Philadelphia Eagles raise Super Bowl banner at NFL's opener in ultimate humiliation for rival Dallas Cowboys

The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2025 schedule is unforgiving.

For starters, its the fourth toughest in the NFL, judging by 2024 records. Compounding the problem is the absence of consecutive home games — a first for a defending Super Bowl champion and an annoying travel headache for a team coming off four lengthy playoff runs.

But the football Gods did make one generous offering to the Eagles with Thursday’s opener in Philadelphia, thereby giving the team the chance to raise its second Super Bowl banner in front of the rival Dallas Cowboys.

Well, technically not directly in front of the Cowboys, who were mercifully allowed to remain in the locker room until just after the banner was raised.

The festivities began with a film montage of last season’s highlights playing on Jumbotrons around the stadium. Owner Jeffrey Lurie was joined on the field with recently retired edge rusher Brandon Graham, who led fans in a rendition of the the team fight song.

Then, in a moment, the banner was up, Boyz II Men was singing the album, and the Eagles' title defense was set to begin.  

Dallas had the opportunity to do the same against Philadelphia at the 1972 opener at Texas Stadium, but the practice of raising banners wasn’t yet common so the defending-champion Cowboys celebrated their Super Bowl title by beating the Eagles, 28-6.

Besides, the stakes are considerably different now that the Cowboys’ dominance over their rivals has given way to such futility.

While Lurie’s Eagles have raised two Lombardi Trophies while reaching the playoffs seven times over the last eight seasons, Jerry Jones’ Cowboys have just one postseason win over that time.

Coming off a 7-10 campaign and a second consecutive season without a playoff berth, Jones let head coach Mike McCarthy walk, replacing him with offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer.

But the real focus Thursday was on Dallas’ defense, which was entering the first game of the post-Micah Parsons era after the fearsome pass rush rusher’s contract dispute and controversial trade to the Green Bay Packers.

Parsons has since signed a four-year, $186 million extension with the Packers, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, although his nagging back injury has clouded his status for Sunday’s crucial opener against the visiting Detroit Lions.