Philadelphia — Jalen Hurts rushed for 2 touchdowns for the Tremendous Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, who misplaced their hot-tempered star defender for spitting on Dak Prescott, then withstood a uncommon climate delay and wanted a late cease to beat the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 early Friday in a wild begin to the NFL season.
With one final probability at a comeback, Prescott threw an incomplete go on fourth-and-3 with 1:54 left to ship what was left of a thinned out Eagles crowd right into a frenzy.
The sport ended at 12:18 a.m.
It was delayed 65 minutes due to lightning within the space. The Eagles led 24-20 with 4:44 left within the third quarter when the gamn was stopped – and that is the best way it ended.
Hurts wore out a protection with out Micah Parsons on TD runs of 4 and eight yards – no authorized tush push wanted. Saquon Barkley additionally ran for a 10-yard rating, even when his closing speeding complete of 60 yards was minuscule in comparison with the final season, when he topped 2,000 yards.
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Hurts punctuated one rating by chucking the ball into the stands and shrugging his shoulders very similar to his good friend and mentor, Michael Jordan, who acquired a pleasant ovation when he was proven on the massive display.
“I feel our self-discipline wasn’t in it early within the recreation,” Hurts mentioned. “Nice job by our protection having the ability to battle and reply. Guys stepped in and crammed these roles. We got here into this recreation speaking about self-discipline and focus, and we’ll go away it saying the identical issues.”
Hurts, Barkley and the remainder of the Eagles spent a pregame ceremony the place the crew raised their 2024 championship banner contained in the locker room, per the needs of coach Nick Sirianni.
“It is a new crew. It is a new journey. We obtained examined tonight,” Hurts mentioned. “We all know how they’re when Dak is again they usually’ve obtained their crew all collectively. We have performed higher soccer, but it surely’s at all times good to say that and discover a method to win.”
Jalen Carter headed proper again inside solely moments after the banner was raised.
Prescott and Carter exchanged phrases after the opening kickoff, and Carter spit on Prescott’s jersey earlier than backing away. Prescott rapidly motioned to a close-by official who threw the flag and despatched Carter packing. Followers booed as Carter walked off slowly, the standout defensive sort out holding his helmet in his palms behind his again.
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Carter may very well be headed towards a hefty monetary penalty, if not worse, within the first main take a look at of the NFL’s elevated emphasis this season on sportsmanship.
The ejection was the quickest in a recreation since 2005, when former Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Sr. was ejected from the sport for a pregame altercation previous to Philadelphia’s season opener, notes CBSSports.com’s Garrett Podell and Jeff Kerr.
Nonetheless one of many NFL’s nastiest division rivalries, the sport was stuffed with skirmishes and a near-costly pointless roughness penalty late within the third towards the Eagles that put the Cowboys in place to take the lead.
Dallas working again Miles Sanders, although, fumbled the ball on the 10 and the Tremendous Bowl champions recovered. Prescott made a touchdown-saving diving sort out on cornerback Quinyon Mitchell on the play.
It might be some time till the Eagles obtained the ball again, because of the delay.
The scores by Hurts and Barkley made the Eagles the primary defending Tremendous Bowl champions to attain landing on the primary three drives of the season since Inexperienced Bay in 2011. Jake Elliott put the ending touches on the scoring with a 58-yard area purpose.
Javonte Williams had a pair of 1-yard landing runs – the primary on the opening driving after Carter was ejected – and Brandon Aubrey kicked area targets of 41 and 53 yards.
Eagles offensive lineman Landon Dickerson left with a again harm.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer misplaced his head teaching debut. He was promoted him from offensive coordinator to be the tenth coach within the storied franchise’s historical past.
Dallas performs its residence opener towards the Giants.
Did somebody say Tremendous Bowl rematch? The Eagles head to Kansas Metropolis seven months after a 40-22 romp in New Orleans.
