Weathered the Storms

PHILADELPHIA — Moments before the Eagles and Cowboys took the field, an illuminating light show and celebratory pregame festivities that included the unveiling of the 2024 World Champions banner took place. The Eagles took the field shortly thereafter, greeted by an electric crowd yearning for regular season football in South Philadelphia. The Eagles held on, winning 24-20, though the game began ominously.

GETTY IMAGES: Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts rushed for two touchdowns in the 24-20 season-opening win over the Dallas Cowboys.

Fullback and special teams standout Ben VanSumeren was carted off with a knee injury following the opening kickoff. The injury was succeeded by a prompt ejection prior to the first defensive play, as Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter was tossed for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

The Cowboys struck first with a Javontae Williams touchdown run and the Eagles answered with a 4-yard Jalen Hurts run of his own. They again matched scores before Dallas settled for a 41-yard field goal from Brandon Aubrey. Saquon Barkley, with some determination and resolve, punched it in from 10 yards out in the waning moments of the second quarter.

Aubrey and Jake Elliott connected on field goals of 53 and 58 yards, respectively before a lightning delay suspended play for roughly an hour.

Hurts completed 18 of 22 passes for 144 and added another 61 yards on 10 carries. Barkley powered the ground attack, rolling up 60 yards on 18 carries, while wide receiver Jahan Dotson led all Eagles pass catchers with 59 yards on three receptions.

Hours before kickoff, the Eagles elevated S Marcus Epps and OLB Patrick Johnson from the practice squad.

Inactive for the Eagles were OLB Azeez Ojulari, QB Tanner McKee, OLB Ogbo Okoronkwo, OL Drew Kendall, OT Cameron Williams, OL Kenyon Green, DT Ty Robinson.

Let’s get to the observations.

*The Eagles kickoff team was comprised of LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., OLB Patrick Johnson, CB Kelee Ringo, CB Cooper DeJean, LB Smael Mondon Jr., RB Will Shipley, FB Ben VanSumeren, OLB Josh Uche, TE Kylen Granson, S Sydney Brown.

*Brutal sequence to open the game, as VanSumeren, returning from a knee injury that ended his 2024 season, was carted off with a knee injury following the opening kickoff. Just a tough blow for some who worked incredibly hard to beat his recovery timeline. He was promptly ruled out. Then, as the defense took the field, Carter was ejected for spitting on Cowboys QB Dak Prescott. Just an inexcusable action that left his team shorthanded. There’s a good chance Carter will be suspended.

*The defense struggled in the absence of Carter, providing little resistance on a 6-play, 53-yard scoring march punctuated by a 1-yard Williams touchdown run. Tough series for veteran CB Adoree‘ Jackson, who surrendered a 32-yard catch to WR CeeDee Lamb and was tagged for a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone on the ensuing play. In the first quarter, Lamb reeled in all three targets for 76 yards.

*Hurts wasn’t able to establish much in the way of the passing game early, but the sixth-year quarterback took advantage of the Cowboys’ lack of pass-rush discipline and pocket contain, calling his own number on multiple runs and scoring twice. While there was a sentiment that receivers merely weren’t uncovering, DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown sprung free on multiple occasions. Credit Hurts for not only having the awareness to churn out yards with his legs when seemingly all else failed, but there was also some early middle of the field utilization with TE Dallas Goedert. I should also note that coming out of the break, it appeared the Cowboys made some alterations to their pass-rush discipline.

*I’ve often referenced the juice and explosiveness that second-year RB Will Shipley provides, and in the first quarter, he showcased his burst on consecutive carries, yielding 25 yards. The Clemson product, who should serve as an integral part of the offense, is the ideal change of pace option behind Barkley. It should also be mentioned that Dotson contributed to one of the runs with a nice block.

*Jackson entered the medical tent late in the second quarter, bringing on recently acquired Jakorian Bennett at cornerback opposite Quinyon Mitchell. Bennett, on his first snap, is promptly called for defensive pass interference. He also surrendered a few completions in the waning moments of the quarter, enabling the Cowboys to chip their way down the field for the last-second field goal to narrow the Eagles lead to 21-20.

*At the half, the Eagles were tagged with seven penalties for 93 yards. Very uncharacteristic for a Nick Sirianni-led team, who pride themselves on discipline, accountability and poise.

*In the absence of Carter, the Eagles needed some of their young defenders to step up to fill the void and needed more from an ascending leader like third-year pass-rusher Nolan Smith Jr., who was tagged with both a taunting and roughing the passer penalty in the first half.

*At the break, Next Gen Stats revealed the Eagles leaned heavily on DTs Moro Ojomo and Jordan Davis. Ojomo played 29 of 30 snaps (97%) and Davis 26 of 30 (87%). The uptick, obviously, was due to the absence of Carter, but both players appeared gassed at the break. There needed to be more of an inclusion of Byron Young and Gabe Hall, and Young seemed to see an increase in second half snaps, teaming with LB Jihaad Campbell to force a Miles Sanders fumble, returning possession to the Eagles before a lightning delay temporarily suspended the game. For those curious, it appears to me that Young is currently the team’s No. 4 defensive tackle.

*Throughout the summer, I’d mentioned the Eagles had assembled its best group of linebackers in years. At the forefront are reigning 2024 All Pro Zack Baun and first-round rookie Campbell. Both made notable plays, highlighting the athleticism and range of the dynamic tandem. Baun provided blanket coverage down the middle of the field on a deep attempt to TE Jake Ferguson and hawked down running back Miles Sanders from behind following a 49-yard run. Campbell perfectly defended another deep attempt to a tight end, this time Brevyn Spann-Ford, and collaborated with Young to force the Sanders fumble.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com