Here are my Week 1 NFL Game Predictions, both straight-up and against the spread. I’ll keep track of my results throughout the season.
You’ll also find an array of fantastic notes for Week 1 and the 2025 season courtesy of NFL Communications press releases.
There are 32 University of Tennessee players in the NFL as the 2025 season begins. 6 are on practice squads, leaving 26 players on 53-player rosters. Look for a detailed update on this website soon.
Winners are in bold. Vs. the Points selection is listed to the side.
Week 1
Thursday, Set. 4, 2025
8:20pm
Dallas at Philadelphia (-8.5) – Eagles -8.5
Friday, Sept. 5, 2025
8pm
Kansas City (-3) vs. LA Chargers in Brazil – Chiefs -3
Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025
1pm
Tampa Bay (-1.5) at Atlanta – Falcons +1.5
Cincinnati (-5.5) at Cleveland – Browns +5.5
Miami at Indianapolis (-1.5) – Colts -1.5
Carolina at Jacksonville (-3.5) – Panthers +3.5
Las Vegas at New England (-2.5) Patriots -2.5
Arizona (-6.5) at New Orleans – Cardinals -6.5
Pittsburgh (-2.5) at NY Jets – Steelers -2.5
NY Giants at Washington (-5.5) – Commanders -5.5
4:05/4:25pm
Tennessee at Denver (-8.5) – Broncos -8.5
San Francisco (-1.5) at Seattle – Seahawks +1.5
Detroit at Green Bay (-2.5) – Lions +2.5
Houston at LA Rams (-3) – Rams -3
8:20pm
Baltimore (-1.5) at Buffalo – Bills +1.5
Monday, Sept. 8, 2025
8:15pm
Minnesota (-1.5) at Chicago – Vikings -1.5
NEW YORK — September 2, 2025 — The NFL returns this week and it’s time to get back to football! Kickoff Weekend presented by YouTube TV signals the start of a 272-game journey, one that promises hope for each of the league’s 32 teams as they set their sights on Super Bowl LX, which will be played on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Here’s a look at a few interesting storylines entering Kickoff Weekend:
Division Rivalries on Kickoff Weekend: The 106th season of NFL play kicks off on Thursday night (NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET) as the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field in an NFC East showdown. Kickoff Weekend continues Friday, Sept. 5 in São Paulo – the second-consecutive season the NFL will play in Brazil in Week 1 – as the Kansas City Chiefs meet the Los Angeles Chargers (8 p.m. ET, YouTube) in a matchup of AFC West foes.
In total, Week 1 of the 2025 season features eight divisional games, the fifth time since realignment in 2002 with at least eight divisional games on Kickoff Weekend, along with 2023 (eight), 2020 (nine), 2011 (eight) and 2008 (eight).
Back-to-Back Super Bowls?: The Philadelphia Eagles can become the 10th team ever to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Since 2000, the defending Super Bowl champions have started the following year with a win on Kickoff Weekend in 20 of the past 25 seasons.
MVPs Meet on Sunday Night: When two-time Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson (2019 and 2023) and the Baltimore Ravens visit reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), it will mark a rematch of the 2024 AFC Divisional Playoffs and the fifth time ever that the two most recent Most Valuable Players will meet in Week 1.
The previous occurrences of the two most recent Most Valuable Players meetings in Week 1: 2024 (Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes), 2000 (Pro Football Hall of Famers Terrell Davis and Kurt Warner), 1998 (Pro Football Hall of Famers Brett Favre and Barry Sanders) and 1980 (Pro Football Hall of Famers Terry Bradshaw and Earl Campbell).
Baltimore and Buffalo met twice last season, with the Ravens earning a 35-10 victory in Week 4 in Baltimore while the Bills secured a 27-25 win in the AFC Divisional Playoffs in Buffalo.
Every Team Has a Chance: Entering the 2025 season, every team has hope and here are a few reasons why…
Since 1990 – a streak of 35 consecutive seasons – at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs that were not in the postseason the year before. There were four new playoff teams last season – Denver, the Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota and Washington.
In 26 of the past 29 seasons (1996-2024), at least one team has made the playoffs the season after finishing in last or tied for last place. The Chargers, Vikings and Commanders each accomplished the feat last season.
In six consecutive seasons (2019-24) and in 21 of the past 23 seasons (2002-24), a team that chose in the top five of the NFL Draft has qualified for the postseason. Washington accomplished this feat last season after selecting quarterback Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft while the Los Angeles Chargers qualified for the postseason after choosing tackle Joe Alt with the No. 5 overall selection.
