Todd Archer
Todd Archer
ESPN Staff WriterTodd Archer is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Dallas Cowboys. Archer has covered the NFL since 1997 and Dallas since 2003. He joined ESPN in 2010.
Tim McManus
Tim McManus
ESPN Staff WriterTim McManus covers the Philadelphia Eagles for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2016 after covering the Eagles for Philadelphia Magazine’s Birds 24/7, a site he helped create, since 2010.Sep 5, 2025, 12:18 AM ETOpen Extended Reactions
PHILADELPHIA — The 2025 NFL season got off to an odd start, with Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter being ejected for spitting on Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott before the first play from scrimmage.
The rivalry game remained every bit as intense from start to lightning-delayed finish, with the Eagles pulling out a 24-20 win on the night they unveiled their 2024 championship banner.
With Carter absent from the middle of the Eagles’ defense and Dallas getting used to life without Micah Parsons, both defenses took some time to stabilize before eventually finding their footing.
A coin-flip of a game went the way of the defending champs, thanks in part to dropped passes by receiver CeeDee Lamb and a critical turnover