Published Sep. 4, 2025 — A new Trivia Thursday installment offers 20 questions about the Dallas Cowboys’ matchups with the Philadelphia Eagles and notable season openers. The quiz, released ahead of the 2025 season opener, highlights famous plays, records and rare game circumstances; answers are available in the accompanying photo gallery.
Key Takeaways
- Jason Witten finished a 53-yard completion at Philadelphia on Nov. 4, 2007, running the final 30 yards without his helmet.
- The last time Dallas began a season at Philadelphia was Sept. 20, 1970 — 55 years earlier (Calvin Hill rushed for 117 yards that day).
- The Cowboys’ 2012 opener was played on a Wednesday after being moved to avoid the Democratic National Convention.
- Three Cowboys head coaches have won their first season opener: Barry Switzer, Chan Gailey and Wade Phillips.
- Roger Staubach holds the most Cowboys wins in Philadelphia with nine victories.
- Dallas intercepted opponents seven times in a single game at Philadelphia on Sept. 26, 1971.
- The club has opened the season on the road more often than at home in its 66-year history (35 away openers).
Verified Facts
The trivia set covers 20 items that trace moments from 1960 through 2024. Highlights include Jason Witten’s helmetless dash after a long reception in 2007 and Emmitt Smith’s career-high 237 rushing yards in a 23-10 win on Oct. 31, 1993.
Historic team records are included: on Sept. 26, 1971, Dallas recorded seven interceptions in a single game at Philadelphia, a mark that featured Herb Adderley’s three picks. Roger Staubach is credited with nine Cowboys wins in Philadelphia, the franchise high for a quarterback in that venue.
The package lists rare scheduling and weather details: the 2012 opener was shifted to Wednesday night, one of only two Wednesday NFL games, and the Jan. 11, 1981 NFC Championship at Philadelphia recorded a 16-degree kickoff temperature (newspapers cited a wind chill near −17).
Recent and modern-era trivia items are also confirmed: Leighton Vander Esch set a Cowboys rookie record for combined tackles (19) at Philadelphia on Nov. 11, 2018; Greg Zuerlein kicked a 59-yard field goal in Philadelphia on Nov. 1, 2020; and Felix Jones produced a 73-yard playoff run vs. the Eagles in 2009.
Context & Impact
The quiz underscores how storied the Cowboys–Eagles rivalry is — regular-season meetings, playoff clashes and weathered veterans all contribute to a rich shared history. Several entries draw attention to how single-game performances can become lasting franchise lore, such as multiple interception games or unusually long returns.
Scheduling anomalies (Wednesday games, Friday season meetings, and rare onside-kick returns) demonstrate how external factors — political events, special scheduling and rule changes — have intersected with on-field moments. For example, a rule change now stops plays immediately when a ball carrier’s helmet comes off, a response to incidents like the 2007 helmetless run.
- Two five-game Cowboys winning streaks in Philadelphia span from 1968–72 and 1975–79.
- Dallas’ only overtime loss in Philadelphia in modern memory occurred on Nov. 5, 2000 (16–13), when the Eagles prevailed in extra time.
“The debut of Trivia Thursday kicks off on the season opener,”
DallasCowboys.com
Official Statements
Trivia Thursday was presented as a seasonal feature inviting fans to test their knowledge of Cowboys history and season-opening moments.
DallasCowboys.com editorial note
Unconfirmed
- Some older newspaper reports differ on exact wind-chill readings for the Jan. 11, 1981 NFC Championship; official kickoff temperature is recorded as 16 degrees.
- Contemporary recounts of certain player counts (e.g., tackle totals in games from early stat-keeping eras) may vary between team logs and independent box scores.
Bottom Line
The 20-question quiz is a compact reminder of the Cowboys–Eagles rivalry’s memorable moments and the many quirks of season openers. Whether you’re revisiting iconic plays or testing current roster knowledge, the set mixes statistical milestones, rare game conditions and headline plays that shaped both franchises.