New Quarterbacks Under Center: Twelve teams are expected to have a different starting quarterback in Week 1 than started for them to open the season last year: Atlanta (Michael Penix Jr.) Cleveland (Joe Flacco), Indianapolis (Daniel Jones), Las Vegas (Geno Smith), Minnesota (J.J. McCarthy), New England (Drake Maye), New Orleans (Spencer Rattler), the New York Giants (Russell Wilson), the New York Jets (Justin Fields), Pittsburgh (Aaron Rodgers), Seattle (Sam Darnold) and Tennessee (Cam Ward).
Additional notes about the Week 1 slate:
2024 Playoff Teams Meet on Kickoff Weekend: Four Week 1 matchups feature two teams that each qualified for the playoffs last year:
Kansas City vs. the Los Angeles Chargers (8 p.m. ET, YouTube, on Friday in São Paulo): The Chiefs have won seven consecutive games against the Chargers, with each of the last three wins featuring the game-winning go-ahead score in the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter.
Detroit at Green Bay (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS, Sunday): Since 2021, when Dan Cambell was hired as head coach, the Lions have a 6-2 record against the Packers, including three consecutive wins at Lambeau Field.
Houston at the Los Angeles Rams (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS, Sunday): The reigning AFC South champion Texans and reigning NFC West champion Rams are set to meet for the first time since 2021. Houston running back Nick Chubb and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams are expected to make their club debuts on Kickoff Weekend.
Baltimore at Buffalo (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC, Sunday Night Football): The only game on Kickoff Weekend that is a rematch from the 2024 postseason, the Bills and Ravens are set to meet for the fifth time in the past six seasons, including the playoffs. In the 2024 AFC Divisional playoffs, the Bills defeated the Ravens at home, 27-25, while Baltimore earned a 35-10 home win over Buffalo in the regular season in Week 4.
Tampa Bay at Atlanta (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans leads all active players with 105 touchdown receptions and ranks second with 12,684 receiving yards entering the 2025 season. This year, Evans can become the first player in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 12 career seasons.
Cincinnati at Cleveland (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX): Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, in 2024, became the fifth player since 1970 to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (1990) and Sterling Sharpe (1992) as well as Steve Smith (2005) and Cooper Kupp (2021). Since 1970, only three players have led the NFL in receiving yards in consecutive seasons: Pro Football Hall of Famers Andre Johnson (2008-09), Calvin Johnson (2011-12) and Rice (1989-90, 1993-95).
Pittsburgh at the New York Jets (Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS): Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers enters the 2025 season leading all active players with 503 regular-season touchdown passes and 548 touchdown passes, including the postseason. This season, he needs five touchdown passes to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (552 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most touchdown passes, including the postseason, in NFL history and six touchdown passes to surpass Favre (508 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most regular-season touchdown passes all-time.
Tennessee at Denver (Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX): The Tennessee Titans selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Since 1967, 19 quarterbacks have been selected with the first pick in the NFL Draft and started in Week 1 of their rookie season, including each of the past five quarterbacks chosen No. 1 overall [Caleb Williams (2024), Bryce Young (2023), Trevor Lawrence (2021), Joe Burrow (2020) and Kyler Murray (2019)].
Minnesota at Chicago (Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN): Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is expected to make his first NFL debut on Kickoff Weekend. McCarthy can become the fifth quarterback since 1990 to make his first career start on a Monday, joining Sam Darnold (September 10, 2018 at Detroit, with the New York Jets), Aaron Rodgers (September 8, 2008 vs. Minnesota, with Green Bay), Philip Rivers (September 11, 2006 at the Oakland Raiders, with San Diego) and Brian Griese (September 13, 1999 vs. Miami, with Denver).
Kickoff Weekend presented by YouTube TV begins on Thursday, September 4 in primetime on NBC as the
Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Lincoln Financial Field. Below is a sampling of notable active NFL Kickoff streaks:
• The NEW ORLEANS SAINTS, who host Arizona in Week 1, have won their past six Week 1 contests, the longest active streak the NFL.
• The MIAMI DOLPHINS, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES and TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS have each won their past four Kickoff Weekend contests, while DALLAS, DETROIT and SAN FRANCISCO have won their past two season-opening games.
• The GREEN BAY PACKERS open their season at home against the DETROIT LIONS. The Packers have won 59 games on Kickoff Weekend, the most in the NFL.
HEAD COACHES:
• Kansas City’s ANDY REID is 17-9 (.654) on KickoffWeekend and his 17 wins are the most among active head coaches.
• Reid, Baltimore’s JOHN HARBAUGH (12-5; .706), Las Vegas’ PETE CARROLL (11-7; .611) and Pittsburgh’s MIKE TOMLIN (11-6-1; .639) are theonly active head coaches who have won at least 10 Kickoff Weekend games.
