As it goes with any NFL season opener, there was naturally an electric atmosphere at Lincoln Financial Field when the Dallas Cowboys kicked off the 2025 campaign against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. And we're talking electric in the most literal sense, as a lightning storm delayed the action for 65 minutes.
But long before that, things were charged up (we promise that's the last reference to electricity), which is typically the case when these two longtime rivals get together. In fact, it took just one play for things to get heated.
After Dallas received the opening kickoff, the Cowboys' offense took the field, at which point rookie right guard Tyler Booker engaged in a little trash talk with Eagles Pro Bowl defensive tackle Jalen Carter. Dak Prescott intervened, and Carter ended up spitting on him, resulting in an ejection and, ultimately, a $57,222 fine. Despite Carter's absence, the Eagles went on to take a 24-20 victory.
With the two teams set for their second matchup on Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium, Prescott was naturally asked what he'll do if he again comes face to face with the 6-foot-3, 314-pounder, and he basically downplayed the incident, offering up a joke in response.
"Depends on what he says first," Prescott said, "but probably something friendly. Get on his good side."
Carter was also asked about the incident, and he was also in no real mood to reminisce, saying, "We're not worried about that. We're here where we are right now. And at the end of the day, everyone is playing, so that's all we're worried about."
Dak Prescott knows how important Jalen Carter is to the Eagles' defense
While Prescott, who has a chance to become the Cowboys' all-time leader in passing yards on Sunday, went the more comical route when discussing what happened in Week 1, he was much more serious when talking about how difficult Carter makes life for opposing offenses.
"Huge impact. Obviously, it starts right there with him in the middle. He's the main reason why they don't feel like they have to blitz, that they can get pressure with just four guys," Prescott said. "Hell of a player. We were fortunate in the first game to obviously not go against him. But I know he'll be ready to go and fired up for this one. So, excited for it."
There is certainly plenty of evidence to back up Prescott's statement, as the Eagles only blitz 22.5 percent of the time, the eighth-lowest rate in the league. And yet, they still generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks 39.7 percent of the time, good for the eighth-highest mark in the NFL.
Dak didn't take a single sack in Week 1, and further evidence suggests it's because Carter wasn't out there. When Carter is on the field, Philadelphia has a sack rate of 7.2 percent, tied for the 12th-highest mark in the league. And when he's not, it drops to 2.0 percent, the absolute lowest rate among all 32 teams. So, he obviously makes a difference.
With the Cowboys desperately needing a victory on Sunday to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, perhaps it would serve Prescott well if he could entice Carter to send a little more saliva in his direction.