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The NFL is banking on star power and deep-seated rivalry to open the 2025 season, pitting the Dallas Cowboys against the Philadelphia Eagles in what many expected to be a high-stakes showdown.
But instead of widespread excitement, the announcement was quickly met with a flurry of skepticism, particularly surrounding Dak Prescott's ability to make it through the season unscathed.
NFL insider Ari Meirov provided insight into the league's thinking on social media, stating the decision to schedule the rivalry in Week 1 was based on previous years where the matchup didn't live up to its billing-often due to injuries or one team falling out of contention early.
"The NFL's reasoning for choosing Cowboys-Eagles as the season opener is that the league feels it hasn't fully capitalized on the rivalry in recent years, due to factors like QB injuries or one team not being competitive by the time the game was played," Meirov explained.
"By putting it in Week 1, they hope to maximize the impact of one of football's best rivalries."
But many fans saw this as a thinly veiled reference to Prescott's recent injury history.
"Basically Dak is too fragile to make it past Week 1," one fan wrote bluntly.
"That makes a lot of sense," added another. "Big games later in the season always risk being ruined by midseason injuries."
Some Fans Question the Cowboys' Relevance Altogether
Others didn't hold back on their criticism of the Cowboys as a whole, questioning the team's place in the spotlight for such a marquee matchup. Social media was filled with fans suggesting the league should have chosen a different contest to kick off the year.
"The problem is that the Eagles are good and the Cowboys are irrelevant," one fan posted.
"There were way better games to pick for the season opener."
"Are the Cowboys even America's Team at this point?"
Despite the criticism, Prescott's numbers against the Eagles tell a different story.
Over 13 career games against Philadelphia, the Cowboys quarterback boasts a 9-4 record, with an average of 261.7 ing yards per game, 24 touchdowns, and just 8 interceptions, according to StatMuse.
The 2025 NFL season will officially begin on Thursday, September 4, with kickoff scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.
As the Eagles enter the season fresh off another deep playoff run, the Cowboys are looking to rebound from yet another postseason disappointment.
For Prescott, the opener presents an opportunity to silence doubters early and reset the narrative. For the NFL, it's a chance to reinvigorate one of its cornerstone rivalries-while both teams are (hopefully) at full strength.
Regardless of the noise, one thing is certain: all eyes will be on Philadelphia come Week 1. Whether the game lives up to its billing or fuels more controversy will depend on what unfolds under the prime-time spotlight.