NFL game tonight: Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys, top players to look out for, predictions, and start timings

The NFL season kicks off with an NFC East showdown that has fans buzzing. The reigning Super Bowl – champion Philadelphia Eagles open their title defense tonight at Lincoln Financial Field, where they’ll face a Dallas Cowboys squad settling into a new era.

From offensive stars to defensive matchups, here’s what to watch and how to catch the action.

Key players in the spotlight for tonight’s clash between Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys

Saquon Barkley (Eagles, RB): Coming off a 2,000-yard season, Barkley faces a Cowboys run defense that ranked near the bottom last year. Dallas’ acquisition of DT Kenny Clark softens the blow, but Barkley is still primed to control the ground game. CeeDee Lamb & George Pickens (Cowboys, WRs): The dynamic duo promises fireworks.

Lamb boasts back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and Pickens offers explosive downfield speed that could stress Philadelphia’s secondary.

A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith (Eagles, WRs): Brown ranks among the NFL’s best, while Smith’s postseason savvy makes him a red-zone threat. Both should be featured heavily in Jalen Hurts’s passing game.

Matchups that could decide the game

Running back Saquon Barkley will only be as effective as the blockers in front of him.

The Eagles have one of the NFL’s strongest offensive lines, led by Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Jordan Mailata. The Cowboys are still figuring things out up front after trading away star pass rusher Micah Parsons.Dallas Cowboys secondary vs. Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers: Cornerbacks Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell will have their hands full against the Eagles’ talented receivers. Expect big plays from CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens as they try to take advantage of any openings in the Cowboys' rebuilt secondary.Special teams battle could shift momentum: Returner KaVontae Turpin is always a threat to break a big play for Dallas. On the other side, Eagles kicker Jake Elliott brings calm and experience in pressure moments—both could make the difference in a close game.

Looking ahead: What analysts expect

Public sentiment heavily favors the Eagles. Betting markets show them as touchdown favorites entering the contest, with experts citing their continuity, roster depth, and last season's dominance. Detroit Inquirer analyst Matt Breen summed it up with, “Jalen Carter will get to Prescott the same way he bullied Patrick Mahomes in the Super Bowl.”

When and where to watch the Eagles-Cowboys game tonight

Also read: Philadelphia Eagles vs Dallas Cowboys: Start timings, when and where to watch, venue, and moreThis isn’t just any Week 1 game – it’s a rematch of a rivalry simmering with playoff implications and high expectations on both sides.