Eagles survive chaotic opener.

Deep breaths, everybody!

In case there's significant angst about this game, remember how rough these openers have been over the last few years. In 2022, the Eagles faced a young Lions team that pushed them much harder than anyone expected. In 2023, Philly played a terrible Patriots team in a game that went the distance (the first of many for that season). Just last season the Eagles overcame the Packers in Brazil in possibly Jalen Hurts' worst game as the starter. These opening games are weird for a lot of reasons (Philly's intentionally light practice schedule not the least), and as I pointed out earlier today Philly rarely gets off to fast starts, even in seasons that end well.

First off, the bad news:

1. Jalen Carter is apparently a child. Don't care about "Dak started it!", a completely needless situation that cost the Birds' defense.

2. Landon Dickerson got hurt again and may be in for a rough year health-wise, Ben Vansumeren is likely out for the season, Will Shipley got nicked up and is questionable. One of the primary goals of the early season (other than winning) needs to be avoidance of injuries, especially these kinds of pileup games. Hopefully things aren't as bad that way as they appear right now, but it doesn't seem like a good start.

3. Early on, Adoree Jackson looked absolutely cooked. He seemed to get it together a bit as the game went on but it wasn't a great start.

4. Even Quinyon Mitchell had some rough moments; Ceedee Lamb roasted him a few times and the dropped pick on that last drive felt like a bad omen.

5. Philly was assessed 9 penalties for 110 yards, six first downs and of course, Carter's suspension. Discipline lacked today.

Enough of that! Let's get some good news:

1. The combo at the start of BVS' injury and Carter's ejection shut down the crowd at the Linc completely. I haven't heard it that dead during a meaningful game since Leonard Weaver's horrifying injury in Week 1 of 2010. When Dallas rolled down the field to score, it felt like Philly would need to fight multiple uphill battles to get back in the game, and they gutted their way back into it. Similarly, coming out of a lengthy weather delay is always a question mark and the Eagles found a way to navigate it.

2. The defense really found their way as the game went on; after surrendering 14 points and 141 yards on Dallas' first two drives, they allowed only 6 points and 166 yards on the last six drives. The recovery was notable.

3. Jalen's box score lines won't jump off the page but he was really solid tonight: accurate, decisive, used the middle of the field and some of the lesser targets (Dotson, RBs) and was brilliant as a runner. Good sign.

4. Zach Baun hasn't lost anything, nor has Saquan Barkley. Jihaad Campbell and Drew Mukuba showed up in a positive way. Keeping the contending window open requires both the veterans to keep it up, and the new guys to step up. It's early but there are good signs on both counts.

5. There will be a lot of buzz about how disappointing it was that Dallas pushed them, but as I mentioned earlier today Dallas is still a solid team and was ready to prove everyone wrong. This is a rivalry in which you need to toss out the records (or in this case, our preconceived notions). You could tell all of this with how chippy that game was from the jump till the weather delay.

6. Should probably talk a bit about the officiating, which wasn't great for either side but seemed to increasingly hurt the Eagles as the game went on. I mentioned the raw numbers earlier, but it certainly appeared that Dallas got away with more than a few offensive holds. The penalty on Blankenship in the end zone never should have been called. Some of the game's competitiveness was due to some extra yards found for the Cowboys. That said, Philly earned plenty of that discipline on their own.

7. How about the return of Jake the Make! Hit his XPs and that massive 58 yard FG. Braden Mann was excellent as a punter and the kick coverage units did a solid job against the Cowboys' excellent returners.

As mentioned in the first paragraph, I can say with complete honesty that this game feels very familiar; this is the fourth straight season that began this way. Seeing as the Birds won 39 regular season games, a pair of division and conference crowns and a Super Bowl in those previous years, it's hard to feel too bad about how the game went. The bigger issues are on the injury front; of special focus over the next few days will be Landon Dickerson. Feel better, big guy.

GO BIRDS!