2025 NFL Season Schedule: Opening Weekend Highlights & the Year's Must-Watch Matchups
The 2025 NFL season kicked off on Thursday, September 4 with the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys in the NFL Kickoff Game. The league then staged a Friday night opener in São Paulo, Brazil before a full Sunday slate, Sunday Night Football, and Monday Night Football in Chicago on Sept. 8.
[Opening Weekend at a Glance (Week 1)]
Thu, Sept. 4 — Cowboys at Eagles (8:20 p.m. ET) Banner night in Philly to open the season. The Eagles began their title defense under the lights.
Fri, Sept. 5 — Chiefs vs. Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil (8:00 p.m. ET) The NFL returned to South America for a headline AFC West clash at Corinthians Arena.
Sun, Sept. 7 — Sunday Night Football: Ravens at Bills (8:20 p.m. ET) A heavyweight QB duel in prime time to cap Sunday's action.
Mon, Sept. 8 — Monday Night Football: Vikings at Bears (7:15 p.m. CT / 8:15 p.m. ET) Classic NFC North rivalry under the lights at Soldier Field.
Week 1 results hub: (Add your StatChat Week 1 scores page link here.)
[The Year's Best 2025 Matchups to Circle]
International Games: Seven games, five countries
A record seven international games in 2025 span Brazil, Ireland, the U.K., Germany, and Spain:
- →Sept. 5 (Week 1): Chiefs vs. Chargers — São Paulo, Brazil
- →Sept. 28 (Week 4): Vikings vs. Steelers — Dublin, Ireland
- →Oct. 5 (Week 5): Vikings vs. Browns — London (Tottenham)
- →Oct. 12 (Week 6): Broncos vs. Jets — London (Tottenham)
- →Oct. 19 (Week 7): Rams vs. Jaguars — London (Wembley)
- →Nov. 9 (Week 10): Falcons vs. Colts — Berlin
- →Nov. 16 (Week 11): Commanders vs. Dolphins — Madrid
These global dates inject travel and bye-week strategy right into the playoff race.
Super Bowl champs in showcase spots
Week 10 MNF (Mon, Nov. 10): Eagles at Packers (8:15 p.m. ET) — a marquee midseason test at Lambeau.
Holiday headliners
Thanksgiving Day (Thu, Nov. 27):
- →Packers at Lions (1:00 p.m. ET)
- →Chiefs at Cowboys (4:30 p.m. ET)
- →Bengals at Ravens (8:20 p.m. ET)
Black Friday (Fri, Nov. 28): Bears at Eagles (3:00 p.m. ET)
Christmas Day (Thu, Dec. 25): Broncos at Chiefs (8:15 p.m. ET)
Saturday late-season doubleheader
Week 16 (Sat, Dec. 20): Eagles at Commanders and Packers at Bears — both with likely playoff implications.
[Why These Games Matter]
Playoff seeding starts early. Games like Ravens–Bills, Cowboys–Eagles, and the Brazil opener can swing head-to-head tiebreakers months later.
International fatigue vs. momentum. The Vikings' Dublin/London swing is a depth test ahead of the midseason grind.
Holiday showcases shape narratives. Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas tend to feature contenders in statement spots.
[How to Watch (by window)]
- →Thursday Night / Kickoff: NBC/streaming partner
- →Friday Night (Week 1 São Paulo): YouTube
- →Sunday Night Football: NBC/streaming partner
- →Monday Night Football: ABC/ESPN
[FAQ]
When did the 2025 NFL season start? Thursday, September 4, 2025 (Cowboys at Eagles) — followed by a Friday night game in Brazil on September 5.
Who played on Sunday and Monday night in Week 1? SNF: Ravens at Bills (Sept. 7). MNF: Vikings at Bears (Sept. 8).
How many international games are there in 2025? Seven across five countries: Brazil, Ireland, the U.K., Germany, and Spain.