NFL kickoff game: Key facts and figures ahead of Cowboys-Eagles - ESPN

The NFL season is finally here as the Philadelphia Eagles face the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday to kick off the 2025 campaign.

It's the first time these NFC East rivals face each other to open their season since 2000, when the Eagles defeated the Cowboys 41-14. Philadelphia has the upper hand in the matchup recently with a two-game win streak, beating Dallas by at least 25 points in each of those matchups. The Eagles have never defeated the Cowboys by at least 25 points in three straight games.

This marks the second appearance in the annual NFL kickoff game for Philadelphia, its previous coming in 2018 after its Super Bowl LII victory. The Eagles defeated the Atlanta Falcons in that matchup. Dallas is 1-1 in kickoff games, with its latest appearance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021.

Here are notable facts behind the NFL's annual kickoff game.

The defending Super Bowl champion has lost just five times since 2004 when appearing in the kickoff game. In 2024, the Kansas City Chiefs became the second team to appear in the game two years in a row — the Patriots are the other. The Chiefs and Patriots are also tied for the most wins at three.

The NFL's kickoff game began in 2002 when the San Francisco 49ers faced the New York Giants. It's become a tradition ever since.

Since Kansas City and the Los Angeles Rams lost in consecutive seasons, the Chiefs' narrow victory against the Baltimore Ravens last season made sure an unfortunate streak wasn't snapped.

The Denver Broncos-Ravens matchup in 2013 includes multiple NFL kickoff game records, including the most points scored between both teams — 76. The Green Bay Packers-New Orleans Saints matchup in 2011 also included 76 total points.

Denver defeated Baltimore 49-27 behind a