STWF Sports | Dallas | Nov. 23, 2025 – The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles will renew one of the NFL’s fiercest rivalries on Sunday afternoon, marking another chapter in a feud defined by bad blood, iconic moments, and unforgettable controversies. And as both NFC East foes prepare for their Week 12 clash at AT&T Stadium, tensions are already simmering once more.
The two teams last met in Week 1, a game overshadowed by “Spitgate” before the opening kickoff. As the Eagles’ defense took the field, star lineman Jalen Carter was caught spitting in the direction of Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott. The moment sparked immediate outrage, leading to Carter being held out for the entire game and later receiving a one-game suspension—deemed already served.
Carter eventually apologized, but the incident rekindled the flame of a rivalry that needs little fuel to ignite. Now, nearly three months later, the Cowboys welcome the defending Super Bowl champions back to Texas in a matchup dripping with playoff implications—and historical weight.
A Rivalry Built on Fire, Chaos, and Controversy
Cowboys–Eagles is no ordinary divisional game. This rivalry has produced some of the league’s most memorable—and sometimes infamous—moments, none bigger than the Bounty Bowls of the late 1980s. But even beyond the Buddy Ryan era, this matchup has delivered drama at every turn.
And few games symbolize that chaos better than the legendary Pickle Juice Game.
Remembering the Pickle Juice Game (2000)
On September 3, 2000—exactly 25 years ago—the Eagles marched into Texas Stadium as six-point underdogs and walked out with a stunning 41–14 victory in record-breaking heat. With temperatures hitting 109 degrees in the stands and 130 on the turf, Philadelphia tapped into an unlikely antidote: pickle juice.
“We loaded them up last night, before the game and during the game,” longtime Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder said. “We don’t know why it works, but we only had one cramp.”
Running back Duce Staley put together the game of his life, rushing for 201 yards and a touchdown while adding 61 receiving yards. Andy Reid, beginning just his second season as head coach, set the tone with a surprise onside kick on the opening kickoff.
“He’s not holding anything back,” Staley said afterward. “He takes chances as a coach — that’s what you want as a player.”
Philadelphia’s defense suffocated the Cowboys with five sacks and a pick-six, dominating in a performance that still resonates as one of the rivalry’s most famous moments.
The Modern Era: Hurts, Barkley Lead Eagles in Super Bowl Push
Fast forward to 2025, and the rivalry remains as intense as ever—only the faces have changed. Philadelphia enters Week 12 at 8–2, primed for another deep postseason run behind star quarterback Jalen Hurts and new backfield weapon Saquon Barkley. Head coach Nick Sirianni has his team positioned atop the conference, playing with the physicality and precision that defined Reid’s early Eagles squads.
For Dallas, the stakes are far more urgent. Sitting at 4-5-1, the Cowboys are clinging to fading playoff hopes. A loss Sunday could effectively bury their postseason chances and raise deeper questions about the future of Prescott, Mike McCarthy, and the team’s long-term direction.
A Rivalry Renewed, a Season on the Line
The Eagles are fighting to remain in control of the NFC, while the Cowboys are fighting to keep their season alive. And with the memory of Week 1 still lingering—and the animosity of decades before it—Sunday’s matchup is almost guaranteed to deliver fireworks.
In the NFL, rivalries define legacies. Cowboys vs. Eagles has done that for generations. And in Week 12 of the 2025 season, the latest chapter is ready to be written.
