When the Cowboys drafted guard Tyler Booker in the first round, it was with the desire to beef up the offensive line against a talented Philadelphia Eagles defensive front.
Booker, the projected starting guard, will get an early look at the Eagles as the NFL announced Monday morning that the Cowboys will open the 2025 NFL season against the defending Super Bowl champions.
The Week 1 game is scheduled for 7:20 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, in Philadelphia. It will be televised by NBC and streamed on Peacock.
The NFL began rolling out select details of the NFL schedule Monday morning. The full schedules will be released Wednesday night.
The Cowboys last played a defending Super Bowl champion in the Thursday night season opener in 2021 against Tampa Bay. Dallas lost, 31-29. It’ll be the third consecutive season to open on the road.
In the past 11 seasons, the Cowboys have opened the season against an NFC East team six times, most recently in 2023 when they played the New York Giants. And, yes, the Cowboys have opened the season against the Eagles. It’s been a while.
In 2000, Dallas started the season at old Texas Stadium against Philadelphia, losing 41-14. It was Dave Campo’s first year as head coach. Dallas would finish that season 5-11, the first of three consecutive 5-11 seasons for the franchise.
Not only will this Booker’s first regular-season game, it’ll also be Brian Schottenheimer‘s debut as head coach.
Rookie head coaches are 2-4 in their season openers in Cowboys’ history, most recently Jason Garrett losing his season debut in 2011.
And those pesky Eagles swept the season series against the Cowboys last season and have won their last three games at home.
As for Booker, he’ll face Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, a pair of first-round picks, in Week 1. But he’ll have help, he’s got a pair of first-round talented players with him in Tyler Guyton (left tackle) and Tyler Smith (left guard).
The Cowboys’ remaining opponents are already known because of the NFL’s scheduling methods.
Home opponents are the Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.
The remaining road opponents are the Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, New York Jets and Washington Commanders.
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