FRISCO, Texas - It's officially the start of the Brian Schottenheimer era in Dallas as the Cowboys set off for the 2025 season. They don't have the luxury of a ramp-up period, as they open the season against the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday. Traditionally, the NFC East has been a division impossible to repeat as champions in, with no repeat champions since the Eagles did so in 2004.
However, Philadelphia appears primed to make another run at it all with the Cowboys and a first-year head coach standing in their way. Here are 10 more notable 'big facts' to remember ahead of Thursday's 7:20pm CT kickoff on NBC.
Eyes Still on the Star
Over the last six seasons, Dallas is the only team to participate in the NFL's Kickoff Game despite a losing record the year before. This is the second time they've done so during that time span, after opening the 2021 season against the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers after going 6-10 in 2020.
Happy New Year
Thursday will mark just the fifth time that Dallas and Philadelphia have squared off in Week 1 and the first opening week meeting in Philadelphia since 1970. The two rivals met in Dallas in 2000 (Eagles win, 41-14), 1976 (Dallas win, 27-7), and 1970 (Dallas win, 17-7). Roger Staubach started at quarterback for the Cowboys in that 1970 win.
Sign of Things to Come?
The In the last 25 years, the defending champs are 21-4 in Week 1, but two of those defeats have occurred in the last three years. And another was by the Cowboys, who beat the Giants in 2012 to open the season.
Eagles Matching Some Cowboys History
Last season, the Eagles became the second team in the Super Bowl era to finish with the NFL's leading rusher (Saquon Barkley) and the top total defense in the league (278.4 yards allowed). The only other team to do so was the 1992 Cowboys with Emmitt Smith (1,713 rushing yards) and a league-best 245.7 yards per game allowed. The Cowboys would repeat as champions in 1993.
Dak vs. Hurts Part IV
Despite their respective organizations playing twice a year, this week will mark only the fourth head-to-head meeting between Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts. At least one of the two quarterbacks has missed the 10 possible matchups between the Cowboys and Eagles since 2020. Dak has won two of the three meetings with the Hurts-led Eagles and has a 116.9 passer rating in those matchups thanks to eight passing touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Dak vs. NFC East
With his recent injury woes, it's easy to forget how dominant Dak Prescott has been against the NFC East. Prescott is 14-2 against his own division since 2021. He leads the NFL in multiple categories for quarterbacks within their division, such as win percentage and a 112.1 passer rating.
City of 'Little' Brotherly Love
Philadelphia's roster is the youngest by a defending Super Bowl champion since 1991 with an average age of 26.0. Their roster is currently the third youngest on average in the NFL, according to Spotrac. Their Super Bowl win dethroned the previous lowest number, the 2023 Chiefs, who repeated as champions that season.
Pickens Already in Elite Company
One of the top additions this offseason, wide receiver George Pickens, enters as one of five players all-time with at least 50 receptions and 15 yards per catch in each of his three seasons in the NFL. He joins a list with Randy Moss, Torry Holt, John Jefferson, and Ernest Givins. He had 13 receptions of 30-or-more yards in 2024.
Lamb and Pickens Duo
Thursday marks the dawn of another elite wide receiver duo between Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens. Lamb and Pickens are one of two current wide receiver duos with more than 2,000 individual receiving yards combined over the last two seasons. Only Puka Nakua and Davante Adams can match that production for the Rams.
Brown and Smith Duo
However, the Eagles have their one dangerous duo at receiver. Philadelphia was 14-1 in 2024 when both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith played. They are one of two receiver duos that rank in the top 10 in the NFL for receiving touchdowns since 2022, joining Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in Cincinnati.
