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Up to date 2m in the past
The defending Tremendous Bowl champion Eagles elevate their banner earlier than going through the archrival Cowboys to kick off the 2025 NFL common season.
Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley lead a veteran squad with many acquainted faces from final season’s title winners whereas Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and the Cowboys look to show the web page following final week’s gorgeous commerce of star cross rusher Micah Parsons to the Packers.
As we linger on the verge of a model new NFL season, we now have a brand new checklist of predictions for NFL MVP, rookies of the yr, convention champions, Tremendous Bowl winners and a lot extra from our all-star crew of NFL writers at The Athletic!
Whereas the Eagles ware barely the highest decide to come back out of the NFC, there’s a large consensus over who will win the Tremendous Bowl this yr — and it’s not Philadelphia (or the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs).
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Ravens as Tremendous Bowl champs? Joe Burrow as MVP? The Athletic workers’s NFL predictions for 2025
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We all know how deadly the Dak Prescott to CeeDee Lamb connection may be. Now, opposing defenses have one thing scary to think about — is Prescott constructing an analogous chemistry with new No. 2 large receiver George Pickens?
There are some early encouraging indicators of that taking place, per our Jon Machota — which may elevate the Cowboys’ passing assault to top-of-the-line within the NFL.
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How George Pickens has slot in with Cowboys: ‘It’s solely gotten higher and higher and higher’
We might not have to attend lengthy for climate to impression an NFL prime-time recreation in 2025.
Whereas it's at the moment a heat 81 levels Fahrenheit in Philadelphia, forecasts point out scattered showers will start to pop up close to kickoff for tonight's recreation. There are combined studies on how lengthy the storms will final however moist climate, after all, may put a damper on each groups' offenses.
It gained't damper tonight's celebrations, although. Rain, sleet, snow, hail and even the apocalypse itself — nothing can mood Eagles followers' pleasure to see one other Tremendous Bowl banner raised.
Philadelphia tasks to have top-of-the-line offenses within the NFL this season and which means fantasy manufacturing galore.
The Tush Push nonetheless exists and opposing groups will presumably promote out a bit to sluggish Saquon Barkley, creating the pathway for Jalen Hurts to be one of the productive fantasy quarterbacks within the NFL but once more.
Whereas some have considerations in regards to the quantity Barkley endured final season, he’s nonetheless within the prime of his profession and top-of-the-line working backs within the NFL behind an elite offensive line so whereas his manufacturing would possibly come right down to earth a bit, he may nonetheless be the most efficient working again within the league from a fantasy perspective.
At instances final season A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith each took a backseat to the Barkley present. If we assume that he doesn’t repeat his historic season, each with reference to quantity and lengthy touchdowns damaged off, each wideouts must be dependable fantasy choices with Brown particularly must be a constant WR1 in fantasy lineups.
Final yr, Dallas’ protection ranked within the high 10 of fantasy factors allowed to quarterbacks, working backs and large receivers.
Now, Micah Parsons is gone so expectations for the Cowboys protection are nonexistent. This might imply the Eagles offense hits the bottom working tonight.
That stated, Saquon Barkley was held in examine by the Cowboys final yr, averaging 13.9 PPR factors per recreation however that doesn’t appear sustainable. Conversely, Jalen Hurts appeared in a single recreation vs. Dallas, accumulating over 30 fantasy factors after scoring 4 complete touchdowns.
Concerning the wideouts, DeVonta Smith torched Dallas for 120 yards and two touchdowns on six catches in Week 17 whereas A.J. Brown’s greatest recreation in opposition to the Cowboys got here in Week 10, catching 5 passes for 109 yards.
In abstract, you must really feel very snug beginning Eagles this week.
Dallas’ offense may very well be in for a sluggish begin in Week 1 however zooming out, the Cowboys passing assault may very well be one of the productive aerial assaults within the league this season. Ceedee Lamb has confirmed to be an elite fantasy asset and when wholesome, Dak Prescott is greater than able to placing up gaudy numbers, even when they don’t all the time translate to wins.
Now add George Pickens to the combination, an uber athlete receiving an enormous improve on the quarterback place who ought to presumably profit most from the eye Lamb attracts. I consider Lamb will proceed to flirt with being the No. 1 total wideout in fantasy whereas Pickens may change into a constant top-24 finisher on the place.
The working again room is considerably extra murky. Javonte Williams will begin the season as RB1 for Dallas but when he doesn’t take management of the job, Jaydon Blue or Miles Sanders may get a chance for extra touches. None of those backs profile as a real three-down menace at this level however Williams is the closest to being one in the meanwhile.
It is usually fully doable that Dallas trades for a working again sooner or later this season and none of those gamers are viable.
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I’m keen to observe Dallas’ offense tonight, particularly by way of the air.
The Eagles protection was stifling final yr in all classes, particularly permitting the twenty ninth fewest fantasy factors to quarterbacks and twenty fourth fewest to wideouts. This will likely be a tough first check for a Cowboys passing offense that’s anticipated to be prolific because the season progresses.
