The National Football League’s Thursday night kickoff contest between the Cowboys and the Eagles experienced a pause of approximately 60 minutes because of electrical storms nearby.
The break in play was communicated when there were 4 minutes and 44 seconds remaining in the third period, with the Eagles ahead by a score of 24 to 20.
Forecasts anticipating inclement weather in the Philadelphia region prior to the Thursday matchup sparked worries regarding its possible effect on the contest. The initial two quarters proceeded without incident, though a storm accompanied by lightning eventually brought a halt to the proceedings with the game still undecided in the latter half.
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The athletes made their way back onto the playing surface around 45 minutes following the initial stoppage, and following a brief period to get ready, the action picked up again at 11:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
This has occurred Previously
This particular Thursday was not the only time an NFL opening game was impacted by environmental conditions. The prior instance of the Eagles beginning a season as defending champions occurred during their Thursday evening opener versus the Atlanta Falcons, which suffered an approximate 45-minute setback because of adverse weather.
Back in 2013, as the Denver Broncos played host to the Baltimore Ravens in the season opener for that year, the commencement of the contest faced a delay of roughly 34 minutes because of lightning.
However, this Thursday’s event presents a unique scenario. On this occasion, participants had already engaged in over 40 minutes of high-stakes, competitive play, which featured the removal of Eagles standout Jalen Carter from the game and multiple infractions. With the victor still very much undecided, the two squads were directed to their respective dressing rooms for an unplanned chance to recover.
Upon the game’s resumption, they were charged with rebuilding their intensity for the closing 19 minutes and 44 seconds of formal competition.
