There have been 24 games to feature a game-winning score in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime in the opening five weeks of the regular season.

Seven teams – Carolina, Jacksonville, Minnesota, New England, San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Tennessee – accomplished the feat last week.

During week 5, four teams – Tennessee (18 points), Carolina (17), Denver (14) and Jacksonville (14) – completed comebacks of at least 14 points to win.

Denver Broncos (3-2) at New York Jets (0-5)

The second of three straight weeks with a London game features the Denver Broncos and New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.

Denver leads the league with 21 sacks this season and ranks second in scoring defence, allowing 16.8 points per game. Linebacker Nik Bonitto leads the NFL with seven sacks and can become the first player since 2013 to record at least 1.5 sacks in four consecutive games.

The Jets, who played Minnesota last season at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, will become the seventh team to play in London in consecutive seasons, joining Detroit (2014-15), Jacksonville (2013-19, 2021-25), the Los Angeles Rams (2016-17), Miami (2014-15), Minnesota (2024-25) and the Raiders (2018-19).

Detroit Lions (4-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (2-3)

The two clubs will be meeting for the first time since Detroit’s 21-20 win over the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs in the league’s 2023 Kick-off Game.

Detroit leads the NFL in scoring offence and have scored at least 34 points in each of their past four games. A win today can see them become the fifth team in the Super Bowl era to record at least 34 points in five games within a single season.

Running backs Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each scored a touchdown last week. It marked the 14th game in which they each have scored a touchdown.

Including the postseason, Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes has 299 touchdown passes in 138 career games. With a touchdown pass on Sunday night, he will surpass Aaron Rodgers (147 games) as the fastest player to 300 career touchdown passes, including the postseason, in NFL history.

Seattle Seahawks (3-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (4-1) 

Two of the top intercepting defences from the first five weeks of the season will be in action, as Jacksonville leads the league with 10 interceptions and Seattle ranks tied for second with seven.

Jacksonville linebacker Devin Lloyd leads the NFL with four interceptions this season. Last week, he had a 99-yard interception-return for a touchdown against Kansas City, marking the longest regular-season interception-return touchdown by a linebacker in NFL history.

Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald is one of five head coaches all time to win nine of his first 10 road games.

San Francisco 49ers (4-1) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1)

The 49ers and Buccaneers will meet in Tampa for a fourth straight season.

Eddie Pineiro converted a 41-yard field goal in overtime to lift San Francisco over the Rams, 26-23, while Chase McLaughlin connected on a 39-yard field goal as time expired in regulation to help Tampa Bay win in Seattle, 38-35.

The Buccaneers are looking to begin a season 5-1 or better for the third time in 20 years (2021, 2005), while the 49ers can reach the mark for the third time under head coach Kyle Shanahan (2023, 2019).

In the win over Seattle, quarterback Baker Mayfield became the first player in NFL history to pass for at least 375 yards (379) in a game, with four-or-fewer incompletions (four).

San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey is the only player with at least 100 scrimmage yards in five games this season. He can become the first running back with least 100 scrimmage yards in each of his team’s first six games of a season since Saquon Barkley in 2018.

Buffalo Bills (4-1) at Atlanta Falcons (2-2) 

The Bills seek to win five of their first six games of a season for the third time under head coach Sean McDermott (2022, 2019), while the Falcons have won seven of their past eight games.

Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson leads the NFL with 146 scrimmage yards per game and Buffalo running back James Cook ranks four among running backs with 107.8 scrimmage yards per game.

Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen is the fifth player in NFL history with a completion percentage of 70-or-higher and multiple touchdown passes in four of his team’s first five games of a season.

Chicago Bears (2-2) at Washington Commanders (3-2) 

Quarterbacks Caleb Williams, the Bears’ No. 1 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, and Jayden Daniels, the Commanders’ No. 2 pick in 2024, are set to meet for the second consecutive season.

Last season, in Week 8, Daniels threw a 52-yard game-winning touchdown to wide receiver Noah Brown as time expired in the fourth quarter to give Washington an 18-15 victory.

Daniels has 4,232 passing yards and 1,015 rushing yards in 20 career games and is the first player in NFL history with at least 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his first 20 career games.

Chicago wide receiver Rome Odunze was the only player in the NFL with a touchdown reception in each of the first four weeks of the season and can become the first player since Mike Evans in 2020 to record a touchdown reception in each of his team’s first five games of a season.