CeeDee Lamb solely appeared in a single recreation in opposition to the Eagles final season and was held to simply six catches for 21 yards. The addition of George Pickens may assist in that regard, presumably shifting coverages a bit greater than in years previous. The Cowboys may additionally cross lots on this recreation if their protection struggles so Lamb, Pickens and Dak Prescott would possibly have the ability to put out high quality performances off of pure quantity however there may be clearly inherent threat baked in.
Will probably be exhausting to start out any Cowboys working backs with a lot confidence this week in opposition to an elite run protection and possibly for the foreseeable future. Javonte Williams is the most secure wager tonight nevertheless it’s unclear whether or not he’ll get the amount required to provide serviceably, if Dallas can run the ball in opposition to Philadelphia’s entrance or if the sport script will maintain again the dashing assault as a complete.
We all know that whereas a lot of you’re tuning in tonight as diehard followers of the Cowboys and Eagles (and NFL basically).
However we additionally know that a lot of you’re tuning in with particular curiosity in your fantasy soccer groups. (For the file, I’m considered one of you — my crew is centered round Jalen Hurts and CeeDee Lamb.)
So with that in thoughts, let’s flip it over to my dwell crew colleague at The Athletic and famous fantasy soccer professional Michael Charles on what to anticipate from each of those groups tonight and going ahead this season…
We’re making an attempt to not overreact to the Micah Parsons commerce, however the Cowboys had the league’s greatest protection in EPA per play the previous 4 years when he was on the sphere, and the second-worst when he wasn’t. Perhaps we must be fearful about an Eagles hangover — and a retooled protection — however we’re not in Week 1, in opposition to a Cowboys crew that’s comfortable within the trenches. Nick Sirianni improves to 5-0 in season openers.
The decide: Eagles -8.5
The NFL made clear it’s cracking down on unsportsmanlike celebrations coming into the 2025 season. The brand new emphasis already had an impression within the preseason.
After stuffing Los Angeles Rams working again Jarquez Hunter within the backfield of their ultimate recreation of the preseason, Cleveland Browns third-year defensive finish Isaiah McGuire stomped in celebration after which did the “nostril wipe.” He was instantly flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct because the recognizable “nostril wipe,” made widespread by Dallas Cowboys star CeeDee Lamb, is considered one of a number of gestures now explicitly banned per the NFL rulebook.
In April, NFL government vice chairman of soccer operations Troy Vincent informed reporters that “violent gestures” utilized by gamers elevated by 133 % from the earlier season. Vincent stated the “nostril wipe” was banned as a result of its “gang connotations.”
The rule e book now states “any violent gesture, which shall embody, however not be restricted to, a throat slash, simulating firing or brandishing a gun, or utilizing the ‘nostril wipe’ gesture,” is prohibited. Unsportsmanlike conduct penalties end in a lack of 15 yards.
Celebration policing wasn’t the one change to the league rule e book this offseason. Learn beneath for the opposite notable rule adjustments for 2025.
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For 345 days (and counting), Connections: Sports Edition has aimed to check sports activities followers’ wordplay and trivia expertise by way of a fastidiously crafted puzzle.
With the 2025 NFL season kicking off this month, we’re going a bit larger.
Introducing Connections: Sports activities Version — NFL team-themed version. The Athletic’s deep roster of NFL reporters and I labored collectively to provide a team-themed Connections: Sports activities Version recreation on all 32 NFL franchises. These video games can be found to play beneath, and so they’re separate from the each day recreation — that means they’re accessible all month.
Take a look at your data of your crew, and the remainder of the league, all month lengthy. Our NFL writers contributed a mixture of present and historic concepts, including bits of crew trivia to each recreation. Dallas followers can entry the Cowboys game here and Philadelphia followers can entry the Eagles game here.
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Take a look at your NFL data with our Connections: Sports activities Version team-themed video games
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It may all the time be worse — in Dallas no less than.
Responses for The Athletic’s second annual Hope-O-Meter — the ballot which measures how optimistic followers are about their crew heading into the season — had been recorded earlier than the Micah Parsons trade was introduced, that means Cowboys followers’ outlook on 2025 at that time (13.1 % optimism) stands an opportunity to be a lot decrease now simply because the season kicks off. In the meantime, Packers’ optimism (75.4) was good, however can be markedly higher with the information Parsons is on their aspect.
There’s all the time one believer, although, as even one Cowboys optimistic voter wonders,
💬 “Perhaps I’m only a glutton for punishment!”
Dallas’ standout returner scored on a punt and a kickoff return final season. He additionally caught a career-high 31 passes for 420 yards and two extra TDs. Search for KaVontae Turpin to stay arguably the NFL’s greatest returner however be much more concerned in Brian Schottenheimer’s offense.
Whereas making an attempt to maintain issues trying as fundamental as doable all through coaching camp, the pinnacle coach and offensive play caller used Turpin in a wide range of methods, from handing him the ball as a working again to being a big-play possibility down the sphere within the passing recreation. CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens will seemingly be Dallas’ high scorers this yr, however Turpin is in place to have his most impactful season thus far.
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Daring NFL 2025 season predictions: Giants flip to Jaxson Dart early; Broncos win AFC West
The next is an excerpt from Scoop Metropolis, The Athletic’s NFL e-newsletter. Sign up here to obtain it instantly in your inbox.
