The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles looked like they were headed for a shootout on Thursday night, but then halftime came. The end result is something we have not seen in an NFL game in three decades.
The Eagles beat the Cowboys 24-20 in a hard-fought game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa. Each team scored on its first four offensive possessions of the game, including all seven combined in the first half.
Philadelphia led 21-20 at halftime and then capped off the opening drive of the second half (the eighth total drive in the game) with a field goal. That was the last of the scoring for the game.
All of the first eight drives of the game ended in points, and all of the final eight drives ended with no points. That is the only time that has happened in an NFL game in the last 30 years.
The first 8 drives (both teams) of tonight's Cowboys-Eagles game all ended with points.
— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) September 5, 2025
The last 8 drives all ended with no points.
It's the only NFL game in the last 30 years to start with 8+ consecutive scoring drives and end with 8+ consecutive non-scoring drives.
Dak Prescott and the Cowboys’ offense came out firing, and the Eagles responded with the same run-heavy attack that helped them win the Super Bowl last season. A lightning delay in the second half may have slowed things down a bit for both teams. CeeDee Lamb also had a couple of brutal drops that crushed Dallas.
Damn, this is literally your only job! 2 massive drops. You make millions – to catch the football – when the game is on the line. Smh CeeDee Lamb !! pic.twitter.com/LzsbXqraqh
— Blake Bednarz (@BlakeBednarz) September 5, 2025
The end result was not all that surprising. Many people expected the Cowboys to play the defending champions close, even if the game did turn into a tale of two halves.
Between the screeching halt in scoring and a star player being ejected six seconds in, the first game of the NFL season was anything but ordinary.
