It’s the first week of the NFL: The Eagles play the Cowboys on Thursday, September 4, the Chiefs play the Chargers from São Paulo on Friday, September 5 and the Ravens play the Bills on Sunday, September 7.
As always, the start of the season is a mix of excitement and trepidation. New play-callers come up with shorter game plans. Field position changes because of special teams and penalties. Rookies learn how fast Sundays really are. An upset will break up a few neat summer stories on the board.
The NFL’s official schedule says that the league will start on Thursday, September 4, with Dallas visiting Philadelphia at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC. This is a heavyweight NFC East opener and the reigning champions’ banner night.
The NFL goes to South America the next night. The Kansas City Chiefs will play the Los Angeles Chargers in São Paulo on Friday, September 5. The game will start at 8:00 p.m. ET on YouTube. The NFL operations calendar says that the game is part of the league’s foreign schedule for 2025.
The first full grid will be on Sunday, September 7. There are a lot of divisional games in the early window, such the Bengals at the Browns and the Buccaneers at the Falcons. In the late window, there are the Lions at the Packers and the Texans at the Rams. The real test is Baltimore versus Buffalo on Sunday Night Football at 8:20 p.m. ET. The league decides all the times and networks.
Minnesota against Chicago on Monday, September 8, at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN ends Week 1. There are no byes in the first week. In September, coaches will try to keep their adrenaline in check, win third downs, and not give up on the whole playbook.
What to watch on the edges
• Hidden yards: Punts, coverage lanes, and return decisions often make or break starts.
• Flags: a tidy pre-snap action beats flashy September tricks.
• Timing under fire: edge rush and protective cohesiveness stress new passing games.
Important Week 1 games & TV (ET)
• Cowboys at Eagles — Thu, 8:20, NBC
• Chiefs vs. Chargers (São Paulo) — Fri, 8:00, YouTube
• Bengals at Browns — Sun, 1:00, FOX
• Buccaneers at Falcons — Sun, 1:00, FOX
• 49ers at Seahawks — Sun, 4:05, FOX
• Lions at Packers on CBS at 4:25 p.m.
• Ravens at Bills—Sunday at 8:20 on NBC
• Vikings at Bears—Monday at 8:15 on ABC/ESPN
Follow Virginia Times for continuing coverage. Our sports reporting relies on official schedules, game notes, and verified statements from leagues and teams. We aim for accuracy and clarity in every update; if you see an error or have additional context to share, please contact our newsroom through our website.
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