The Philadelphia Eagles will kick off what they hope is another Super Bowl run on Thursday night when they welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles are 8.5-point favorites against the Micah Parsons-less Cowboys. Philadelphia outscored Dallas, 75-13, in their two meetings last year.
How will Thursday night’s season opener go? We have some bold predictions.
Jalen Hurts throws for 300-plus yards: This might not seem bold, but here are the fact. Hurts threw for 300-plus yards only once last season. He averaged 190.3 passing yards in his last four games vs. Dallas. His over/under is set at 212.5. And Dallas’ run defense is an issue. But big picture, I think Hurts, with more ownership of the offense working with new play-caller Kevin Patullo, will throw it more this season. And on Thursday, he won’t have Parsons breathing down his neck. That should allow for a statement performance through the air.
George Pickens has 100-plus receiving yards: CeeDee Lamb has had a few big games against the Eagles in the past. But in a game that I see the Eagles controlling and Dallas trying to play catchup, I could see Pickens having a solid Cowboys debut. Don’t be surprised if we’re talking about the Eagles’ CB2 problems yet again on Thursday night.
Will Shipley finds the end zone: The second-year running back out of Clemson was a training camp winner. Shipley put his stamp on the RB2 job after Kenneth Gainwell left and didn’t look back. I’m predicting Shipley scores his first regular-season touchdown on a red-zone pass from Hurts — something the Eagles had success with in practice over the summer.
Moro Ojomo gets a sack: The Eagles were banking on Ojomo replacing Milton Williams, and the 2023 seventh-round pick responded with a fantastic summer. Left guard Tyler Smith is an All-Pro, but the Cowboys are expected to start rookie Tyler Booker at right guard. If Prescott is dropping back 40 times, Ojomo will have opportunities to get his first regular-season sack.
Jihaad Campbell forces a turnover: We didn’t know at the start of camp when we would see Campbell after labrum surgery in March. But the first-round pick from Alabama got on the field early, showed his aggressiveness and athleticism and is now expected to start at linebacker with Zack Baun. Campbell dropped an interception in the preseason opener against Cincinnati. I’m picking him to have an interception or force a fumble on Thursday.
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