The Eagles–Cowboys season opener erupted in controversy just seconds after kickoff when Jalen Carter was ejected for spitting on Dak Prescott. Officials ruled it a disqualifiable foul, and Carter was escorted off the field before taking a single snap. After the game, Prescott addressed the incident and expressed his surprise at the officials’ decision.

The Cowboys’ quarterback clarified he spat toward the ground, not at Carter, who misread the gesture and retaliated, leading to his ejection.“I spit down, not at him,” Prescott explained in a press conference. “He came over and asked, ‘You trying to spit on me?’ I said no. That’s when the rest of it happened.” For Prescott, it was simply a case of bad timing and a misunderstanding.

He expressed surprise over Carter being removed from the game before the Eagles had even run their first offensive play. “Honestly, I didn’t think he’d get thrown out,” Prescott said. “I thought maybe it’d be a 15-yard penalty. To have him get ejected like that… it was surprising. Unfortunate circumstances.” He also shared how the dismissal impacted the Cowboys’ game plan.

The 32-year-old explained the referee’s decision forced the Cowboys to adjust their blocking and play calls without Carter on the field. “It surely changed our blocking scheme, our game plan,” he said. “Anytime a player of that caliber is suddenly out, it shifts things.” He felt it could have been a simple penalty, but instead it escalated into a turning point that disrupted the flow and direction of the game.

Carter’s ejection showed how strict the NFL has become about discipline. In past spitting incidents, players were penalized but rarely ruled out. This time, officials enforced the harshest punishment before the game had even begun. The message was clear: even a brief lapse in sportsmanship can change the course of a game. However, the Eagles still stayed strong and delivered a solid performance.

Eagles stand firm for season-opener win against Dak Prescott’s Dallas

Despite missing two key players, Ben VanSumeren due to injury and Jalen Carter following a spitting controversy, the Eagles put on a strong display in their season opener. The hosts ended up with a 24-20 win, counting on Jalen Hurts’ steady play and a defense that cracked no further in the second half.

The Cowboys took the first lead, going 53 yards with CeeDee Lamb catching a 32-yard reception before Javonte Williams scored the first touchdown. Dallas counted on Williams again midway through the second quarter with him rushing for a second touchdown and having the Cowboys up 14-7.

But the Eagles had answers. Hurts tied the game twice on rushing touchdowns of his own, showing patience. Saquon Barkley tied it with a 10-yard run, and Jahan Dotson was sent into a frenzy by a 51-yard Hurts throw. At halftime, the Eagles were up 21-20.

The second half was a slog. A booming 58-yard field goal by Jake Elliott extended Philadelphia’s lead, and the defense finished it out from there. With less than five minutes left to play, the Cowboys had one final shot, driving deep into the Eagles’ territory. But on 4th-and-3, the defense shut the door. Hurts topped it off with a run for a first down, and the Eagles kneeled out the clock to start their season off in style.

As the players extended hands and the spectators exited. The scoreboard told one tale, but the opening night controversy told another. With rules tighter than ever, one miscalculated move was all it took to turn the spotlight and redefine both the game and its discourse.