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There are no moral victories in the NFL, but the 2025 debut of Cowboys Winners and Losers after Dallas falls to Philadelphia 24-20 is going to carry such a tone. The gap between both teams doesn’t feel as large as offseason analysis would have most believe. At times, Dallas went punch-for-punch against their division rivals.
The NFL script hit fans with an All-Pro being tossed out for spitting, and an hour-long lighting delay in the third-quarter. Dallas even held the Eagles to just three points in the second half, but the problem was they failed to score after the break themselves. Every game has to have a loser and unfortunately for Dallas, they had more than their fair share.
Winner :: QB Dak Prescott
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott takes more than his fair share of criticism but when the moment mattered, he placed the ball exactly where it needed to be. Unfortunately, some of his pass catchers weren’t as cooperative.
Prescott completed 21 out of 34 attempts for 188 yards finishing with a 61.8 completion percentage. Drops marred what could have been a vindicating moment for Prescott and the Cowboys on national television.
No matter the outcome, Prescott deserves respect for keeping his team in the game and placing the ball to where it needed to be.
Loser :: RB Miles Sanders
Running back Miles Sanders broke free for a 49-yard scamper before being tackled at the the Philadelphiahia 11-yard line. Two penalties and two incompletions later, Sanders fumbled the football which may have turned into a defensive score if not for the heads up play by Prescott.
The Cowboys quarterback tackled Eagles defensive back Quinyon Mitchell, who would’ve went untouched on a run for the end zone. Right after the play, the game was suspended due to lightning with 4:44 remaining, making the turnover that much more agonizing before the teams returned to the field.
After the delay, Sanders never saw the ball again and Dallas would lose the best scoring opportunity they would have the entire second half. Sanders will be asked about being caught from behind by a linebacker.
Winner :: RB Javonte Williams
When the officials delayed the game to lightning, Cowboys starting running back Javonte Williams had 12 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns. His 4.1 yards per carry may seem average but his impact went further beyond individual stats.
With the offense shifting away from the run game due to the game situation, the limited opportunities limited his effectiveness.
Williams brought a toughness to the run game equalled by the effort the Cowboys offensive line showed against the reigning champs. He finished with 15 attempts for 54 yards but more importantly, gave everyone a peace of mind that the football wouldn’t be put on the ground, a perception the next two running backs on the depth chart now must deal with.
Loser :: WR George Pickens
In the last few minutes before halftime, Dak Prescott fired a pass towards receiver George Pickens that wound up incomplete. The enigmatic receiver reached his hand up towards the Philadelphia defender in a menacing way raising eyebrows from those who believe it’s only a matter of time before he costs the team with an untimely penalty.
Critics didn’t have to wait long as that moment happened right after Cowboys running back ripped off a 50-yard run before being tackled right outside the 10-yard line. Pickens clotheslined Eagles safety Reed Blankenship taking Dallas out of the red zone.
A subsequent penalty by Philadelphia made it a moot point, but it led to the only turnover of the contest and changed the outcome of the game. Pickens ended the day with three receptions for 30 yards on four targets.
Loser :: WR CeeDee Lamb
Wideout CeeDee Lamb led the Cowboys receiving corps during the unofficial second intermission with four catches on six targets for 86 yards. He would finish the day with seven receptions for 110 yards.
Those totals should have been much larger as the wideout dropped three passes, two in the second half, none bigger than the vertical route he dropped that hit him right in between those historic 88’s on his chest. A fourth could be counted but that final play to extend the game was too difficult to call a drop, but it sure could have been caught.
Lamb was last seen going into the medical tent as the Eagles ran out the clock on what could have been an opening night win for Dallas. Instead, they walked out of Lincoln Financial field l to the chants of “Dallas Sucks” from the Philadelphia faithful.
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