After seven months of anticipation, the NFL season is officially returning to our living rooms. A lot has changed since the world watched the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.
The Bears, Jaguars, Raiders, Cowboys, Patriots, Saints, and Jets all hired new head coaches. Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, Sam Darnold, Geno Smith and Justin Fields are among a long list of quarterbacks playing in new cities. Skill players like DK Metcalf, George Pickens, Davante Adams and Cooper Kupp are also sporting new threads this season.
But perhaps there is no greater excitement than the anticipation of watching the league's newest faces make their NFL debuts. Rookies like first overall pick Cam Ward, two-way phenom Travis Hunter and explosive running back Ashton Jeanty are among those that are expected to make an immediate difference.
How to watch 2025 NFL Week 1 games:
For access to live local and primetime games on mobile devices and 24/7 access to NFL Network (which includes seven exclusive games this season), sign up for NFL+. Terms and conditions apply.
For access to NFL RedZone with Scott Hanson, NFL Pro, full and condensed-game replays, and more exclusive content, sign up for NFL+ Premium. Terms and conditions apply.
2025 NFL Week 1 schedule:
Check out the full 2025 NFL Week 1 schedule below, including a special Friday matchup in Sao Paulo, Brazil, that is free to watch on YouTube.
Thursday, Sept. 4:
- 8:20 p.m. ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (NBC, NFL+)
Friday, Sept. 5:
- 8 p.m. ET – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (YouTube, NFL+)
Sunday, Sept. 7:
- 1 p.m. ET – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Atlanta Falcons (FOX, NFL+ local market)
- 1 p.m. ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns (FOX, NFL+ local market)
- 1 p.m. ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts (CBS, NFL+ local market)
- 1 p.m. ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (FOX, NFL+ local market)
- 1 p.m. ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. New England Patriots (CBS, NFL+ local market)
- 1 p.m. ET – Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints (CBS, NFL+ local market)
- 1 p.m. ET – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New York Jets (CBS, NFL+ local market)
- 1 p.m. ET – New York Giants vs. Washington Commanders (FOX, NFL+ local market)
- 4:05 p.m. ET – Tennessee Titans vs. Denver Broncos (FOX, NFL+ local market)
- 4:05 p.m. ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks (FOX, NFL+ local market)
- 4:25 p.m. ET – Detroit Lions vs. Green Bay Packers (CBS, NFL+ local market)
- 4:25 p.m. ET – Houston Texans vs. Los Angeles Rams (CBS, NFL+ local market)
- 8:20 p.m. ET – Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills (NBC, NFL+)
Monday, Sept. 8:
- 8:15 p.m. ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears (ESPN, ABC, NFL+)
Blackout restrictions may apply.
Week 1 key matchups
Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles
These long-standing division rivals are kicking off the 2025 NFL season, though they look different than they did last time they played. The Eagles enter as reigning Super Bowl champions, backed by top-ranked player Saquon Barkley, who will begin his bid to top Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. Dallas comes in as a reimagined squad with new head coach Brian Schottenheimer and wide receiver George Pickens to bolster its offensive prowess.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Sao Paolo game)
Friday's game follows up with another division rivalry game out of the AFC West. This marks the first time ever that an NFL game is available completely free on YouTube (also available on NFL+). This will be Kansas City's first game following its Super Bowl LIX loss and the beginning of their bid to win the AFC West for the tenth straight year. The Chargers will look to spoil this with an improved roster that now includes rookie Omarion Hampton, Najee Harris and Keenan Allen.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills
Above all else, this game is a matchup between reigning league MVP Josh Allen and last year's runner-up Lamar Jackson. The two studs were also just voted into the top three in NFL Top 100. But it's also a rematch of their 2024 AFC Divisional Game, where the Bills narrowly topped the Ravens 27-25. These two offenses were ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in Gennaro Filice's Top 10 NFL Offenses in 2025 and both teams were featured in Jeffri Chadiha's list of teams most likely to win the Super Bowl. Could this be an AFC Championship preview?
Minnesota Vikings vs. Chicago Bears
There's a lot to monitor in Monday's NFC North division rivalry game, but Ben Johnson's head coaching debut may top the list. After three successful years as the Lions' offensive coordinator, he comes to Chicago under the expectations that he can develop Caleb Williams into an elite quarterback. Monday offers us the first real look into how that development is going. The Vikings' 2024 first-round pick, JJ McCarthy, is also making his debut after sitting out his rookie season due to injury.
