ClutchPoints
The Philadelphia Eagles opened their Super Bowl title defense with a win that was anything but ordinary. In a game filled with weather delays, penalties, and controversy, the Eagles outlasted the Dallas Cowboys 24-20 in front of a raucous home crowd. The victory was dramatic, thrilling, and ugly all at once. It was a fitting start to the defending champions’ back-to-back title campaign.
Philly star QB Jalen Hurts led the charge with two rushing touchdowns. He proved once again why he’s the heartbeat of the Eagles’ offense. However, the story of the night wasn’t just about Hurts’ dual-threat ability. Jalen Carter, one of the team’s defensive cornerstones, was ejected before the first defensive snap for spitting on Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. It was an incident that stunned fans and teammates alike. Despite losing Carter, committing nine penalties for 110 yards, and watching Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson leave with a back injury, Philadelphia still found a way to get the W.
The Eagles led 24-20 when lightning forced a 65-minute delay. They pushed the end of the game past midnight. By then, the Eagles had weathered storms both literal and figurative. They shut out the Cowboys in the second half. Again, they survived mistakes and missing personnel to start their season with a statement win. Yet behind the celebrations, one concern looms large.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest concern despite dramatic Week 1 win over Cowboys.
Despite the Eagles’ gritty performance, their most glaring weakness was exposed under the prime-time spotlight: cornerback depth. Specifically, the CB2 spot opposite Darius Slay looked vulnerable all night. The first half was a disaster for Adoree’ Jackson. He was relentlessly targeted by Prescott and the Cowboys’ receivers. CeeDee Lamb consistently beat him in coverage. Even KaVontae Turpin found success when matched against him.
Dallas wasted no time exploiting Jackson, attacking him repeatedly. He surrendered a 32-yard completion that set up the Cowboys’ first touchdown, then was flagged for pass interference on the very next play. Throughout the half, his poor positioning and soft cushions stood out. Remember that defense is only as strong as its weakest corner. On Thursday night, that weakness was clear.
To Jackson’s credit, he returned after a concussion evaluation and settled down in the second half. He was helped by Vic Fangio’s halftime adjustments. Still, the damage had already been done. Unless the Eagles find a reliable answer at CB2, opposing quarterbacks will continue to attack that matchup without hesitation.
Recall that Philadelphia won a Super Bowl last season with a defense that prided itself on depth and versatility. Depth, of course, can only go so far when one starter is being relentlessly exploited. Opposing offensive coordinators will not hesitate to replicate Dallas’ game plan. Expect them to test Jackson or whoever lines up at CB2 until the Eagles prove they can...
