5. A 1 hour, 3-minute weather delay impacted the game

Weather interrupted play right after that takeaway and both teams did their best to stay loose during the long delay, but it was clear that neither team was as sharp when they returned to the field. There was no further scoring as the defenses took over. These are the kinds of variables that decide games, and the Eagles handled their situation better. “It wasn’t easy, but we have great trainers and we stayed loose and were ready to go,” outside linebacker Nolan Smith said. “It was definitely strange. Playing in the Super Bowl helped. I kept thinking about that long halftime.”

6. Depth played a role in this win for the Eagles

Playing without Carter made it much more difficult task for the Eagles, but Young, Jordan Davis, Moro Ojomo, and Gabe Hall stepped up. The Eagles used Adoree’ Jackson, Cooper DeJean, and Jakorian Bennett for reps at cornerback. Tight end Kylen Granson stepped in for VanSumeren and played a couple of snaps at fullback. Brett Toth replaced Landon Dickerson (back) late in the game and battled inside. This is what it takes to be a great team, as the Eagles demonstrated again.

7. Eagles offense finished the right way

Second-and-11, less than two minutes remaining and the Eagles in need of a big play. So what happens? Hurts throws, for the first time all night, to A.J. Brown, who made a big catch for an 8-yard gain, and then Hurts ran for the first down on the next play and took a knee in victory formation after that. Close the game out. It’s so important. Look, the way the Eagles started on offense, it was a thing of beauty. Three possessions and three touchdowns. And then a field goal on the first possession of the second half – making it four scores on four possessions. Then it was a bit of a slog, but the Eagles converted when they needed to and that was huge.

8. A stop here, a stop there …

The defense stiffened. Whatever, however, something changed. Look, CeeDee Lamb missed on a few chances to gain some yards on Prescott throws, but the defense came to play, limiting an explosive Dallas offense to 20 points and 307 total net yards. That is how you win. The defense didn’t have Carter, who wrecks offenses, and prevailed. This says a lot about the way the team responds to adversity.

9. It doesn’t matter how you win in the NFL

A bounce here, an official’s call there, you know how it goes in the league. Doesn’t matter. The Eagles emerged with a victory and they are 1-0 and the fact that it was a division win is all the better. On a night with a lot of distractions, the Eagles focused and came away with a W.

“That’s all I care about,” Johnson said. “We have a lot to correct and we know it, but the name of the game is winning and we did that.”