Fans around the world will be treated to a storied NFC East rivalry to officially kick off the 2025 NFL season with a Week 1 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles in Philadelphia on Thursday, Sept. 4.
Of course, as division rivals, the Cowboys and Eagles are slated to face off at each team's home stadium throughout the season. Dallas will start off their schedule on the road in Philly, which could pan out to be one of the toughest games they will play all season.
For the Eagles, they will return to Lincoln Financial Field for the first time in celebration of a dominant Super Bowl victory in February over the Kansas City Chiefs. With the hated Cowboys in town, we know Eagles fans will be as amped up as ever, maybe even forgetting about their second title in the last eight years for the moment.
For the NFL? They might be the biggest winners of all. A rivalry matchup on primetime between "America's Team" and the reigning Super Bowl champions will draw massive viewership numbers - regardless of who roots for who.
Fans online, mainly Cowboys haters, were quick to speak their mind about the league's opening game announcement.
"Death, taxes, Cowboys in primetime," one fan wrote on social media.
"The cowboys finally get to witness a banner being raised in this century," another added.
"The annual put the cowboys on prime time as much as possible in the first 7 weeks cause we know they won’t be relevant after the 8th week," one fan said.
Sure, Week 1 may not be the last time the Cowboys are on primetime television. Not only are they the most valuable sports franchise in the world that now feeds media programming content because of recent "lack" of perceived value, they will also have a tough schedule in 2025 that could result in competitive matchups.
... That could turn out to be a sight to see for the haters. Unless, of course, they are too tired of the Cowboys to watch them lose (nope).
Per Sharp Football Analysis, there are just 10 teams in the NFL with a harder schedule than the Cowboys.
With next year's schedule taken into account, Sharp places the projected Cowboys' win total next season at just 7.5. If all projections in the NFC East are correct, that would mean another third-place finish behind the Eagles with a projected win total of 11.5 and the Washington Commanders, who are projected to win 9.5 games. Only the New York Giants are projected to win fewer games in the NFC East at 5.5.
Dallas stumbled to a 7-10 record in 2024 that was hampered by costly injuries to star players and overall poor production from those who did see the field.
The Cowboys still scraped together 7 wins, but apparently their schedule doesn't have much confidence in reaching that win total again ... so maybe these haters will enjoy that fate, if it comes.
Regardless, they'll still watch.
The first chance will come on Sept. 4 at 8:20 p.m. E.T for Thursday Night Football on NBC.