Cowboys In Pickle With Familiar Opener Against Eagles

FRISCO - The Dallas Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl in 29 years. It's been almost that long since they opened a season against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The last occurrence came in 2000, and it proved to be one of the most memorable, painful losses in franchise history.

Pickle juice, anyone?

With Monday morning's announcement that the Cowboys will play the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles in this season's kick-off game Thursday, Sept. 4 at Lincoln Financial Field came a flood of bad - all-too familiar - memories.

It was 25 years ago that the Cowboys were set to begin a hopefully bounce-back season with a new cast of characters. Ring any bells?

In 1999 they went 8-8 and missed the playoffs, leading to the firing of coach Chan Gailey. In 2024 they didn't renew the contract of Mike McCarthy after going 7-10.

In 2000 Jerry Jones decided to replace Gailey by promoting from within the organization and hiring defensive coordinator Dave Campo. In 2025 Jones promoted from within with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

In 2000 with an offense needing punch, the Cowboys made a controversial trade for speedy receiver Joey Galloway. Last week they made an aggressive deal for controversial receiver George Pickens.

Cowboys fans hope the similarities end there, because Week 1 of the 2000 season was an unmitigated disaster. The embarrassing 41-14 loss to the Eagles was only part of the problem.

On Sept. 3, 2000 it was 109 degrees in DFW and inside open-air Texas Stadium.

The Cowboys' defense surrendered 201 yards rushing to running back Duce Staley and the offensive line allowed an assault of quarterback Troy Aikman. He was knocked out of the game with a concussion in the second quarter after going 0 of 5 with an interception and four sacks.

Galloway, acquired in exchange for an unfathomable two first-round picks, caught four passes for 62 yards and a late touchdown from backup quarterback Randall Cunningham. But Campo inexplicably left him in the game during garbage time, and he suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Dallas' third-to-last snap in a 27-point loss.

Finding amusement during the boring blowout, FOX cameras caught Staley drinking pickle juice on the Eagles' bench. The liquid, which was supposed help fight dehydration and cramps on the sultry Sunday, got plenty of air time and analysis from broadcasters Pat Summerall and John Madden.

The Cowboys never recovered, going 5-11 in a season that led to Aikman's retirement.

Certainly Jones is hoping for a better debut from Schottenheimer and Pickens, but it won't be easy. The Eagles swept Dallas last season by a combine score of 75-13.

The kick-off game will mark only the second time in 34 meetings that the Cowboys and Eagles have played in September.