Jalen Hurts, Eagles Denied NFL History by Unfortunate Setback

Originally posted on Athlon Sports
By Rowan Fisher-Shotton | Last updated Sep 8, 2025 4:28 PM ET

The NFL season began with a divisional clash between the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, Sept. 4.

Philadelphia won 24–20 in a game that featured seven consecutive scoring drives to open the first half, an efficient performance from Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and a pre-snap ejection of Philly's All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

The matchup also featured a ratings surge that was on pace to set a new benchmark for NFL Kickoff broadcasts, until a 65-minute weather delay disrupted momentum and ultimately denied NBC Sports a place in ratings history.

The Eagles led 24-20 with 4:44 remaining in the third when the game was halted due to severe thunderstorms in the area.

NBC Sports was on pace to make history with coverage of the NFL’s kickoff game between the Eagles and Cowboys, but severe weather rendered a significant impact.

Here are the TV ratings ⬇️https://t.co/plHGkOahg5
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) September 8, 2025

With 4:44 left in the third quarter, lightning in the area triggered a mandatory suspension of play. Both teams retreated to their locker rooms, with the delay lasting 65 minutes and players returning to the field at 11:15 p.m. ET and play resuming at 11:30 p.m.

Safe to say the lengthy delay disrupted the rhythm of both offenses. After combining for 41 points in the first half, the teams managed just three points in the second half (a 58-yard field goal by Jake Elliott) and zero points scored post-delay.

The final eight drives of the game included five punts and a red-zone fumble by Dallas running back Miles Sanders.

According to NBC Sports, the Eagles-Cowboys broadcast averaged 31.9 million viewers across NBC, Peacock and digital platforms before the weather delay. The audience peaked at 34.3 million viewers during the second quarter, marking the highest peak viewership ever for an NFL Kickoff Game.

The game was well on pace to surpass the previous record of 29.2 million viewers set by the 2024 Baltimore Ravens-Kansas City Chiefs opener. However, the delay caused a sharp drop in viewership.

When play resumed, the audience fell to 20.2 million viewers, and the final average settled at 28.3 million, still the second-highest Kickoff Game viewership in league history.

The broadcast also marked the second-most simulstreamed NBC NFL game ever, with a digital Average Minute Audience of 4.9 million viewers across Peacock, NBC Sports Digital and NFL platforms.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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