• The Los Angeles Chargers’ JIM HARBAUGH has won five consecutive games on Kickoff Weekend, the longest current streak among active head coaches.
• Jim Harbaugh (5-0), Philadelphia’s NICK SIRIANNI (4-0), Miami’s MIKE MCDANIEL (3-0) and Seattle’s MIKE MACDONALD (1-0) are the only active head coaches with perfect records on Kickoff Weekend.
• Jacksonville’s LIAM COEN, the New York Jets’ AARON GLENN, Chicago’s BEN JOHNSON,
Dallas’ BRIAN SCHOTTENHEIMER and New Orleans’ KELLEN MOORE make their NFL head
coaching debuts on Kickoff Weekend.
• Two head coaches – Carroll (11-7) and New England’s MIKE VRABEL (2-4) – will be coaching the first game with their new club in Week 1. Kickoff Weekend Notes
Hope Springs Eternal
New teams making the playoffs and winning divisions, consistent teams excelling once again, records falling and young players making their mark all combined to help shape the story of the 2024 season.
The final week of the season once again came right down to the wire as two playoff spots were decided on the last day of the season. There were 17 teams still in Super Bowl contention with one week to play last season. The season-ending excitement was due in part to having 16 divisional games played on the season’s final weekend, a tradition instituted in 2010.
Every team enters the 2025 season with a trip to the Bay Area and Super Bowl LX in mind, and below are a few reasons why.
• At least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 20 of the past 22 years. In 19 of the past 22 seasons, at least one team finished in first place the season after finishing in last or tied for last.
In 26 of the past 29 seasons (1996-2024), at least one team has made the playoffs the season after finishing in last or tied for last place.
Teams to win their division a season after missing the postseason since 2003:
SEASON NEW DIVISION WINNERS AFTER MISSING POSTSEASON THE PREVIOUS SEASON
2023 Detroit, Houston*
2022 Jacksonville*, Minnesota
2021 Cincinnati*, Dallas
2020 Pittsburgh, Washington*
2019 Green Bay, San Francisco
2018 Baltimore, Chicago*, Dallas, Houston*
2017 Jacksonville*, L.A. Rams, New Orleans, Minnesota, Philadelphia*
2016 Atlanta, Dallas*
2015 Houston, Minnesota, Washington*
2014 Dallas, Pittsburgh
2013 Carolina*, Philadelphia*
2012 Washington*
2011 Denver*, Houston*, New York Giants, San Francisco
2010 Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City*, Pittsburgh, Seattle
2009 Cincinnati, Dallas, New England, New Orleans*
2008 Arizona, Carolina, Miami*, Minnesota
2007 Green Bay, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay*
2006 Baltimore*, New Orleans*, Philadelphia*, San Diego
2005 Chicago*, Cincinnati, New York Giants, Tampa Bay*
2004 Atlanta*, Pittsburgh, San Diego*
2003 Baltimore, Carolina*, Kansas City*, New England, St. Louis Rams)
*worst to first
• Since 1990 – a streak of 35 consecutive seasons – at least four teams every season have qualified for the playoffs after failing to make the postseason the year before. Four teams that missed the postseason in 2023 – DENVER, the LOS ANGELES CHARGERS, MINNESOTA and WASHINGTON – accomplished the feat in 2024.