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The Vikings, who appeared in the first regular-season game in Ireland against the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday, are the first team to play consecutive international games in different cities.

In Week 6, the Denver Broncos and New York Jets meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and in Week 7, the Los Angeles Rams take on the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.

Two undefeated teams remain in the NFL: the Philadelphia Eagles are 4-0 for the third time in the past four seasons while the Buffalo Bills improved to 4-0 for the first time since 2020.

Denver (2-2) at Philadelphia (4-0)

The Eagles can become the first team to begin 5-0 three times in a four-year span since the Indianapolis Colts (2006-07, 2009) while head coach Nick Sirianni can become the second coach ever to begin 5-0 in three of his first five seasons, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Brown.

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is the first quarterback in NFL history with five touchdown passes, four rushing touchdowns and no interceptions in his team’s first four games of a season.

Denver quarterback Bo Nix totalled three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) in the team’s Week 4 win over Cincinnati. Since the beginning of the 2024 season, Nix is one of three quarterbacks, along with Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson, with at least 35 touchdown passes (36) and five rushing touchdowns (five).

New England (2-2) at Buffalo (4-0)

The Bills have started a season with five straight wins in three previous seasons: 1964, 1980 and 1991.

Buffalo, from Week 11 of the 2023 season through Week 4 of the 2025 season, are the fourth team ever to win 14 consecutive home regular-season games and score at least 24 points in each game.

Bills quarterback Josh Allen has 45 career regular-season games with both a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown, tied with Cam Newton for the most such games in NFL history.

New England quarterback Drake Maye, from Weeks 2-4, became the first player ever under the age of 24 with at least two touchdown passes and a completion percentage of 75-or-higher in three consecutive games, minimum 15 pass attempts in each game.

Tampa Bay (3-1) at Seattle (3-1)

Both the Buccaneers and Seahawks are celebrating their 50th anniversary seasons after joining the NFL in 1976 and each club will be wearing throwback uniforms for this Sunday’s matchup.

Since joining Tampa Bay in 2023, quarterback Baker Mayfield leads the NFL with 77 touchdown passes and ranks second with 9,448 passing yards.

Buccaneers wide receiver Emeka Egbuka leads all rookies with 282 receiving yards and four touchdown receptions this season and has recorded a touchdown catch in three of his first four games.

Seattle leads the NFC in scoring defence (16.8 points per game allowed) and have recorded seven interceptions this season, tied for the second-most in the NFL.

The Kansas City Chiefs (2-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-1) [Monday night]

Jacksonville is the fifth team since 2002 with at least three takeaways in each of its first four games of a season.

Last week, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes had four touchdown passes and reached 250 touchdown passes in his 116th career game, surpassing Aaron Rodgers (121 games) for the fastest player in NFL history to reach 250 career touchdown passes. Mahomes has 43 career games with at least three touchdowns and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (42 games) for the second-most by a player in his first nine seasons in NFL history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Dan Marino (46 games).

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Two touchdowns from the Steelers’ running back Kenneth Gainwell, and another from wide receiver DK Metcalf, helped their side to a victory to move their current season record to 3-1.

Despite late touchdowns for the Vikings’ Scott and Nailor, the Pittsburgh side held on for a win.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, the designated ‘home’ team for the opening game in Week 4 of the 2025 regular season, came into the game on the back of two wins and a loss, the same record as today’s rivals, the Minnesota Vikings.

First Quarter

When Jordan Mason’s fumble recovered by Steelers’ Jalen Ramsey, the latter raced 62 yards, for what he thought was his side’s first score of the fixture. The Replay Official reviewed the ball was inbounds, and the play was reversed.

Minutes later, Will Reichard gave the Vikings a 3-0 advantage with 6:24 to play in the opening quarter. His side opted to kick for a field goal from 41 yards, when quarterback Carson Wentz was sacked on the previous down.

The Pittsburgh outfit claimed their first score of this regular season fixture when Kenneth Gainwell ran in from one yard. With the extra point added, the ‘home’ side went into a 7-3 lead with 55 seconds on the clock at the end of the opening quarter.

