NFL Season Opener Preview: Eagles Host Cowboys in Thursday Night Kickoff

The 2025 NFL season officially begins tonight as the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in the annual Thursday Night Kickoff Game. No games have concluded as of 11:25 AM UTC on Thursday, September 4, 2025; the opener is set to start at 8:20 PM ET (00:20 UTC on September 5).

Location: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia Kickoff: 8:20 PM ET / 5:20 PM PT Broadcast: NBC, Peacock stream

Key Storylines

  • Repeat bid: The Eagles aim to become the ninth team in NFL history to win back-to-back Super Bowls, riding a dominant rushing attack led by Saquon Barkley and the dynamic playmaking of MVP candidate Jalen Hurts.
  • Cowboys turnaround: Dallas, coming off a 7-10 campaign, looks to rebound under new head coach Brian Schottenheimer. Dak Prescott returns healthy, bolstered by the deep-threat duo of CeeDee Lamb and offseason acquisition George Pickens.
  • Defensive matchups: Philadelphia’s pass rush, anchored by Jalen Carter and Brandon Graham, will test a revamped Cowboys offensive line. Conversely, Dallas’s new front-seven additions-including DT Kenny Clark-must contain Barkley’s punishing ground game.

Odds & Over/Under

  • Eagles favored by 8 points
  • Over/Under: 47.5 points

Fans can follow real-time updates on NFL RedZone, and the full replay will be available shortly after the final whistle via NFL+ Premium. The result and highlights will be posted across major sports networks once the game concludes.