It's NFL schedule week and fans of every team are desperately waiting to find out exactly who their squad will face and when. The Dallas Cowboys have outsized expectations following a disastrous 2024 campaign, and everyone involved is ready to get this new campaign rolling.
They turned heads and seemingly disappointed Micah Parsons by taking Alabama guard Tyler Booker with the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Dallas deserves the benefit of the doubt given the organization's success in drafting offensive linemen, yet it still wasn't a pick that anyone could call splashy.
Booker wasted no time in declaring that he wanted to face the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, and the schedule committee has apparently made his dream come true, perhaps even sooner than he expected.
🚨 EAGLES VS. COWBOYS TO KICK OFF THE 2025 SEASON 🚨#Kickoff2025 pic.twitter.com/PEHaVYvlxB
— NFL (@NFL) May 12, 2025
Cowboys G Tyler Booker's Wish Comes True With Week 1 Eagles Matchup
As announced by the NFL on social media, the Cowboys will officially take on the Eagles in Week 1 on Thursday Night Football on September 4 to start the season. The 8:20 PM ET matchup will be broadcast both on NBC and Peacock, so the entire country will quickly see if this iteration of Dallas' roster can compete with the best of the best.
Booker will certainly have his hands full. Philadelphia boasts the best defensive line in the league, led by numerous recent draft picks like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis. It's an interesting test for the guard and will be a true "welcome to the NFL" type of moment for him.
If Booker can hold his own, fans should feel confident about his outlook as a foundational piece of the offensive line. He was the first guard taken in the draft and at 6-foot-5, 325 pounds, he has the size to be a game-wrecking force. Since he's a rookie making his first start though, no one should expect him to dominate.
Whether or not the Cowboys win isn't necessarily important in a 17-game season. What is important, however, is that they compete and keep things close. As things stand, Dallas is a 6.5-point underdog to Philadelphia over at FanDuel Sportsbook.
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