SEASON PLAYOFF TEAMS NOT IN PREVIOUS SEASON’S PLAYOFFS
1990 7 (Cincinnati, Chicago, Kansas City, Los Angeles Raiders, Miami, New Orleans, Washington)
1991 5 (Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, New York Jets)
1992 6 (Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Diego, San Francisco)
1993 5 (Denver, Detroit, Green Bay, Los Angeles Raiders, New York Giants)
1994 5 (Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, New England, San Diego)
1995 4 (Atlanta, Buffalo, Indianapolis, Philadelphia)
1996 5 (Carolina, Denver, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England)
1997 5 (Detroit, Kansas City, Miami, New York Giants, Tampa Bay)
1998 5 (Arizona, Atlanta, Buffalo, Dallas, New York Jets)
1999 7 (Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington)
2000 6 (Baltimore, Denver, New Orleans, New York Giants, Oakland, Philadelphia)
2001 6 (Chicago, Green Bay, New England, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Francisco)
2002 5 (Atlanta, Cleveland, Indianapolis, New York Giants, Tennessee)
2003 8 (Baltimore, Carolina, Dallas, Denver, Kansas City, New England, St. Louis, Seattle)
2004 5 (Atlanta, Minnesota, New York Jets, Pittsburgh, San Diego)
2005 7 (Carolina, Chicago, Cincinnati, Jacksonville, New York Giants, Tampa Bay, Washington)
2006 7 (Baltimore, Dallas, Kansas City, New Orleans, New York Jets, Philadelphia, San Diego)
2007 6 (Green Bay, Jacksonville, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Washington)
2008 7 (Arizona, Atlanta, Baltimore, Carolina, Miami, Minnesota, Philadelphia)
2009 6 (Cincinnati, Dallas, Green Bay, New England, New Orleans, New York Jets)
2010 5 (Atlanta, Chicago, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Seattle)
2011 6 (Cincinnati, Denver, Detroit, Houston, New York Giants, San Francisco)
2012 4 (Indianapolis, Minnesota, Seattle, Washington)
2013 5 (Carolina, Kansas City, New Orleans, Philadelphia, San Diego)
2014 5 (Arizona, Baltimore, Dallas, Detroit, Pittsburgh)
2015 4 (Houston, Kansas City, Minnesota, Washington)
2016 6 (Atlanta, Dallas, Detroit, Miami, New York Giants, Oakland)
2017 8 (Buffalo, Carolina, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Tennessee)
2018 7 (Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Indianapolis, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle)
2019 5 (Buffalo, Green Bay, Minnesota, San Francisco, Tennessee)
2020 7 (Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington)
2021 7 (Arizona, Cincinnati, Dallas, Las Vegas, New England, Philadelphia, San Francisco)
2022 7 (Baltimore, Jacksonville, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami, Minnesota, New York Giants, Seattle)
2023 6 (Cleveland, Detroit, Green Bay, Houston, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh)
2024 4 (Denver, Los Angeles Chargers, Minnesota, Washington)
From Worst to First
Competitive balance, one of the hallmarks of the NFL, gives fans hope entering each season.
In 19 of the past 22 seasons, at least one team finished in first place in its division the season after finishing in last or tied for last place. In fact, of the 53 teams in league history to go from “worst-to-first,” 29 of them have done so in the past 22 years (2003-24), including an NFL-record three such teams in 2005 and 2006.
Two teams during that span, the 2009 New Orleans Saints and the 2017 Philadelphia Eagles, won the Super Bowl after finishing in last place in their division the season before.
Since 2003, the NFL’s 29 teams to go from “worst-to-first” in their division are the most among the four major professional sports leagues in the United States.
In the NBA, only five teams since the 2003-04 season have finished first in their division after placing in last or tied for last the previous season. There have been seven such teams to accomplish the feat in the past 22 years in both the MLB and the NHL.
THE TEAMS TO GO FROM “WORST-TO-FIRST” IN THEIR DIVISION SINCE 2003
SEASON TEAM RECORD PRIOR SEASON
RECORD
2003 Carolina 11-5 7-9
2003 Kansas City 13-3 8-8*
2004 Atlanta 11-5 5-11
2004 San Diego 12-4 4-12*
2005 Chicago 11-5 5-11
2005 N.Y. Giants 11-5 6-10*
2005 Tampa Bay 11-5 5-11
2006 Baltimore 13-3 6-10*
2006 New Orleans 10-6 3-13
2006 Philadelphia 10-6 6-10
2007 Tampa Bay 9-7 4-12
2008 Miami 11-5 1-15
2009 New Orleans** 13-3 8-8
2010 Kansas City 10-6 4-12
2011 Denver 8-8 4-12
2011 Houston 10-6 6-10*
SEASON TEAM RECORD PRIOR SEASON
RECORD
2012 Washington 10-6 5-11
2013 Carolina 12-4 7-9*
2013 Philadelphia 10-6 4-12
2015 Washington 9-7 4-12
2016 Dallas 4-12 13-3
2017 Jacksonville 10-6 3-13
2017 Philadelphia** 13-3 7-9
2018 Chicago 13-3 5-11
2018 Houston 11-5 4-12*
2020 Washington 7-9 3-13
2021 Cincinnati 10-7 4-11-1
2022 Jacksonville 9-8 3-14
2023 Houston 10-7 3-13-1
*tied for last place
**won Super Bowl
Division Titles – Up for Grabs
In the 23 seasons since realignment in 2002, 31 different teams have won division titles. In 2024, two divisions – the NFC East (Philadelphia) and NFC West (the Los Angeles Rams) – saw a new team finish in first place.
At least two teams have won their divisions the season after missing the playoffs in 20 of the past 22 years.
At least one team has won its division the season after finishing in or tied for last place in 19 of the past 22 seasons.
Kansas City has won nine consecutive AFC West division titles, the second-longest streak of division titles in NFL history. Only the 2009-19 New England Patriots (11 consecutive seasons) have a longer streak.
