around a powerful running game. Running back Saquon Barkley led the entire league in rushing yards in 2024. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is a true dual-threat. He ran for 630 yards in the regular season and added another 194 yards on the ground in the playoffs.

Philadelphia is also very tough to beat at home. The team currently has an 11-game home winning streak. Their recent history against Dallas is also strong. In 2024, the Eagles beat the Cowboys twice by a combined score of 75-13.

Dallas Cowboys: The Comeback Story
The Cowboys are looking for a fresh start. They missed the playoffs in 2024 with a 7-10 record. Their season was derailed when quarterback Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury.

Now, Prescott is back and healthy. He also has a new deep threat to work with. The Cowboys added wide receiver George Pickens, who averaged an impressive 18.1 yards per catch in 2023. Dallas is highly motivated to prove they can compete with the champions, especially after last year’s blowout losses.

2025 Kickoff Game Betting Odds

Sportsbooks have the Eagles as the clear favorites at home. However, early betting action has caused the lines to move slightly.

• Point Spread: Eagles -7 (some books have it at -6.5)
• Total (Over/Under): 46 points
• Moneyline: Eagles -310, Cowboys +250

The point total opened at 47 points but was bet down to 46. The spread has also tightened from 7 to 6.5 points at some sportsbooks, showing that some bettors believe the Cowboys can keep the game close.

Why the Eagles Can Cover the Spread
Philadelphia dominated Dallas last season. Their top-ranked rushing attack, led by Saquon Barkley, is a major mismatch for a Cowboys defense that struggled against the run in 2024. The Eagles are also playing at home, where they have won 11 straight games. With a championship roster returning, Philadelphia has the talent and momentum to win by more than a touchdown.

Why the Cowboys Can Pull an Upset
A healthy Dak Prescott changes everything for the Dallas offense. The addition of George Pickens gives them another explosive player to challenge a Philadelphia secondary that lost veteran cornerback Darius Slay. The Cowboys also have a strong record in divisional games, winning 14 of their last 20. History shows that defending champions sometimes struggle in this opening game. The champs have lost the Kickoff Game five times since 2004.

What is the NFL Kickoff Game?

The NFL Kickoff Game is a special tradition that started in 2002. It is a standalone contest that takes place on the Thursday night after Labor Day. This game is played before the rest of the league’s Week 1 games.

The tradition began as an event to help New York and Washington D.C. recover after the September 11 attacks. It was so successful that the league made it an annual event.

In 2004, the NFL decided that the defending Super Bowl champion would host the game each year. This rule has only been broken twice:

• In 2013, the Baltimore Ravens played on the road due to a scheduling conflict with the MLB’s Baltimore Orioles.
• In 2019, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears played to celebrate the NFL’s 100th season.

The game is a major event. It includes a pre-game concert and ceremonies to honor the reigning champions.

Kickoff Game Records and Recent Highlights

This opening game has produced some incredible moments over the years.

• Most Passing Touchdowns: Peyton Manning threw 7 touchdowns for the Denver Broncos in the 2013 Kickoff Game.
• Most Rushing Yards: Kareem Hunt ran for 148 yards for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2017.
• Highest Scoring Game: Two games are tied with 76 total points (Broncos vs. Ravens in 2013, and Packers vs. Saints in 2011).

Recent games have also been very exciting. In 2023, the Detroit Lions shocked the Chiefs in Kansas City with a 21-20 upset. In 2024, the Chiefs survived a close game against the Baltimore Ravens, winning 27-20 after a potential game-tying touchdown was overturned.

How to Watch the 2025 Season Opener

• Date: Thursday, September 4, 2025
• Time: 8:20 p.m. ET
• Channel: NBC
• Streaming: Peacock, FuboTV

This game marks the official start of the road to Super Bowl LX. With a heated rivalry, returning stars, and a championship celebration, the 2025 NFL Kickoff Game is an event you will not want to miss.