Five positive takeaways from Eagles' sloppy Week 1 win

If you asked most Philadelphia Eagles fans about the team's 24-20 win against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night, you would think the world was ending. 

It was a frustrating watch, sure, but the reality is the Eagles are 1-0 and have plenty of positives to take from the season opener. Let's look at the bright side and highlight five of them.

Jalen Hurts continues to prove he's a winner

The Cowboys did a great job eliminating A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in the passing game. Dallas routinely forced Hurts to work to his second or third option, and the reigning Super Bowl MVP still went 19-of-23 for 152 yards and no turnovers. He took what the defense gave him, scampering for 62 yards on 14 carries and scoring two touchdowns on broken-play scrambles. 

On a crucial third down with 1:45 left in the game, Hurts scrambled for a game-sealing first down after finding no one open down the field. It may not have looked pretty, but Hurts was smart and efficient as a passer and dynamic with his legs. Most importantly, he won another football game, giving him a 53-23 career record in the NFL.

Saquon Barkley might have leveled up

Barkley finished the game with only 60 rushing yards and a touchdown on 18 carries, but he would've finished with half that if he hadn't routinely made the Cowboys miss to create extra yardage. 

The 28-year-old also looked great as a receiver, reeling in four catches for 24 yards. He recorded four catches in only three regular-season games last year. If he can unlock new receiving skills in 2025, the sky is the limit for Barkley. 

Linebacker will be a strength for the defense