Back in May, the NFL set the stage for what might be one of the juiciest openers of the year: the Cowboys heading into Lincoln Financial Field on September 4 to launch their 2025 campaign against the reigning Super Bowl champion, the Eagles. That’s something America’s quarterback, Dak Prescott, was excited for. “I’m beyond excited to kick off the season against the defending Super Bowl champions,” Prescott said.

If the script feels familiar, that’s because we’ve seen a version of it before. Back in 2021, Prescott was fresh off rehabbing a gruesome ankle injury—a compound fracture and dislocation of his right ankle—when he walked into Week 1 against the defending Super Bowl champs, the Buccaneers. His performance was efficient. Prescott threw for 403 yards on 42-of-58 passing with three touchdowns and an interception in a narrow loss to Tom Brady’s Bucs. Fast forward to now, and here we’re again.

Prescott spent the offseason rehabbing a season-ending hamstring injury, only to find himself staring down another defending champion on opening night. This time, it’s the Eagles—a team armed with one of the league’s best defenses, and ironically, the franchise that has thrived while Dallas has carried the weight of a three-decade championship drought. Prescott now enters his tenth season still chasing the one thing missing from his résumé: a title. Which makes the looming question impossible to ignore: How crucial is it for Prescott to conquer the Eagles in the season opener? That’s not just a game preview. That’s the spark of a bigger conversation.

Dak Prescott’s historical success against the Eagles

There’s a lot that ties the Cowboys and the Eagles together. These NFL East division rivals boast one of the fiercest rivalries in the league, fueled by two of the most passionate fan bases in the NFL. Currently, Prescott’s record within the NFC East division stands as follows: 11-2 against the Washington Commanders, 13-2 versus the New York Giants, and 9-4 against Philadelphia. But one thing sets them apart: the head-to-head track record. Dak Prescott owns a 9-4 record against Philly, and that stat alone adds an undeniable layer of pressure as he heads into the 2025 season opener.

Prescott has played the Eagles 13 times, hosting them at home seven times. His first face-off against the Eagles dates back to October 2016, when Dallas took down Philly with a 29-23 win. Prescott recorded 287 yards, two touchdowns, and one pick. Fast forward to the most recent clash in December 2023, the 32-year-old threw for 271 yards, two touchdowns, and no picks in a 33-13 win. In between these years, Prescott holds a 6-1 home record and a 3-3 away record against the Eagles.

In 13 matchups, the quarterback boasts a passer rating of 100.6, 24 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in his career against the Eagles. And when it comes to his track record against Jalen Hurts, Prescott has faced him three times and holds a 2–1 edge. In those matchups, he’s been near flawless—throwing eight touchdowns, zero interceptions, and completing 67.9% of his passes. That’s something to be optimistic about for the Dallas Nation heading into Week 1. But there’s a wrinkle.

Many contend that Prescott’s victories have frequently occurred in contests with diminished stakes, while defeats have materialized in more consequential matchups. Consider the Week 17 encounter in 2017, which concluded with Dallas defeating Philadelphia 6-0. However, upon closer examination, the Eagles had already secured the NFC East division title and locked up the conference’s top playoff seed prior to that game.

They rested several key starters, including quarterback Nick Foles. The game had no playoff implications for the Eagles, and their decision to rest the starters turned out to be in favor of Dallas. Week 18, 2021 season? Same story. Cowboys-51, Eagles-26. The Eagles, again, secured a playoff spot and were locked into the No. 6 seed in the NFC. Again, Philly rested their key starters, including Hurts, who was nursing an ankle injury.

Taken together, Dak Prescott has been historically strong against the Eagles. But a few instances reveal the advantage that he enjoyed in these matchups. However, heading into Week 1 this year, the QB might not be paying any attention to the record. What matters more this time is how he’ll perform after the season-ending injury.

Dak Prescott before and after his season-ending hamstring injury

A successful comeback following a season-ending injury represents familiar territory for Dak Prescott. After sustaining an ankle injury in 2020, the 32-year-old underwent surgical intervention, committed to comprehensive rehabilitation, and returned with exceptional performance. Throughout regular-season contests in 2021, Prescott accumulated 4,449 passing yards while recording 37 touchdowns against 10 interceptions. However, the current circumstances present distinct challenges and warrant considerable concern.

Even before he hurt his hamstring against the Falcons last year, Prescott’s accuracy rate dropped dramatically from 65.6% in 2022 to 52.9% in 2024. To put it in context, the QB managed only 11 TDs against 8 picks in eight games before the injury. Fast forward to now, and Prescott remains optimistic about an impressive return, sure. But the question emerges: Will he come back in his original form?

Unfortunately, his 2020 ankle injury and recent hamstring injury have substantially compromised his rushing capability, pocket mobility, and ability to escape pressure. Prior to these setbacks, Prescott had emphasized the strategic importance of incorporating his rushing attack more frequently. During the 2023 season, he carried the ball 55 times for 242 yards and two touchdowns. However, in the aftermath of these injuries, his mobility and rushing frequency may face significant restrictions. According to prevailing reports, the Cowboys organization may no longer utilize Prescott’s rushing ability to the extent they did during the earlier stages of his career.

Head coach Brian Schottenheimer made it official. “Dak’s gotta be able to run,” he said. “Quarterbacks run in this league. That’s what they do. Now, are we going to come out the first play of the season against Philadelphia and run power read with the quarterback? No, probably not.” Long story short: at the end of the day, Prescott is expected to run. But against the Eagles? Probably not.

Besides, it’s the sixth-straight year Prescott is heading into the season opener without any preseason work. The quarterback has already said, “I’m healthy as I’ll be,” but it remains to be seen how he’ll perform against the Eagles. All we can hope for is a full-strength return, especially given the Eagles’ defensive improvements and the overall surge in their team performance.

The Eagles’ championship defense raises questions for Dak Prescott

Under Vic Fangio’s coordination, the Eagles became more disciplined, reducing mental errors and executing sound tackling with precision. The approach allowed versatile players like Zack Baun to shine in multiple roles—pass coverage, run defense, and pass rushing—creating a dynamic, adaptable system. Pressure and turnovers became the hallmark of their dominance. After a slow start with just two takeaways in six games, the Eagles flipped the script.

The Super Bowl champs generated 24 turnovers in the next 11 games and ended with a +11 differential. As for the pass rush, the team recorded 41 sacks under Fangio, kept quarterbacks on edge, and disrupted the timing and forcing mistakes. “We’re aggressive. Taking the football away, that’s always on our minds,” Jalen Carter said. “We are always talking about it. We can change a game with a takeaway.” And when it came to the Cowboys?

The results were emphatic. Week 10’s 34–6 win showcased a defense that limited Dallas to just 146 yards and five sacks (their first win in Dallas since 2017), while Week 17’s 41–7 win turned heads for their consistency and dominance, highlighted by a pick-six by C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Taken all together, compared to previous matchups, the Eagles’ 2024 defense was sharper, faster, and more calculated, a blueprint for future divisional superiority.

That naturally makes you think: How will Dak Prescott lead his team against a Super Bowl-winning defense? The stakes are high. The Dallas Nation awaits a glorious season. He’s entering his tenth season without a championship. We’ll find that out in less than a couple of weeks.