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The professional football season kicks off right after Labor Day weekend as the defending champion Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys. The two divisional rivals meet in the year’s inaugural edition of Thursday Night Football. Dak Prescott returns to the field for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury midway through the 2024 campaign. Read on for an expert Cowboys vs Eagles prediction and explore stats to make your Cowboys vs Eagles picks.
- National Football League
- NFL Kickoff Game
- Thursday, September 4, 2025
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, PA
- NBC and Peacock
Cowboys vs Eagles Picks: Betting Odds on Top Online Sportsbooks
The Eagles are clear favorites to defend home turf in Philadelphia and start off their season with a victory. Philly is lined at (-290), making the spread a flat 7 points. The Cowboys are priced as (+265) underdogs. The total is set at 46 points.
NFL Kickoff 
Dallas Cowboys +237 +265 +250 Philadelphia Eagles -290 -325 -300
Access our guide to top 2025 NFL football betting sites. Also, learn how to bet on football online and explore our page on best TNF bets.
Eagles Running it Back with Same Core for 2025
Our most recent memory of the Philadelphia Eagles was a curbstomping of the Chiefs in the Super Bowl. Kansas City was held scoreless in the first half as the Eagles flew to a 34-0 lead, eventually taking the crown with a final scoreline of 40-22. While many fans contribute the Eagles’ success to their infamous “tush push,” it is the defense that deserves the lion’s share of the credit.
Philadelphia boasted the best defense in the NFL in most metrics, and it wasn’t really close. Vic Fangio’s defensive mastery resulted in a first or second-ranked run defense, pass rush, and coverage according to PFL. The defense returns most of their lineup for 2025, with CB Cooper DeJean and LB Zack Baun leading the pack.
One tricky twist Philadelphia will have to manage is the introduction of Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator. Patullo was promoted to the position following the departure of Kellen Moore, who took the head coaching job in New Orleans. The change could present some growing pains to a team that already struggled with consistency in the passing game in 2024. Jalen Hurts, despite all his well-deserved praise, still has some issues delivering the ball under pressure.
Micah Parsons Contract Negotiations Still Ongoing
The Cowboys’ summer has been busy, dramatic, and unpredictable. In other words, just like every other summer for the Cowboys. The latest situation to unfold is the contract situation of Micah Parsons, ranked by fellow players as a top-20 player in the NFL in 2024. Parsons has been seeking a long-term contract after Dallas picked up a club option for the year. His $24 million salary sounds more than competitive, but Parsons is seeking further financial security past 2025.
The conversations seemingly came to a head in early August as the defensive end publicly requested a trade, lamenting over his treatment by the Dallas front office and the media. After neglecting to participate in training camp or any preseason practices, it seems very unlikely Parsons will play in full capacity on September 4.
The media narrative of Micah Parsons is at odds with the bookmakers, who still tout Parsons as a Defensive Player of the Year favorite. If his absence is extended, however, those odds could plummet. Any missed games will significantly reduce his chances of winning a season award, which are often decided on volume-based statistics.
In more positive news, Dak Prescott is fit and able to play week 1. He will have to deal with doubters as he returns from injury following the worst season of his career. Prescott will be supported by receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, but will it be enough? The postseason is the goal for Dallas, but Vegas isn’t liking their chances.
Cowboys vs Eagles Picks: Free Expert Betting Prediction
The “vibe” around the Cowboys has been overwhelmingly negative in recent weeks as owner Jerry Jones continues his age-old tradition of delaying payment to star players. A matchup with the defending champions on the road doesn’t necessarily inspire a reversal of those sentiments. Cowboys fans are entitled to be pessimistic about their chances in Week 1 of the season. But I think there is some reason to believe they are still the side from a betting perspective.
It is historically profitable to back divisional underdogs in the first few weeks of an NFL season, especially in Week 1. The return on investment is improved if the games that fit that description also have totals of 48 or less. That points to some potential value on the Cowboys in the NFL Kickoff game. When it comes to betting on the NFL, it often pays to get ugly.
With that in mind, I believe the best bet to make in this matchup is Dallas to win straight up. Going for the moneyline at (+265) offers a much better ROI than taking the points, which makes sense given the volatility of week 1. With plenty of puzzle pieces still to fall and adjustments to be made, upsets are more common in the early stages of the season. That makes a curtain-raiser against the defending champs a surprisingly good opportunity to fade public sentiment.
Go with the Cowboys on the moneyline at (+265), available at BetUS.
Odds are accurate at time of writing but subject to change.
