The 2025 NFL regular season kicked off on Thursday, September 4, 2025, with a heavyweight divisional showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles. Hosted at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, the opening matchup set the stage for an 18-week regular season packed with marquee international fixtures, holiday traditions, and high-stakes divisional battles that culminated in Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium.
Understanding how the calendar shook out requires looking past just opening night. The league structured its opening weekend across multiple platforms and global venues, giving fans football from Thursday through Monday night.
The Kickoff Game and Week 1 Matchups
Tradition dictates that the reigning Super Bowl champion hosts the opening game of the season. For the 2025 campaign, that honor belonged to the Philadelphia Eagles, who welcomed their fierce NFC East rival, the Dallas Cowboys, for a primetime kickoff on NBC and Peacock.
The excitement didn't stop in Philadelphia. The opening weekend featured an expansive slate that scattered games across unique windows:
- Thursday, September 4: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (8:20 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock)
- Friday, September 5: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil (Prime Video / YouTube special broadcast)
- Sunday, September 7: A full slate of afternoon games featuring matchups like the Baltimore Ravens visiting the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers traveling to face the New York Jets.
- Monday, September 8: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears concluding Week 1 on ABC/ESPN.
International Series Highlights
The NFL continued its aggressive global expansion during the 2025 season, staging regular-season games in several international markets outside the United States. These fixtures offered unique broadcast windows and brought American football to new fanbases.
The international slate included historic stops. In Week 4, the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers met at Croke Park in Dublin, marking the first-ever regular-season NFL game played in Ireland. Later in the season, the league headed to Madrid, Spain, where the Washington Commanders and the Miami Dolphins squared off at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Other international stops featured games in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium, alongside the opening-week spectacle in São Paulo, Brazil.
Holiday Slate and Mid-Season Key Dates
As the season progressed into autumn and winter, major holiday broadcasts anchored the schedule. Thanksgiving featured a traditional tripleheader on Thursday, November 27, 2025. The action began with the Detroit Lions hosting a divisional foe, followed by a second afternoon matchup and a primetime clash to cap off the holiday.
Immediately following Thanksgiving, the NFL capitalized on the long holiday weekend with its Black Friday broadcast on Prime Video, featuring another high-profile NFC matchup. Christmas Day also featured marquee games, ensuring fans had premium football entertainment midweek as the playoff race heated up.
Regular Season Conclusion and Postseason Format
The 18-week regular season wrapped up on Sunday, January 4, 2026. True to recent league scheduling trends, every game on the final weekend of the regular season featured intra-division opponents, maximizing drama for playoff seeding, wild-card spots, and division titles.
Following the conclusion of the regular season, the playoffs kicked off on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The postseason bracket progressed through the Wild Card and Divisional rounds, leading into the conference championship games and culminating in Super Bowl LX in February 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the 2025 NFL schedule officially released?
The NFL released the complete 2025 regular season schedule on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, during a primetime schedule-release show. Select marquee matchups, including the opening game and international fixtures, were teased or confirmed in the days leading up to the full release.
Who played in the 2025 NFL Kickoff Game?
The Dallas Cowboys played the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles hosted as the defending Super Bowl champions.
How many games did each team play in 2025?
Teams played a 17-game regular-season schedule over an 18-week period, with each team receiving one designated bye week.
Where was the 2025 international opener played?
The special Week 1 international game took place on Friday, September 5, 2025, at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers.
