NFL Pro Model Embarrasses Cowboys Before Eagles Game

The offseason, however, has been dominated by the Micah Parsons drama. A prolonged standoff between the star pass rusher and Jerry Jones ended in a late-summer trade, leaving Dallas scrambling to rework its defensive identity.

That storyline became a major distraction throughout training camp and underscored the turbulence surrounding the franchise. Then, less than a week before their first game, the Cowboys traded Parsons to the Green Bay Packers.

Philadelphia, meanwhile, arrives as the reigning Super Bowl champion and the team to beat in the NFC. With Jalen Hurts leading the offense and one of the league’s deepest rosters supporting him, the Eagles are widely seen as heavy favorites in this matchup. Their ability to dominate in the trenches and control tempo gives them a strong path to start the season strong.

The Eagles boast 28-year-old running back Saquon Barkley. The 2024 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the 2018 NFL Rookie of the Year is coming off a tremendous season. It was his first year in Philadelphia, and he finished with over 2,000 yards on the ground and 13 touchdowns. He also added nearly 300 receiving yards and another pair of touchdowns for the Eagles. In the postseason, Barkley played four games and scored five touchdowns, adding 499 yards on the ground.

For the Cowboys, the challenge is in front of them, but daunting. Dak Prescott must be efficient under pressure, the offensive line needs to hold up against an elite Eagles pass rush, and the Cowboys will need a near-flawless effort in situational football. If not, Thursday could quickly turn into the kind of long night that the model already predicted.

Thursday night is the NFL opener, with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers opening Friday in Sao Paulo before a full slate of games on Sunday.