The Cowboys, arguably the best advertising success story in team-sports historical past, lastly is perhaps underrated.
After I requested eight NFL executives to rank the NFC teams from 1-16, the Cowboys landed thirteenth. This appeared low, however after I checked preseason Vegas win totals at BetMGM, the Cowboys had been thirteenth within the NFC by this measure as nicely (a dozen groups topped their 7.5 projected win complete).
Right here’s why that is perhaps deceptive: Though the highest three AFC groups have increased common win totals than their NFC counterparts, the reverse is true within the eighth by way of thirteenth slots — groups simply exterior the playoff image.
As one exec put it:
💬 “I believe a crew from the NFC goes to make the playoffs, that’s like, ‘The place the f— did that come from?’ However it’s going to be a crew that simply received tremendous fortunate. Whereas within the AFC, I don’t suppose I received all seven proper, however I wager I received no less than 5 proper.”
Why not Dallas? The Cowboys have gone 36-15 (.706) of their final three full seasons when Dak Prescott began greater than half of the video games.
My sense is Dallas would possibly bounce again after two circuses of their proprietor’s making left city. (Mike McCarthy taking part in out his contract in 2024 after three successive 12-5 seasons was considered one of them. Micah Parsons’ public battle with Jerry Jones was the opposite.) Even when these conditions had been dealt with poorly, they’re now not distractions.
There will likely be different distractions, for certain. Jones wouldn’t have it some other approach. It’s simply more durable to get a lot larger than the pinnacle coach and star cross rusher.
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Seven predictions for 2025, together with the highest rookies, Cowboys’ shock and Tremendous Bowl winner
The Cowboys are 36-15 (.706) over their final three seasons by which Dak Prescott began greater than half the video games. Have they actually fallen this far after buying and selling Parsons, changing Mike McCarthy with Brian Schottenheimer and welcoming again Prescott from harm?
💬 “Recency bias may very well be taking part in into it,” one of many execs stated.
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NFL execs rank NFC groups: Packers push Eagles after Parsons commerce. Cowboys now underrated?
With the 2025 NFL season opener almost right here, I’ve polled eight NFL executives for a snapshot of expectations for all 16 groups in every convention.
The defending Tremendous Bowl champions are ranked No. 1 in our consensus — however not by all of the executives polled.
💬 “I believe Philly takes a bit step again,” one of many execs rating the Eagles second within the convention stated, noting that offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who left to change into coach of the New Orleans Saints, may very well be missed.
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NFL execs rank NFC groups: Packers push Eagles after Parsons commerce. Cowboys now underrated?
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Saquon Barkley, one of many NFL’s largest stars, can nonetheless be starstruck.
“You gained’t consider who I received to speak to right now,” Barkley informed his father earlier this summer season.
After dashing for probably the most yards within the NFL final season, Saquon Barkley sought knowledge from the participant who rushed for extra yards than anybody in NFL historical past. Eagles followers may not care a lot for Dallas Cowboys Corridor of Famer Emmitt Smith, however Barkley does. Barkley stated all through his record-breaking 2024 marketing campaign that the important thing phrase for his season was “consistency” — an idea mirrored in his habits, his coaching and his efficiency. That’s why he sought an professional on the subject.
“I used to be in a position to discuss to most likely probably the most constant working again of all time in Emmitt, and simply attempt to decide his mind — particularly with the (documentary) that simply got here out,” Barkley stated a number of days earlier than the Eagles open the season in opposition to the Cowboys on Thursday evening. “That’s going to proceed to be my factor. It labored for me final yr, so I’m not going to go away from it.”
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If the Eagles win this recreation, it will likely be due to the offense. The priority must be Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, and George Pickens in opposition to an Eagles secondary with two new starters. When Lamb is within the slot, Cooper DeJean will draw the task. The Eagles might want to stress Prescott with edge rushers as a result of these are the place the query marks are on Dallas’ offensive line in comparison with their inside. Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt are each entering into larger roles this season, and so they’ll want to indicate why in opposition to Tyler Guyton and Terence Steele.
There’s all the time an unknown in season openers, particularly in opposition to a brand new teaching workers. The Eagles are heavy residence favorites for a motive. The Cowboys offense gained’t make it simple, however the Eagles are the higher crew and will punctuate the banner celebration with a season-opening win earlier than a Tremendous Bowl rematch subsequent week in Kansas Metropolis. Eagles 28, Cowboys 20
We simply noticed the Chiefs do it in 2022 and 2023, however earlier than that, it had been 20 years since a crew gained back-to-back Tremendous Bowls.
Might the Eagles accomplish the feat in 2025?
Our unimaginable crew of soccer podcasters at The Athletic has damaged it down from each angle. You’ll be able to try the Eagles segments from our 2025 NFL season previews from Robert Mays, Derrik Klassen and Dave Helman on “The Athletic Soccer Present,” Dianna Russini, James Palmer and Chase Daniel on “Scoop Metropolis” and James joined by senior Eagles author Zach Berman for an inside scoop on the 2025 Eagles beneath!
