The Dallas Cowboys came within just a few plays of upsetting the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles in Week 1. But they just couldn’t make that one last play to flip the game. Still, there is a lot to be encouraged about with this squad coming out of the first game of the season.
Here are two winners and losers coming out of a wild Week 1 contest between two heated NFC East rivals:
Winner: Dak Prescott, QB
This was not the biggest game statistically for Prescott as he did not throw a touchdown and didn’t even cross 200 passing yards. But anyone who watched the game knows that Prescott was magnificent. He had total command of the offense and finally looked fully recovered from his serious hamstring issues.
Prescott had a couple of passes late that sailed on him, but when it mattered, he delivered strikes to keep the Cowboys in the game. He’ll need his receivers to step up more going forward, but Dallas fans should rest easy knowing that QB1 is back and looks to be moving as well as he has in the past five years.
Winner: Javonte Williams, RB
One of the biggest concerns about the Cowboys coming into the season was their running game and specifically, who would be running the ball. But Javonte Williams looked fresh and had a lot of success against the Eagles in Week 1.
While the overall numbers don’t look that great for Williams (15 carries for 54 yards), Williams did convert two short-yardage touchdown runs and kept the chains moving. He had an 80 percent success rate as a runner, which is unheard of in the NFL. Williams isn’t going to be a home-run hitter in Dallas, but he can be a physical between-the-tackle runner who can help keep the offense on track.
Loser: CeeDee Lamb, WR
It’s hard to call a receiver a “loser” after posting a 100-yard game and after drawing a key defensive pass interference call, but that is because of what we expect from CeeDee Lamb. The Cowboys' top receiver had three key drops, including a huge one on the final drive that would have put his team in scoring range. There was another failed reception on the final offensive play of the game, where Lamb was unable to bring in a pass near the sideline on fourth down.
The Cowboys have built their entire offense around Lamb and he had some huge moments in this game. But they need him to be better. If he catches one or two of those passes, the Cowboys are likely 1-0 and we feel much differently about their 2025 outlook. Lamb has promised to be better, and we shall see if he fix his drop issue in Week 2.
Loser: Kenneth Murray, LB
The Cowboys defense got off to a very slow start, but things picked back up in the second half and they were able to string together some stops. But there was one obvious player who struggled and that was Kenneth Murray. The former first-round pick from Oklahoma looked lost all night and his inability to break down and tackle in the open field cost Dallas several times.
Murray is known for being a reckless player, and his lack of discipline was on full display Thursday night. While he is the most physically gifted linebacker on the roster, it might be time for Matt Eberflus to explore some other options, including Marist Liufau.