That was a crazy game.

From unveiling the Super Bowl banner, fights and scuffles, inconsistent defense, an early ejection, a weather delay and an overall heart-pounding game, things were … interesting. 

The Eagles opened their season with a 24-20 victory over the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday. But so much happened throughout the contest, which made the game very weird. However, a win is a win, and the Eagles will get ready for next week. 

However, there is a lot to unfold from Thursday.

First, what was Jalen Carter thinking? The defensive tackle was ejected just six seconds into the game after spitting on Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott. There was absolutely no need for that, and not just at that moment, but ever. 

Very uncalled for.

Very undisciplined. 

Even with the video that showed Prescott spitting toward Carter, there is never a need to retaliate, especially in front of the referee. Plus, Prescott was spitting on the ground, not at Carter. Prescott really isn’t that type of player, but I guess we know now that Carter is. 

He needs to shape up. He needs to mature. The Eagles needed him, which was clear with the way the pass rush was. The defense was not the same without him. Dallas was able to run with ease in that first half, and I bet if Carter had remained in the game, the first-half defense would have been better.

The Eagles use Carter for almost 90% of snaps each game, and he is elite. He was stupid for not controlling his emotions, and the team suffered because of Carter’s actions. And spitting on someone? Come on, man. You need to grow up. 

Hopefully he learned his leason

“It was a mistake that happened on my side, and it just won’t happen again,” Carter said after the game. “I feel bad for my teammates and the fans out there. I’m doing it for them. … Not being able to start the game even, finish the game, it f—ed me up, but we’re going to get it better. It won’t happen again. I can make that promise.”

The Eagles first-half defense was horrible. The Cowboys had scored on each of their first four drives. The Eagles made some dumb penalties, well minus the absurd unnecessary roughness call in the end zone on Reed Blankenship. Still, the Eagles did not stop Dallas in the first half.

Dallas had 307 yards of total offense, most coming in the first half, and that is not a recipe for success.

Luckily, things turned around when rookie Jihaad Campbell forced a fumble and Quinyon Mitchell recovered it, a massive play for the Eagles. They needed that as Dallas was driving late in the third quarter.

But the Eagles could not use that momentum on offense due to an hour-long weather delay. But that can be said for both sides. Both offenses slowed down after the delay.

Cowboys standout wide receiver CeeDee Lamb dropped a few crucial passes for potential first downs and big gains. Lamb was open on a few of them, so things could have been worse. 

The game showed just how bad the Eagles’ second cornerback position is. It needs to be addressed, and very fast. 

Adoree’ Jackson is not going to cut it. I don’t even think Kelee Ringo or Jakorian Bennett will. I said it before, and I’ll say it again— why didn’t the Eagles keep Isaiah Rodgers? He would have been a better option. Jackson just is not the answer. He looked bad in training camp, he looked awful Thursday night. 

Now, the Eagles will have to face a better passer in Patrick Mahomes, who we all know will game plan to attack Jackson. He will have more than a week to study film, so the Eagles need to tighten that up. I don’t know how. Will it involve a trade? Will it simply involve making adjustments? I am not sure.

But I am sure that Vic Fangio will figure something out. Remember, the defense didn’t start great last season, and look what happened. On Thursday, 16 of the Cowboys’ first downs were on their first four drives. Dallas’ final three drives resulted in two punts and a turnover on downs. 

The defense did play better as the game went on, so there is a possibility the young unit will look better as the season progresses. … and as long as Carter learns how to mature.

And, again, the dumb penalties have to stop. 

Nolan Smith’s taunting penalty in the second quarter resulted in a first-and-10 at the Eagles’ 35-yard-line when it could have been a second-and-10 at midfield. The Eagles had seven penalties for 93 yards in the first half. They cleaned things up in the second half, but they were not disciplined, and that will cost games if that continues.

But let’s get to some positives.

Nick Sirianni is now 5-0 in season openers, which is not a coincidence. He is a good coach, and whoever doubts that, well, that’s on you. The Eagles won six-straight season openers from 1942-47, but they have not won five straight since that stretch. Sirianni is a winning coach.

And speaking of winning individuals… How about Jalen Hurts?

When the defense wasn’t stopping Dallas, he took the Eagles right down the field in all three of their dives in the first half. Hurts looked strong, fast, efficient and elusive. Not a lot went right on offense, but Hurts was that bright spot. His two rushing touchdowns were great, especially that second one to make it 14-14. He scrambled for an 8-yard score, cutting toward the corner of the end zone and beating out basically the entire Dallas defense.

He threw 23 passes for153 yards, but the throws he did make were perfect. His passer rating was 94.2. He completed 83% of his passes. That deep pass to Jahan Dotson was perfect. As always, he did exactly what it took to win.

Now, hopefully, he shines again against the Chiefs next Sunday. I have a feeling, with the way the Eagles’ defense played, the Super Bowl rematch might be high scoring. Well, that is if the Eagles want to win. 

Hopefully A.J. Brown gets used more. He just had one target Thursday, but it was a crucial 8-yard catch late in the game. He will be used more. No question about that.

Saquon Barkley faced a stocked box on 66.7% of his snaps, but still managed 60 yards with a TD. He didn’t break a big run, but he still had some key rushes, especially after Will Shipley left the game.

Remember, it was just Week 1. Teams are still figuring things out. Most Week 1 games are never pretty. The Eagles just have to come out and play better next Sunday in Kansas City.