The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL’s biggest underdogs going into Week 1 as the Philadelphia Eagles are 8.5-point favorites. Since 2004, the home team in the NFL’s kickoff game is 17-6, and it’s pretty clear that most experts believe the Eagles will emerge victorious with relative ease on Thursday.
It’s hard to envision the Cowboys pulling off the upset here, but there are a few ways in which it could happen. In order for Dallas to pull off the biggest upset of the week, they are going to need to win one specific matchup. And that matchup is none other than George Pickens vs. Adoree Jackson.
Cowboys WR George Pickens need to shine against the Eagles
One of the top priorities for the Cowboys this offseason was finding a viable No. 2 receiver to pair with CeeDee Lamb. The initial plan was to draft one early, but with Tetairoa McMillan off the board to Carolina at No. 8, the Cowboys decided to wait until after the draft to fill that spot. That is how Pickens eventually ended up in Dallas, and so far, that move has been excellent for the Cowboys.
Pickens had a really strong training camp, and the off-field concerns have not emerged. By all measures, he has bought into the program and has embraced playing with Lamb. And if the Cowboys are going to pull off the upset on Thursday night, they will need their new star receiver to play like one against the Eagles.
You can bet on Lamb having a big game, but expect the Eagles to give him a ton of attention. Quinyon Mitchell could follow him into the slot, but the Eagles will make sure to focus their attention on the All-Pro receiver. That means Pickens should see a lot of one-on-one coverage with Adoree Jackson likely opposite of him.
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The Eagles have had some issues filling in that No. 2 cornerback spot since Darius Slay left in free agency. The hope was that Keelee Ringo would take hold of that job, but that has not been the case. Jackson won the job by default, and his career has been rocky, at best, over the last few years. Since the start of the 2022 season, Jackson has allowed 7.6 yards per target and 13.2 yards per completion. He's recorded just one interception during that span and has been one of the league's least efficient cornerbacks, according to Pro Football Reference.
The Cowboys will need to win this game on offense and exploiting the Jackson matchup might be the way to do so. If Pickens gets off to a slow start, it’s hard to see how the Cowboys sneak out a win. But if he can make a big debut for Dallas, maybe the Cowboys have a chance to go toe-to-toe with the reigning Super Bowl champions on the opening night of the season.
Keep an eye on Pickens and his usage as his involvement in the offense will likely tell the story of this game. A big performance by the former Georgia star could go a long way in stealing a win for the Cowboys.
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