How to watch NFL week 1 games (2025) – full schedule and broadcast guide
Our in-house cybersecurity experts and journalists, renowned for major reports like The Mother of All Breaches, conduct transparent, unbiased VPN testing and in-depth analysis.
With 750+ articles crafted based on real-world research, we empower readers to make informed purchasing decisions through first-hand expertise.
Learn more
The 106th NFL season starts on Thursday, September 4, 2025, marking the return of football for fans across the US and around the world. This year’s week 1 lineup offers plenty to watch – from divisional rivalries to international games and big primetime matchups.
The action runs from Thursday through Monday, giving fans four days of nonstop football. Below, you’ll find the full week 1 schedule with kickoff times, broadcast details, and the games worth keeping an eye on.
NFL week 1 highlights and notes
Kickoff game: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles – Thursday, September 4 at 8:20 PM ET (NBC/Peacock). A fierce NFC East rivalry kicks off the 2025 season.
Friday Night Special (International): Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers – Friday, September 5 at 7:00 PM ET. The NFL’s first regular-season game in South America takes place in São Paulo, Brazil. It will stream free on YouTube worldwide, with NFL+ also available in the U.S.
Sunday Night Football: Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills – Sunday, September 7 at 8:20 PM ET (NBC). Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen face off in one of week 1’s biggest quarterback matchups.
Monday Night Football: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Monday, September 8 at 8:15 PM ET (ESPN/ABC). An NFC North clash under the lights at Soldier Field wraps up the week.
How blackouts might affect week 1 viewers
One of the main frustrations for NFL fans in the U.S. is how CBS and FOX handle Sunday afternoon broadcasts. Unlike primetime games that air nationally, most Sunday matchups are shown only in certain regions. Your local affiliate decides which game is the main draw for your area, so if you’re outside your team’s market, their game may not air locally.
For week 1, several games will be restricted to regional coverage:
- Bengals vs Browns, CBS 1:00 PM ET: A fierce AFC North rivalry that will dominate screens in Ohio, while most other regions will get different early-window games.
- Dolphins vs Colts, CBS 1:00 PM ET: Two playoff hopefuls meet, but outside Florida and Indiana this one will often lose out to bigger-market matchups like Raiders vs Patriots or Steelers vs Jets.
- Raiders vs Patriots, CBS 1:00 PM ET: With both teams rebuilding, it will mostly air in Las Vegas and New England.
- Cardinals vs Saints, FOX 1:00 PM ET: A regional NFC clash with limited star power, mainly shown in Arizona and Louisiana.
- Panthers vs Jaguars, CBS/FOX 1:00 PM ET: A young quarterback duel between Bryce Young and Trevor Lawrence, mostly limited to the Southeast.
By contrast, the season opener, Cowboys vs Eagles, the Brazil game Chiefs vs Chargers on YouTube, Sunday Night Football Ravens vs Bills, and Monday Night Football Vikings vs Bears will all be televised nationally, meaning no blackout issues.
If you run into these restrictions and can’t find your team’s game on TV, the good news is there are ways around it. Check out our full guide on how to watch out-of-market NFL games for detailed solutions.
Players to watch in week 1
Week 1 always brings a mix of fresh storylines and familiar stars, and this year is no different. From veterans making big comebacks to young quarterbacks trying to make a statement, a handful of players are already set to shape the conversation right out of the gate.
- Patrick Mahomes. The two-time MVP opens the season in a landmark setting: São Paulo, Brazil. He’s already conquered London, Mexico, and Germany, and now adds South America to the list. I wouldn’t be surprised if he puts on a show for a brand-new audience.
- Aaron Rodgers. After last year’s devastating injury, Rodgers finally makes his return. Facing the Steelers’ ferocious defense is a brutal way to start, but if he looks sharp, the Jets’ playoff hype will go into overdrive. Personally, I’m curious to see how much rust, if any, he shows.
- Josh Allen vs Lamar Jackson. Sunday Night Football serves up one of the juiciest quarterback duels of the week. Allen’s cannon arm against Jackson’s lightning feet is must-watch TV. This could easily be a playoff preview, and it might end up being the game of the week.
- Trevor Lawrence vs Bryce Young. A clash of two former No. 1 overall picks. Lawrence is expected to lead Jacksonville deep into January, while Young is still fighting to prove he can carry Carolina. It feels like a measuring stick game – one quarterback is ready for the spotlight, the other is still searching for it.
NFL week 1 schedule – regular season 2025
Here’s the full NFL week 1 schedule for the 2025 regular season, including kickoff times and broadcast information for each game. From Thursday’s season opener through Monday night, this lineup highlights the key matchups and primetime games across national and regional networks.
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | Broadcast |
| Thursday, September 4 | Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (Kickoff Game) | 8:20 PM | NBC |
| Friday, September 5 | Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers (São Paulo) | 7:00 PM | YouTube and NFL+ |
| Sunday, September 7 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons | 1:00 PM | FOX |
| Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns | 1:00 PM | FOX | |
| Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts | 1:00 PM | CBS | |
| Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots | 1:00 PM | CBS | |
| Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints | 1:00 PM | FOX or CBS | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets | 1:00 PM | CBS | |
| New York Giants at Washington Commanders | 1:00 PM | CBS or FOX | |
| Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars | 1:00 PM | CBS or FOX | |
| Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos | ~4:05 PM | CBS | |
| San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks | ~4:05 PM | CBS | |
| Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers | ~4:25 PM | CBS | |
| Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams | ~4:25 PM | CBS | |
| Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills (SNF) | 8:20 PM | NBC | |
| Monday, September 8 | Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (MNF) | 8:15 PM | ESPN and ABC |
Useful links for NFL Week 1
- Official NFL Schedule - Week 1, 2025 - Full official schedule with dates, kickoff times, and confirmed TV networks.
- NBC Sports - Sunday Night Football - Live coverage, highlights, and expert analysis for SNF matchups.
- ESPN - Monday Night Football - Official MNF schedule with scores, stats, and in-depth coverage.
- NFL+ Streaming - Stream local and primetime games on mobile, watch replays, and access NFL Network shows.
- NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV - The official U.S. option to stream every out-of-market Sunday game live.
- How to watch out-of-market NFL games - Step-by-step guide to bypass regional blackouts and watch any team’s game.
- Best VPNs for streaming NFL games - Reliable VPNs that unblock NFL streams worldwide, ideal for traveling fans or blackout restrictions.
Conclusion
Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is packed with exciting matchups and storylines. From the season opener in Philadelphia to the first-ever game in São Paulo and the big primetime clashes, there’s plenty of football to enjoy.
Keep an eye on stars like Patrick Mahomes and Aaron Rodgers, as well as young quarterbacks Bryce Young and Trevor Lawrence. With national broadcasts, streaming options, and ways to get around regional blackouts, you won’t miss a moment of the action.
Which NFL Week 1 games are free?
A handful of games will be available to stream for free on international platforms:
- Raiders vs Patriots – 7plus (Australia), RTL+ / RTL Nitro (Germany)
- 49ers vs Seahawks – 7plus (Australia), RTL+ / RTL Nitro (Germany)
- Bengals vs Browns – TVNZ+ (New Zealand)
- Texans vs Rams – TVNZ+ (New Zealand)
