Section 400’s Week 1 Thursday Night Football Roundtable

And just like that, roundtables are back for the 2025 NFL season. It seems like just yesterday myself and Jack were anxiously, depressingly, awaiting the first podcast following a Super Bowl that featured Matt’s Eagles absolutely routing Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.

Nearly 8 months have breezed by, and now football returns later tonight with those defending Super Bowl champion Eagles playing host to the Dallas Cowboys, who themselves have turned into an nightmare version of a ‘Madden Rebuild’ under the decaying corpse of owner Jerry Jones.

With sportsbooks favoring the home team by more than a touch down and Septa finally agreeing to carry thousands of drunk passengers to Lincoln Financial Field, all signs seem to be pointing towards the Birds in this one. Does our staff agree? Check out our full preview of the game below, with some of our staff’s favorite bets and picks for the game as well.

Airplane Mode

The Eagles are once again favorites to win the NFC East after a dominant start and finish a year ago. Is Philadelphia ready to run it back and soar its way back into the playoffs, or will the Eagles fall back down to Earth in 2025?

BH: As much as I love statistics – this division hasn’t seen a repeat champion since 2004 – and Jayden Daniels (the MVP future has been placed), I don’t see a way Philadelphia finishes below first place an NFC East where it is clearly the most talented team. The Eagles, at the very least, will be playing at home in the Wild Card round of the playoffs. Those playoffs will be harder to navigate this time around, however.

MK: Expectations are high, the team can say “they aren’t thinking about repeating” but the fan base is. They are the clear team to beat in the NFC and honestly the entire NFL. Anything under 11 wins is a failed season.

JA: Philadelphia will go back to the Super Bowl, but this time it will suffer a Super Bowl loss. They’ll win the NFC East without much of a fight.

CM: It’s Super Bowl or bust for the Eagles this year.

NS: I could easily see them being the top team out of the nfc again. They’re well built for a repeat.

Lone Star Team

With Micah Parsons, the Cowboys were a consistency underperforming team that featured two of the biggest stars in football. Now Dallas just has one superstar, and the expectations in Texas have become the lowest we’ve seen in recent seasons. How bad will the Cowboys truly be in 2025?

BH: The Cowboys eerily remind me of the 2024 San Francisco 49ers. Even without Micah Parsons Dallas features a ton of talent, but the vibes in Dallas have never been lower. The low expectations could prove fruitful for a team that constantly crumbles under pressure, but honestly I can’t see this team winning more than eight games.

MK: As said on the podcast, a chaotic offseason never fairs well for an NFL team and that’s exactly what the Cowboys had. Health on their side, I think .500 or a game/two above it. Dak goes down early and it could be time to turn to 2026 quickly.

JA: They’ll be the Bengals of last year, with wayyy less swag.

CM: This team is mid. 6-8 wins

NS: think they won’t be awful but won’t be in contention. 7-10 season written all over it. The won’t be out of it until week 15-16. They’re gonna throw the living hell out of the ball, the defense is god awful but that offense will put up points that will make it so they beat bad teams.

If You Are What You Say You Are

Saquon Barkley and Ceedee Lamb were both drafted very early in fantasy drafts this season and project to have monster statistical seasons. Will Barkley finish with more rushing yards than Lamb has receiving yards this season? Or will Lamb take the yardage crown?

BH: As I’ve said on the podcast, I’m a Will Shipley guy. I want to believe the Eagles are Shipley guys too, at least enough to the point Philadelphia’s star running back won’t be needed for 30 carries a game down the stretch. Dallas on the other hand will need to lean on its best wide receiver to win football games. Ceedee may not be able to walk on water, but the Lamb is the closest thing the Cowboys have to touchdown Jesus.

MK: Saquon.

JA: Fantastic question, but Saquon won’t hit 2000, CEEDEE WILL!

CM: Saquon.

NS: If both stay healthy, I’ll lean towards Saquon. But I think lamb is the more safe pick out of the two when including injury history & how running backs can randomly have awful years.

Give Me Liberty Or Give Me Dough

It’s a staple of every roundtable we do here, give me your best bet for tonight!

BH: Javonte Williams is ass. Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer seems like the type of dude that will aim to get on the locker room’s good side right away. What better way to do that than give the ball to former Eagle Miles Sanders in a revenge game! I’ll take his over on rushing if/when it drops. If it doesn’t, I’m happy to pivot to Javante Williams under 34.5 rushing yards.

MK: When do I ever give you just one? Pickens over 55.5 yards, Jalen Hurts over 212.5 passing yards, and Hurts to score a touchdown (-165)

JA: First score for Dallas is a field goal (-110).

CM: Give me the under 47.5 points.

NS: Give me CeeDee Lamb O6.5 catches, I think he will end up with 8. Don’t know the odds but doesn’t matter, take it. Maybe even parlay Dak Prescott over 250 yards (-112) & Dak Prescott to throw an interception (-152).

Chicken Dinner

Who wins tonight and what is the final score? Which player scores the first touchdown of the season?

BH: I said it this morning on the show and I’ll say it again. The Eagles are not only going to set their franchise record for opening week games in a row (5) but they will also break the franchise record for most points in an opener (45). Eagles win it 47 – 23, with Dallas Goedert scoring the inaugural touchdown.

MK: Eagles 29 – Cowboys 17 and Jalen Hurts gets into the end zone first.

JA: A Tush Push to start the season would send Matt LaFleur into cardiac arrest, so I hope the Eagle’s do just that on the opening drive. Honorable mention to a Daron Bland pick-6.

CM: Jalen Hurts, 28-10 eagles

NS: Jake Ferguson is going to have the first touchdown and the final score will be 37-31, Eagles. Take the boys +7.5 folks.