Ricky Dimon
It’s never too early to start looking ahead toward a new NFL season – especially when the entire schedule has been released. That’s what happened on Wednesday night, as televised by the NFL Network – or, more accurately, by every team’s social media department.
Week 1 cannot come soon enough for football fans, and what an opening slate of games it should prove to be. The 2025 campaign kicks off with Thursday Night Football between the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles on September 4. Up next in a Friday primetime slot are the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers before Sunday’s lineup includes Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers and Baltimore Ravens vs Buffalo Bills.
Let’s take a look at the entire Week 1 schedule in addition to some of the other marquee matchups throughout the season.
NFL Week 1 schedule and opening lines
Thursday, September 4
Dallas Cowboys (+7) vs Philadelphia Eagles (-7), 8:20 pm ET on NBC
Friday, September 5
Kansas City Chiefs (-3) vs Los Angeles Chargers (+3), 8:00 pm ET on YouTube
Sunday, September 7
Cincinnati Bengals (-4.5) vs Cleveland Browns (+4.5), 1:00 pm ET on FOX
New York Giants (+7.5) vs Washington Commanders (-7.5), 1:00 pm ET on FOX
Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) vs New Orleans Saints (+3.5), 1:00 pm ET on CBS
Carolina Panthers (+3.5) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (-3.5), 1:00 pm ET on FOX
Miami Dolphins (+1.5) vs Indianapolis Colts (-1.5), 1:00 pm ET on CBS
Las Vegas Raiders (+3.5) vs New England Patriots (-3.5), 1:00 pm ET on CBS
Pittsburgh Steelers (-3) vs New York Jets (+3), 1:00 pm ET on CBS
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5) vs Atlanta Falcons (+2.5), 1:00 pm ET on FOX
Tennessee Titans (+7.5) vs Denver Broncos (-7.5), 4:05 pm ET on FOX
San Francisco 49ers (-1.5) vs Seattle Seahawks (+1.5), 4:05 pm ET on FOX
Detroit Lions vs (+1.5) vs Green Bay Packers (-1.5), 4:25 pm ET on CBS
Houston Texans (+3) vs Los Angeles Rams (-3), 4:25 pm ET on CBS
Baltimore Ravens (+1.5) vs Buffalo Bills (-1.5), 8:20 pm ET on NBC
Monday, September 8
Minnesota Vikings (+1.5) vs Chicago Bears (-1.5), 8:15 pm ET on ESPN
2023 NFL schedule: Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Christmas
Thanksgiving (Thursday, November 27)
Green Bay Packers (+2.5) vs Detroit Lions (-2.5), 1:00 pm ET on FOX
Kansas City Chiefs (-5.5) vs Dallas Cowboys (+5.5), 4:30 pm ET on CBS
Cincinnati Bengals (+5.5) vs Baltimore Ravens (-5.5), 8:20 pm ET on NBC
Black Friday (Friday, November 28)
Chicago Bears (+7) vs Philadelphia Eagles (-7), 3:00 pm ET on Prime Video
Christmas (Thursday, December 25)
Dallas Cowboys (+5.5) vs Washington Commanders (-5.5), 1:00 pm ET on Netflix
Detroit Lions (-2.5) vs Minnesota Vikings (+2.5), 4:30 pm ET on Netflix
Denver Broncos (+4.5) vs Washington Commanders (-4.5), 8:15 pm ET on Prime Video
Best bets for the 2025 NFL season
Week 1: Miami Dolphins ML (+100) over Indianapolis Colts
Even on the road, it’s almost hard to believe that Miami is an underdog against Indianapolis. The Colts are terrible. Their quarterback situation is so bad that a former #4 overall pick (Anthony Richardson) is in an actual battle for the starting job with Daniel Jones. Even Riley Leonard could be in the mix. As for the Dolphins, I wouldn’t feel good about any late-season bet on them given that you never know for how long Tua Tagovailoa’s body will stay intact. In Week 1, though, I’ll roll with a healthy Tua all day long.
Week 13: Washington Commanders -2.5 (-110) over Denver Broncos
I’m not a believer in the Broncos. Even if you are a believer, 2.5 points still isn’t enough in this Sunday Night Football showdown. The Commanders are in Washington for this one and teams generally get a 3-point bonus at home, so that means the oddsmakers rate the Broncos as on par or even as the superior of the 2 teams. That’s a no from me, dawg. Jayden Daniels is a much more dynamic quarterback that Bo Nix (and compared to almost everyone), plus he is armed with a better supporting cast. As of right now, this is by far my favorite bet of the season.
Week 14: Tennessee Titans +7.5 (-110) over San Francisco 49ers
By the time Week 14 rolls around, #1 overall Cam Ward should have found his footing in the NFL. That’s not to say Tennessee’s offense will be a well-oiled machine at this point, but it should at least resemble something respectable. As for the 49ers, they seem to be a team on the decline. This franchise might be tempted to blow it all up sooner rather than later, and this late in the 2025 campaign it could be time to tank for a high draft pick. There’s no way I’m giving the Titans more than a touchdown.
