Cowboys vs Eagles Predictions: NFL Week 1 TNF Preview

Dallas Cowboys @ Philadelphia Eagles 

Total: 48.5

Line: Eagles -8.5

Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is finally here and it kicks off with a divisional showdown in primetime at 8:20 ET broadcast on NBC and Peacock. Philadelphia is installed as big home favorites coming off their Super Bowl win in February while the Cowboys aren’t getting much respect from linemakers after trading away Micah Parsons to Green Bay. For what it’s worth, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has the Cowboys defense graded 30th overall over the last four years with Parson’s out of the lineup. 

Philadelphia Eagles 

Philly has a ton of continuity on both sides of the ball coming into this season riding high off their Super Bowl victory over the Chiefs. Kevin Patullo is taking over as OC with Kellen Moore departing for the New Orleans Saints HC gig, but he has been with the team for a number of years and they have the same personnel player wise. It’s Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith and Dallas Goedert. Jahan Dotson operated primarily as the WR3 last year but was rarely targeted. Philly traded for John Metchie in August – and it remains to be seen if he can leapfrog Dotson for the 3rd spot. Will Shipley is set to fully take over the Kenneth Gainwell role and I think it’s noteworthy that he saw time with the first team offense in camp as well as rested with them in the Week 2 and 3 preseason games. I fully expect the Eagles to need to throw the ball more this season and I think they probably want to, given that it will help keep Barkley and Hurts fresh. That being said, I’m not sure they’ll need to tonight against what was a horrible run defense a year ago. The Eagles run-heavy approach should see 0 interruption here and I could see Shipley mixing in a lot towards the end of the game if the Eagles are winning. At long odds, I’m interested in him from a betting stand-point. 

If you’re looking to target the passing game I would lean towards DeVonta Smith given that he’s been a Cowboys killer in his career. I do expect the Cowboys to play much more zone-heavy defensively with Matt Eberflus taking over there so it remains to be seen how that will affect individual match-ups. 

Dallas Cowboys 

On the Cowboys side of the ball, I’m expecting a huge season from this offense especially with Parson’s out of town. He did a lot to mask their defensive issues and with him gone this could be one of the worst overall defensive units in the NFC. This should force the offense into more shootout atmospheres and QB Dak Prescott has had great statistical success the last two fully healthy seasons he’s played. They also made a great trade bringing in WR George Pickens who complements CeeDee Lamb perfectly in my opinion. Pickens wins down the field as more of a clasher / contested catch guy whereas Lamb is at his best racking up YAC. He will be awarded the opportunity to play more fully in the slot with Pickens operating on the outside and I think both are set for massive seasons. Pickens has the tough match-up tonight on the outside against Quinyon Mitchell but could they make a point to force him the ball early and get him comfortable? Only time will tell. 

The RB room is a complete mystery from a season long standpoint, but tonight I expect Javonte Williams to lead the way over Miles Sanders and Rookie Jaydon Blue given that he was the only one to rest during the preseason games. You really can’t attack this Philly defense on the ground as it is – and I’m expecting Dak to need to do it all tonight throwing the ball if they want to keep pace in this game. 

Touchdown Prediction: DeVonta Smith, Will Shipley