The opening game of the 2025 NFL regular season between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys is currently in a weather delay.
With the Eagles leading their NFC East rivals 24-20 with 4: 44 remaining in the third quarter, the game was paused due to lightning in the area. Severe thunderstorms are in the vicinity of Lincoln Financial Field.
According to NFL protocol, a game will be delayed anytime there is lightning within a 10-mile radius of the stadium.
The delay will last a minimum of 30 minutes, with each additional lightning strike or blast of thunder restarting the 30-minute countdown.
⚡️ Lightning strike in the distance from the Linc as Eagles- Cowboys delayed https://t.co/YPfFxxunNBpic.twitter.com/1g5bJ6QO2H
— Jeff Skversky (@JeffSkversky) September 5, 2025
When will Eagles-Cowboys resume?
Per Mike Tirico on the NBC broadcast, the lightning is expected to be cleared out around 11:15 p.m. ET. After that, teams will be given a minimum 12-minute warmup period.
Based off that projected timeline, we could be looking at a restart time in the 11:30 p.m.-11:45 p.m. ET area, depending on when the latest thunderclap or lightning bolt makes an appearance.
"Lightning delay for Eagles vs. Cowboys. Won’t be surprised if it doesn’t resume until 11:45(ish)," said Fox News meteorologist Steve Bender. "Storms SW of Lincoln Financial field and working their way over the area for the next hour."
Lightning delay for Eagles vs. Cowboys.
Won’t be surprised if it doesn’t resume until 11:45(ish)
Storms SW of Lincoln Financial field and working their way over the area for the next hour #nfl#tnf#foxweatherpic.twitter.com/kYVwjuaXmh— Steve Bender (@weatherbender_) September 5, 2025
Fans in attendance at Lincoln Financial Field are being asked to vacate their seats and head to the concourse areas for shelter.
The Eagles will have the ball when play resumes after second-year cornerback Quinyon Mitchell recovered a fumble by Dallas running back Miles Sanders inside the Philadelphia 20-yard line.
Eagles and Cowboys in a back-and-forth battle
On the night that Philadelphia raised its banner for winning Super Bowl 59, the Eagles started off the game on the wrong foot.
Special teamer Ben VanSumeren suffered what appeared to be a non-contact leg injury on the opening kickoff. As the two teams waited for VanSumeren to be taken off the field, Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter spit in the face of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, earning an ejection before the first snap of the game.
Despite the early setbacks, the Eagles took a 21-20 lead into halftime, thanks to a pair of rushing touchdowns by quarterback Jalen Hurts and another rushing score by running back Saquon Barkley.
Dallas countered with two Javonte Williams touchdown runs and a pair of Brandon Aubrey field goals. The Eagles made it 24-20 on a 58-yard field goal by Jake Elliott on the first drive of the second half.
The Cowboys then drove downfield, sparked by a 49-yard run by Sanders, but their drive stalled and Sanders eventually coughed up the football on the final play before the action was halted.
This story was originally reported by Men's Journal on Sep 5, 2025, where it first appeared in the Sports section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
