NFL 2025 Kickoff: Eagles Clash with Cowboys, Ravens Emerge as Champions, Rodgers Struggles in Steeler Debut

The 2025 NFL season is officially underway, with excitement at a peak as the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys in a marquee Thursday night matchup, according to ESPN. Listeners want to know if the Eagles can repeat, and depth charts are stacked—their offense features stars A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, both speaking this week about their readiness and the anticipation of facing Dallas. The Eagles have recovered key players from injuries, and the coaching staff is optimistic about offensive cohesion going into Week 1, as heard in their recent press conferences.

Baltimore Ravens are one of the hottest contenders for the title, mainly due to Lamar Jackson, who’s led the NFL in yards per pass attempt and rushing yards per carry last season. With Jackson healthy, Baltimore boasts a .745 win percentage in his starts and sits among the favorites to claim the AFC North. However, their big change is swapping Justin Tucker, the NFL’s most accurate kicker, for rookie Tyler Loop—a move that has fans watching every field goal closely.

The Minnesota Vikings have built a formidable roster around rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy—ten of their starters have Pro Bowl experience, and offseason spending hit around $350 million. McCarthy’s backstory matters here: he missed his entire rookie season with injury and now becomes the youngest Week 1 starter in the NFL. The real question for die-hards: can this expensive roster overcome a tough schedule and McCarthy’s learning curve, or will growing pains keep them out of contention?

Turning to surprises for advanced listeners, ESPN reports this year’s playoff race is already full of twists—both Super Bowl LIX teams missed the postseason in nearly every simulation, while the Denver Broncos, against recent history, dethroned the Chiefs to win the AFC West. The AFC North was a photo finish with Baltimore barely edging Cincinnati after Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson combined for eight touchdown passes in a Week 15 classic. Rookie Tyler Loop delivered the game-winner in Baltimore, a kick that clinched their division dominion.

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ gamble with veteran Aaron Rodgers didn’t pay off—after a decent 3-2 start and a win over his old team, the Jets, Rodgers and the Steelers slid to a losing record when a midseason losing streak tanked their playoff hopes. This marked Mike Tomlin’s first losing season and signaled the likely end of Rodgers’ storied career.

Meanwhile, Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward electrified fans early by locking up the Offensive Rookie of the Year race but faltered down the stretch with a five-game losing streak. Ultimately, it was the Indianapolis Colts who stole the AFC South crown, only to be blown out by Tennessee in the playoffs.

Off the field, national conversations continue to swirl around protests and activism. President Trump stirred controversy with renewed calls for NFL owners to fire players kneeling during the national anthem, a movement that began with Colin Kaepernick’s protest against police brutality. This intersection of sports and politics remains a backdrop as players and coaches respond publicly to questions of social justice.

On that note, Colin Kaepernick, still training and seeking an NFL comeback, received a public offer from the United Football League to play this spring as reported by Doug Whaley, the UFL’s SVP. Whaley said that Kaepernick could use spring football to showcase his talent for a possible NFL return. With UFL and CFL opportunities open, Kaepernick’s next move is anybody’s guess.

In advanced stat talk for die-hard fans, the focus will be Jackson’s explosive playmaking, Rodgers’ decline by efficiency ratings, and rookie QBs like Cam Ward and J.J. McCarthy’s early performance under pressure. Pro Football Talk’s league predictions pick the Ravens and Bills in the AFC, and Eagles and Packers in the NFC,...