Eagles are facing 3 nightmare matchups in opening season game against Cowboys

The day has arrived. The Philadelphia Eagles will be playing football against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.

Many have the Eagles as the prediction to win the game, and on paper, that should happen. Especially after the Micah Parsons head-scratching trade the Cowboys made, there isn't a ton of belief in Dallas this season.

It doesn't mean this will be a straightforward game for the Eagles, as NFC East games can be tough matchups. There are three matchups on the field to watch out for that could be massive challenges for the Birds in the game.

Eagles CB Adoree' Jackson vs. Cowboys WR George Pickens

Jackson didn't exactly give Eagles fans the warm fuzzies during training camp and preseason. He had some nice moments with making open field tackles, but the lack of plays on pass coverage has some worried about the CB2 position entering the 2025 season. He was still able to beat out Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett for the starting job, though.

Dallas is taking a big risk with Pickens, who was arguably the best receiver on the Steelers the last couple of seasons. Some question him as a teammate, but he has still shown himself to be a nightmare in one-on-one coverage, where he can get the ball.

The question is whether Jackson can hold up against a guy like Pickens, who is a borderline number one receiver on some NFL teams. If Jackson can make a big statement by shutting him down, Eagles fans will feel better the rest of the season.

Eagles RG Tyler Steen vs. Cowboys DT Kenny Clark

Steen will have his first challenge as the full-time starter at right guard for the Eagles. He was great in the preseason, where he held his own against the starting Cincinnati Bengals defensive line. A lot of the concerns Eagles fans had with him washed away after that game.

Clark will, unfortunately, now be the trivia question answer to who was part of the Parsons trade, but the three-time Pro Bowler can play. While he's coming off a down season, he can still cause some damage in the middle of the line, stopping the run and pressuring the pass rush.

There's one thing to go up against one of the worst defenses in the NFL in Cincinnati, but Steen has to go up against a reliable starter in the NFL. How will he hold up against a Pro Bowl-caliber player?

Eagles WR Jahan Dotson vs. Cowboys CB DaRon Bland

All Eagles fans know how rough last season was for Dotson to the point that the Eagles rejected his fifth-year option on his rookie deal so that he could prove himself. He had two great catches against the Bengals, and Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo already has plans for Dotson in the offense this season.

The Cowboys are putting all their chips in the middle of the table for Bland after his four-year, $92 million contract extension this week. While it seems like big money for Dallas, it does solidify their secondary for a long time and could present some challenges for the Eagles.

Dallas will have Bland line up in the nickel, which means he'll most likely line up across from Dotson. Eagles fans need to know what they have in Dotson moving forward, so it'll be a good test to see if he is worth the investment after the 2025 season.