Even the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles, who gained 16 of their final 17 video games, together with a Super Bowl, weren’t absolutely shaped till October.
The Eagles beat the Dallas Cowboys, 24-20, on Thursday evening in the opening sport of the NFL season, but it surely was rather a lot more durable than anticipated. And had CeeDee Lamb not dropped a few enormous passes that had been in his palms in the ultimate minutes, they won’t have gained in any respect.
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The usually dependable Lamb had an enormous drop on a deep cross in the ultimate three minutes with the Eagles clinging to a four-point lead. Had Lamb held on, the Cowboys would have had the ball contained in the 20-yard line with an opportunity to take a lead.
“Man, that’s terrible,” Lamb instructed reporters postgame of his 4 drops in the sport, two of them occurring on Dallas’ closing drive. “I can’t point the finger at anybody else.”
The Eagles pressured a turnover on downs, with Lamb once more having a shot at a giant play on fourth down, however the cross was just a little too far and he couldn’t make a diving seize. (You can debate amongst yourselves if that final one could possibly be referred to as a “drop.”) It would have been a terrific catch, however he had a shot at it.
The Eagles held on for the win.
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It wasn’t the prettiest evening for the Eagles on both facet of the ball. Their protection had a tough first half after defensive sort out Jalen Carter was shockingly ejected before the first play from scrimmage for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. Philly’s offense was capable of transfer the ball in the primary half, however had a troublesome time in the second half and couldn’t put the sport away when it had the prospect.
Part of the issue was No. 1 receiver A.J. Brown was hardly ever discovered. He didn’t have a goal till the ultimate two minutes of the sport, and completed with one catch. Saquon Barkley was tremendous, however his 60 speeding yards was effectively off his 2024 tempo.
The Eagles had been near being upset at residence after unveiling a championship banner. They acquired the win and can enhance. And for a crew that hardly ever had any points after a sluggish begin in September final season, there shall be loads to repair.
Both offenses begin quick
The Cowboys all of the sudden didn’t have to fret about Carter, top-of-the-line inside defensive linemen in the NFL. Prescott mentioned postgame that it modified their sport plan. Dallas’ offense moved the ball simply on a protection that led the NFL in yards allowed final season and shut down Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
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The Cowboys scored on every of their first 4 possessions, with two 1-yard touchdowns from Javonte Williams and two area objectives. The Eagles acquired a landing from Saquon Barkley with 51 seconds left in the half, and final season’s protection would have most likely taken that 21-17 lead into halftime. But the Eagles aren’t near midseason type, particularly with out Carter, and allowed Prescott to place collectively a fast drive to offer Brandon Aubrey a shot at a field-goal try. Aubrey hit it and the Cowboys trailed simply 21-20 at halftime.
Luckily for the Eagles, their offense had no indicators of a Super Bowl hangover. Jalen Hurts ran for 2 touchdowns, and neither one was on a tush push. He scrambled for a 4-yard rating and an 8-yard rating, and his 51-yard deep cross to Jahan Dotson arrange Saquon Barkley’s 10-yard landing run in the ultimate minute of the primary half. That helped them sustain with the Cowboys, who had been transferring it very effectively.
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Even although the Cowboys traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers final week, they nonetheless have gifted gamers. If anybody tuning in anticipated a blowout by the reigning champions, they’d a shock.
Delay in third quarter
Just earlier than 10:30 p.m. ET, the game was delayed with 4:44 left in the third quarter attributable to lightning. The Eagles led 24-20 at that time. The delay lasted just a little greater than an hour, with the sport resuming at 11:30 p.m.
The delay got here proper after Cowboys operating again Miles Sanders misplaced a fumble at Philadelphia’s 11-yard line. That huge play, proper after Sanders had damaged free for a 49-yard acquire solely to be caught from behind by linebacker Zack Baun for a touchdown-saving sort out, appeared to wake the Eagles’ protection up.
The Eagles pressured a few punts proper after the lengthy delay. The Cowboys ‘protection additionally settled in and compelled a few punts, however needed to get one other cease when the Eagles took possession with 4:43 left, main 24-20. Dallas acquired a fast three-and-out, giving Prescott the ball once more with 3:02 left and an opportunity to take a late lead.
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The Cowboys virtually had a game-changing play in the ultimate three minutes. Prescott threw an ideal cross deep downfield and Lamb dropped it. That would have set the Cowboys up contained in the 20-yard line. But Lamb, top-of-the-line receivers in the NFL, had it bounce off his palms and incomplete. Three performs later Prescott tried Lamb deep towards the blitz, and Lamb had a shot at a diving catch however couldn’t haul it in. The Eagles took over possession and ran out the clock.
The Eagles had been pushed by the Cowboys. Being examined like that isn’t one thing they skilled a lot final season.