At A Glance
- The 2025 NFL season begins Thursday, Sept. 4 with Eagles vs. Cowboys at 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC).
- Fans can watch games across NBC, ESPN/ABC, Prime Video, YouTube, Netflix, and more.
- Sunday Night Football, Monday Night Football, and Thursday Night Football all feature new flex scheduling rules.
NFL 2025 Opening Game: Eagles vs. Cowboys
The Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in the season opener at Lincoln Financial Field. For Philadelphia, it’s a night of celebration, the first home game since last year’s NFC Championship. Jalen Hurts and much of the Eagles’ high-powered roster are back to defend their title.
Dallas enters the season surrounded by storylines and roster shake-ups. Dak Prescott is back from injury, Brian Schottenheimer makes his debut as head coach , and CeeDee Lamb is paired with offseason acquisition George Pickens to form a potent receiving tandem. But the Cowboys’ biggest headline is who won’t be there: All-Pro pass rusher Micah Parsons.
Micah Parsons Trade Fallout
Parsons’ high-profile trade to the Green Bay Packers last week closed a contentious chapter in Dallas. Despite being one of the NFL’s most dominant defenders with 52.5 sacks in four seasons, Parsons’ offseason was marked by stalled contract talks, a “hold-in” at training camp, and reports of friction in the Cowboys’ locker room.
Sports Illustrated reported that some teammates viewed Parsons as “egotistical and self-centered,” citing tension over his popular podcast, “The Edge with Micah Parsons,” and his tendency to freelance on defense.
Quarterback Dak Prescott addressed the trade, saying he wasn’t shocked after seeing how negotiations soured. “It seemed like it got personal on their ends,” Prescott told reporters, adding that resolving the months-long drama was better than lingering uncertainty.
Roster Cuts and Fresh Season Energy
The new season officially begins Sept. 4, ushering in the annual cycle of optimism. The NFL roster cut-down deadline has passed, with all 32 franchises required to slim down to 53 players. Every team starts from the same ground floor, with hopes of making a Super Bowl run—even those with the longest odds.
Players are in peak shape and fans are riding high on anticipation, but soon the excitement will shift from projections on paper to battles on the field.
Week 1 NFL Schedule 2025
- Thursday, Sept. 4 – Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles | 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
- Friday, Sept. 5 – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Sao Paulo, Brazil) | 8:15 p.m. ET, YouTube
- Sunday, Sept. 7 (Early Games) – Raiders at Patriots, Steelers at Jets, Dolphins at Colts, Cardinals at Saints, Giants at Commanders, Panthers at Jaguars, Bengals at Browns, Buccaneers at Falcons | 1 p.m. ET
- Sunday, Sept. 7 (Late Games) – Titans at Broncos, 49ers at Seahawks, Lions at Packers, Texans at Rams | 4–4:30 p.m. ET
- Sunday Night Football, Sept. 7 – Ravens at Bills | 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
- Monday Night Football, Sept. 8 – Vikings at Bears | 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
How to Watch NFL Games in 2025
The broadcast landscape is more scattered than ever. Games are divided across:
- CBS & FOX: Sunday afternoon matchups (local coverage + national doubleheaders).
- NBC & Peacock: Sunday Night Football.
- ESPN & ABC: Monday Night Football doubleheaders with Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, and the ManningCast on ESPN2.
- Prime Video: Exclusive home for Thursday Night Football.
- YouTube: NFL Sunday Ticket for out-of-market games.
- Netflix: Streaming select Christmas Day games.
Fans can also add NFL RedZone through most providers or the league’s NFL+ Premium app.
