The regular season is slowly approaching, so let's crack open some early picks and predictions for Week 1 action.
All 32 teams are obviously in action during the first few weeks of an NFL season, and there are some great games set to be on the Week 1 schedule. It'll be a full slate, and since it is Week 1, there should be some interesting upsets as well.
We'll do our best to make some early picks and score predictions for Week 1 games.
Early NFL picks and score predictions for Week 1 games in the 2025 season
Thursday, September 4th
Cowboys @ Eagles
The first game of the 2025 NFL Season sees the Dallas Cowboys facing the defending Super Bowl champions, and while Week 1 games can get a bit unexpected at times, I would anticipate that the Eagles don't let the Super Bowl hangover get to them in Week 1. Dallas has a new head coach and a pretty soft roster overall.
Eagles win 27-20
Friday, September 5th
Chiefs @ Chargers
The lone Friday game sees the Chiefs facing the Chargers, and I really do not believe the Chiefs are all that talented, or at least as talented as some people think. They have a so-so offensive line, unproven offensive weapons, and an average secondary in terms of talent. The Chargers do get this game at home and have the better roster. They've also got a revamped run game, and I would be shocked if we didn't see that a lot here in this one.
Chargers win 23-21
Sunday, September 7th
Buccaneers at Falcons
The Buccaneers and Falcons gives us an NFC South matchup, and while I am higher than most on the Falcons this year, the Buccaneers are more of a proven entity, as Michael Penix Jr would still be extremely early on in his career. The Falcons getting this game at home could help them secure a win, but the Bucs are going to do enough and overwhelm Penix to notch a double-digit victory.
Buccaneers win 28-17
Bengals @ Browns
Both the Bengals and Browns are both quite dysfunctional, and it would not shock me if the Bengals dropped this one, as they have had a pretty sad start to seasons in recent years. Getting out to these slow starts have really hurt them later in the season, and honestly, do the Browns have a better overall roster than the Bengals...?
Browns win 23-16
Sunday, September 7th
Dolphins @ Colts
The Miami Dolphins may not win a ton of games in the 2025 NFL Season, but they should be able to win this one. The Indianapolis Colts are dealing with a pretty pathetic QB situation, as Anthony Richardson is already hurt, but that could put Daniel Jones in line to start, which might not be better.
Indy is going to struggle under center all year long, but at least we can say that Miami has a competent QB, and that could be the difference in this one.
Dolphins win 24-14
Raiders @ Patriots
The Las Vegas Raiders are not going to win as many games as the New England Patriots this year, but I can't help but wonder if Week 1 is going to feature Geno Smith and Pete Carroll knowing how to beat this upstart team. I am a huge fan of what the Pats have done, but Week 1 would still present the very early part of Drake Maye's tenure, so there could still be some early-career struggles.
The Raiders win this one.
Raiders win 20-17
Cardinals @ Saints
The Arizona Cardinals are going to win 10 games this year. I had said that they were going to double their win total last year, and they did, as they went from four to eight wins from 2023 to 2024. Well, they're in line to win another game or two this year and will not mess around, as they'll go into New Orleans and beat what could be the worst team in the NFL.
Cardinals win 26-10
Steelers @ Jets
Oh boy; here we go; the Pittsburgh Steelers and New York Jets essentially swapped QBs for this game, and Aaron Rodgers is going to be thrown a ton of boos in this one. However, Justin Fields is a bottom-tier QB and is going to struggle to move the ball against the Steelers defense. Rodgers gets the last laugh in Week 1.
Steelers win 23-20
Sunday, September 7th
Giants @ Commanders
I almost feel bad for the New York Giants this year, as they've got the hardest schedule in the NFL and are being given a brutally tough opponent in Week 1. The Giants could end up winning just three-ish games in 2025 given how bad the roster is and how bad of a QB Russell Wilson has been over the past couple of seasons. Jayden Daniels and the Commanders won't be upset.
Commanders win 30-17
Panthers @ Jaguars
The Carolina Panthers might be one of the breakout teams in the 2025 NFL Season, but this could also apply to the Jacksonville Jaguars as well. Both Carolina and Jacksonville need to figure out a way to make things work for the long-term with their young QBs and this is especially true for the Jags, who are wasting away the Trevor Lawrence era.
The first-ever game for Liam Coen as a head coach is certainly going to show, as his Jags team will get out-coached and the Panthers will walk away with an away win.
Panthers win 21-20
Titans @ Broncos
Cam Ward's first game is against the fierce Broncos pass rush, and while Denver has not won an opening game since the 2021 NFL Season, they are almost gifted an easy win here. While Ward may end up being quite good, Denver's got one of the best rosters in the NFL and a QB in Bo Nix who is ready to take the league by storm. The Broncos are going to blowout the Titans.
Broncos win 34-16
49ers @ Seahawks
In a classic NFC West matchup, we saw both the 49ers and Seahawks undergo some major change this offseason. I am not sure what Seattle was trying to do this offseason, but at least we saw the 49ers bring forth some change that actually has a shot of working out for the long-term. The QB and head coach advantage both go to the 49ers here, so the game is going to go how you think.
49ers win 24-20
Sunday, September 7th
Lions @ Packers
This honestly could be one of the games of the year. The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers both have legitimate shots at winning the NFC North title, so already, this Week 1 game could be flat-out massive for both franchises. I do like the Lions roster and QB a lot more than the Packers, and that could be the major factor here.
But this is Week 1, so we could see the Packers easily being able to defend their home turf in a shocking victory.
Packers win 27-24
Texans @ Rams
Another great game here in Week 1, the Houston Texans are on the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Rams, and the Rams do boast a young and explosive pass rush. We saw the Texans offensive line come apart in 2024, and if that unit isn't shored up by Week 1, which it probably won't be, CJ Stroud might be running for his life in a very tough loss to swallow in the first game of the 2025 NFL Season.
Rams win 31-13
Ravens @ Bills
A game that could have tiebreaker ramifications late in the season, the Ravens are facing the Bills in a battle of two of the best quarterbacks and teams in the league. Baltimore does have an uphill battle in this game, and if they were playing in Baltimore, I would feel differently. Buffalo is going to defend their home turf in a season where I truly believe a Super Bowl run has to happen.
Bills win 28-27
Monday, September 8th
Vikings @ Bears
The final game of Week 1 sees the Vikings and Bears playing on Monday Night Football, and this is likely to be the first start of the JJ McCarthy era. While many are high on the Vikings for 2025, I just can't get there, as McCarthy is essentially a rookie and is going to have those rookie growing pains.
This is especially true for his first NFL start. Furthermore, the Chicago Bears have a very good roster and seem to have finally figured things out a bit. The Bears win this low-scoring affair.