The 2025 NFL season is ready to kickoff and it starts on Thursday night in Philadelphia when the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys, who just saw their best defensive player traded to the Green Bay Packers last week. Edge rusher/linebacker Micah Parsons was dealt after a long standoff over a contract extension with Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and that has been the big story around the NFL. But now it's time for real football and no more about speculation on what could happen.
The Eagles return most of their roster from last season, including key players on both sides of the ball. Quarterback Jalen Hurts leads the offense and running back Saquon Barkley had a monster season in 2024, going for over 2,000 rushing yards while the defense rode roughshod against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl victory. As Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni and many players have been saying . . . that was last year and we are focused on this year.
The Cowboys have many questions heading into this season, but the main focus is keeping quarterback Dak Prescott on the field after he missed so much time last year with an ankle injury. The defense will look to do better than last year and without Parsons, it will likely be a tall task. The Eagles should win this game and get off to a good start this season.
The game on Friday night features the Kansas City Chiefs taking on the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil. Last year, it was the Eagles defeating the Green Bay Packers in that same place on a Friday in Week One. The Chiefs are out to prove they are not washed up after the beating they got in the Super Bowl last February. Meanwhile, the Chargers got their asses handed to them in the wild card round of the AFC playoffs against the Houston Texans, losing 32-12 as QB Justin Herbert threw four interceptions after being picked off only three times during the entire regular season. He will be out to prove the doubters wrong this season. Look for a back and forth game with the Chiefs getting the big break to pull it out in the closing minutes.
On Sunday, there are some good matches set and the Green Bay Packers will host the Detroit Lions in an NFC North tilt. The Packers are suddenly being touted as one of the top dogs in the NFC following the trade that brought Parsons to Title Town. The Lions are out to prove they haven't been flukes after they lost at home to the upstart Washington Commanders in the NFC playoffs last January. Head Coach Dan Campbell saw both of the teams' coordinators leave for head coaching jobs in the off-season, so for sure he will be pushing the team to get to the Super Bowl this season.
On Sunday night, perhaps the best game of opening week could take place as the Buffalo Bills host the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of last year's classic divisional playoff game in Buffalo, where the Bills held on for a thrilling 27-25 win. Both the Ravens and Bills have been bridesmaids to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs in recent years and have much to prove in the 2025 season. The last two NFL Most Valuable Players (Ravens QB Lamar Jackson and Bills QB Josh Allen) will lead the way in this prime time game in what should be another classic.
Finally, on Monday night in Chicago, the Bears and Minnesota Vikings will go at it as Bears new head coach Ben Johnson will try to lead the team to victory against a team with essentially a rookie quarterback (J.J. McCarthy) who missed all of last year due to a knee injury. The Vikings were one and done in the NFC playoffs after a 14-3 record and they let QB Sam Darnold leave for Seattle after he had a career season, but imploded in two straight games to hasten the quick exit last year. Look for a good battle at Solider Field with the Bears winning in a squeaker that just might go into overtime.
It's time for football and while the first couple of weeks in the NFL schedule are always the hardest to figure out, here is a capsule preview of all the action for Week One around the league with the Heftyinfo picks following.
Thursday Night Game
Dallas at Philadelphia - The defending Super Bowl champs should get it done in the opener against a team that has many questions this year. Fly Eagles Fly!
Friday Night Game
Kansas City vs. L.A. Chargers (in Brazil) - These two teams are traveling a long distance just to see the Chiefs beat the Chargers again.
Sunday Games
Tampa Bay at Atlanta - The Buccaneers and Falcons in a big NFC South game . . . The Bucs pull it out late in a shootout.
Cincinnati at Cleveland - Will the Bengals lay another egg in the early season? The Browns look to be a mess as the season starts. Bengals QB Joe Burrow and company will get it done.
Miami at Indianapolis - Two teams with many questions in this season opener . . . Miami wins a close one.
Carolina at Jacksonville - This game should be a tight one . . . take the Jaguars at home.
Las Vegas at New England - The new look Patriots are out to show that last season was a mirage . . . the Raiders are in the same boat with a new head coach and many new players on board. Toss up in this one.
Arizona at New Orleans - The visiting Cardinals are out to show the skeptics are wrong and here's their chance against perhaps the worst team in the NFL.
Pittsburgh at N.Y. Jets - Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers going back to New York to try and show up the team that cut him after last season. This one will go down to the wire, but the Steelers emerge with the win.
N.Y. Giants at Washington - Take the Commanders in this one . . . Giants still have too many questions on offense.
Tennessee at Denver - Broncos roll !
San Francisco at Seattle - The Seahawks have a new quarterback and will be out to prove their doubters wrong . . . The 49ers are nursing injuries on offense, so they better be ready.
Detroit at Green Bay - This will be a fierce battle at Lambeau Field . . . take the Packers in a close one.
Houston at L.A. Rams - Both teams have solid defenses, but the Rams rate the edge on offense, especially in the running game.
Baltimore at Buffalo - The Game of the Week on Sunday night in "prime time" . . . look for a high scoring game with the Bills finding a way to win.
Monday Night Football
Minnesota at Chicago - The Bears get it done in head coach Ben Johnson's debut as their defense forces a "rookie" mistake by Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy to make the difference.
The Heftyinfo picks for Week One . . . . . . . . . . (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)
Philadelphia over Dallas
Kansas City over L.A. Chargers (game played in Brazil)
Tampa Bay over Atlanta
Cincinnati over Cleveland
Miami over Indianapolis
Jacksonville over Carolina
New England over Las Vegas
Arizona over New Orleans
Pittsburgh over N.Y. Jets
Washington over N.Y. Giants
DENVER over Tennessee
Seattle over San Francisco
Green Bay over Detroit
L.A. Rams over Houston
Buffalo over Baltimore
Chicago over Minnesota
Last Season's Record - 187-85
Lock of the Week Record - 15-3
How long is hefty info been picking Games?
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