EAGLES WELCOME BACK CARTER - AT HIS BEST - TO FACE THE COWBOYS
- Al Thompson
- 7 hours ago
- 3 min read
Back on September 4, 2025 on Thursday Night Football, the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles kicked the season taking on their arch rival Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Cowboys came in with questions about their quarterback Dak Prescott, who was coming back from a serious hamstring injury.
How would he look? How would the Cowboys defense fair after just seeing their best player, Micah Parsons, traded to the Green Bay Packers just a week before the opener?
He was traded by owner and GM Jerry Jones over a contract dispute.
That narrative changed before the first snap. While on a commercial break after the opening kickoff, Eagles All Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter was baited into a pissing match with Prescott. Carter lost his mind for a moment and spit on Prescott.
Carter was ejected from the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.
The Eagles would have to play the Cowboys high-powered offense without their best player.
The Birds defense allowed 20 points in the first half, then shut down Dallas in the second half to escape with a 24-20 win.
After the game, the teams headed in opposite directions. The Eagles, using a defense that has evolved into one of the best units in the game, have forged an 8-2 record and are currently the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
The Cowboys, despite its terrific offense, will take the field at AT&T Stadium (4:25ET on FOX) with a 4-5-1 record and a sense of desperation. A loss to the Birds will all but end their playoff hopes.
EAGLES OFFENSE HAS STRUGGLED – ITS DEFENSE HAS NEVER BEEN BETTER
Two weeks ago, the Eagles edged NFC contender Green Bay Packers 10-7, last week the Birds prevailed 16-9 over the 2024 NFC No. 1 seed.
Incredible defense, shaky offense. It must be noted that both games were played in tough conditions.
If the Eagles are to improve to 9-2 and hold on to the top spot in the NFC, they will need people like Carter to be at is best.
Carter was asked this week how he felt missing that game.
“Just not being able to help the team,” Carter said at his locker.“Or make an impact on the game. That's what bothered me the most.”
There is no question, the Eagles defense is playing at an elite level right now.
That improvement has come because of the Carter's improvement on the field as well as the return of linebacker Nakobe Dean and the acquisition of pass rusher Jaelan Phillips from the Miami Dolphins.
All three have played at a Pro Bowl level over the last two games.
Carter was asked if it was his play that elevated the Birds defense.
“You can say that, but I don't walk around with my chest hanging out,” Carter said. “At the end of the day, we're a defense. We don't don't look at somebody and say 'he's the best guy. He's the reason why we win.'
“We're all just working together, we're just working together.”
Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who does not throw around compliments lightly. This week he had some good thing to say about his players.
"I think as a unit we're just playing it better. Obviously, Nakobe helps. Last two weeks, Phillips helps. I think Jalen Carter has really kicked up his game here lately, so it's a combination of a bunch of things."
Fangio was asked how much of Carter's has to do with his conditioning.
"It has something to do with it. Plus, I think he was nursing his shoulder and then the thing that kept him out of the Giants game. I think it's conditioning, improving and health improving."
Carter was asked about Fangio's remarks
“It's great Vic said that,” Carter said. “But I'm not the type that says 'it's all me, it's all me. Look at Phillips, he's ballin' right now, you can say he's the player of the week...you can say that about anybody (on this defense)”.
The Birds defense will likely be called on to save the day one more time.” *
Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com
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