The Dallas Cowboys often play in some of the biggest spotlight games in the NFL every year. They also often open the NFL season against one of their biggest NFC East rivals -- the last three years playing the New York Giants on opening day. This year, one of the Cowboys most heated rivals are the Super Bowl champions, as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the New England Patriots to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to the NFC East. That means that the Eagles get the privilege of playing in the very first game of the season -- the Thursday night inaugural game for the NFL.

Will the Cowboys and Eagles reignite their fierce rivalry on opening night?

Philadelphia Eagles opening season game

Unfortunately for the Dallas Cowboys, that game won't take place. While the Cowboys and Eagles will get their home-and-away series this year, it won't start on opening night. Instead, Pro Football Talk reported that the Philadelphia Eagles would instead play the team they beat in the NFC Championship -- the Minnesota Vikings -- on the NFL opening night.

It is interesting because this Minnesota Vikings team looks different from the one that the Philadelphia Eagles beat in the playoffs last season. Kirk Cousins, the former starting quarterback for the NFC East rival Washington Redskins, is now starting in Minnesota, so it remains to be seen if this means the Vikings will be better or worse.

What this means for the Dallas Cowboys

The last three seasons, the Dallas Cowboys have played the New York Giants, and there is always a chance that could happen again. The Cowboys won two of the three games against the Giants, and there are good odds they would make it three-of-four if they played again. New York struggled to one of the worst records in the NFL last year, although they did make some big moves this offseason when it comes to free agents.

The Cowboys and Giants have played in the opening game of five of the last six seasons, so there is little chance to think it changes in 2018.

The 2012 game even came after New York beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl, making some wonder if that could swing things to the Philadelphia Eagles this season. It won't.

Here are the other options. The Dallas Cowboys play home games this season against the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions. The Cowboys road games come against the Eagles, Giants, Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.
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