Kenneth Gainwell scores the first NFL touchdown in Dublin

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Meltcalf receives 80-yard Rodgers pass

The Steelers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers found DK Metcalf with an 80-yard pass down the Croke Park touchline to claim his side’s second touchdown of the afternoon. With Chris Boswell successful with his second kick at the posts, the Steelers stretched their lead to 14-3 with 12:16 to play to the half.

RODGERS TO METCALF. 80 YARD TOUCHDOWN.

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— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

Though it looked as though that score line would remain until the half-way period of the game, the Vikings’ Will Reichard narrowed his side’s deficit to 6-16 in the dying second of the second quarter. The Steelers’ Jalem Ramsey, who incurred a 5-yard penalty, made the task easier for the Vikings’ kicker.

As the sides left the field after the second quarter, the Pittsburgh Steelers held a 14-6 advantage over the Minnesota Vikings.

Second Touchdown for Gainwell

With 2:23 to play in the third quarter, Kenneth Gainwell ran in for his second six-pointer of the game. The score was the end result of an earlier T.J. Watt interception when he gained possession for his side.

The running back Gainwell had failed narrowly to made the end zone on his side’s previous down. From four yards out this time there wasn’t any stopping him as he achieved his brace of touchdowns. Boswell was accurate for the third time in the game as he kicked the extra point, pushing his side into a 21-6 lead.

Kenneth Gainwell gets his second TD of the day

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Boswell also claimed the next score of the game. With 11:18 remaining in the game as the kicker added a field goal from 33 yards out – the successful end of a 4:17 drive.

Scott TD reduces the deficit 

A Carson Wentz pass to the deep right found Zavier Scott for a 16-yard touchdown just as the game seemed to be slipping away from the Vikings.

.@cj_wentz steps up in the pocket and throws a touchdown in the back of the end zone.

10-point game in Dublin.

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— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

A two-point conversion was successfully completed from Wentz to Jalen Nailor, leaving 10 points between the sides entering the last eight minutes.

With Minnesota getting the next score, the result of the game was still uncertain as the clock approached two minutes.

A two-yard touchdown pass from Vikings’ quarterback Wentz to Nailor was followed by a successful kick by Reichardt leaving only a field goal between the teams; Steelers 24 Vikings 21.

Wentz finds Nailor for the touchdown.

One score game in Dublin.

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— NFL (@NFL) September 28, 2025

There was late drama when the Steelers thought they had intercepted the Vikings’ ball. A review deemed it an incomplete pass, allowing Minnesota remain possession with less than one minute to play.

Despite their best efforts, the Vikings’ failed to reach the red zone, as the Pittsburgh Steelers held on for a 24-21 victory.

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New Orleans (0-3) at Buffalo (3-0)

Buffalo can begin 4-0 for the fifth time since 1990 and the first since 2020. The Bills, since Week 11 of the 2023 season, have won 13 consecutive regular season home games and have scored at least 24 points in each game.

Last week, Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen recorded his 86th career win (including the postseason) since entering the NFL in 2018 and surpassed Joe Flacco (85 wins) for the fifth most wins by a quarterback in his first eight seasons, including the playoffs, in NFL history.

L.A. Chargers (3-0) at N.Y. Giants (0-3)

The Chargers can win each of their first four games of a season for the sixth time in franchise history and the first since 2002. Los Angeles, with divisional wins over Kansas City (Week 1), Las Vegas (Week 2) and Denver (Week 3), became the third team since realignment in 2002 to defeat division opponents in each of their first three games of a season, joining the 2006 Chicago Bears and 2003 Minnesota Vikings.

Philadelphia (3-0) at Tampa Bay (3-0)

Philadelphia can start 4-0 for the third time in the past four seasons (2022-23) while Tampa Bay can begin 4-0 for the fourth time in franchise history and the first since 2005. Since 2015, the reigning Super Bowl champion has begun the following season with four consecutive wins five times.

Indianapolis (3-0) at L.A Rams (2-1)

Indianapolis can begin 4-0 for the first time since 2009. In five of the past 10 seasons (2015-24), a team has begun 4-0 the season after missing the playoffs.  The Colts have punted once this season, the fewest punts by a team in its first three games of a season since at least 1940. Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor leads the league with 338 rushing yards and 431 scrimmage yards entering Week 4.

Jacksonville (2-1) at San Francisco (3-0)

San Francisco can start 4-0 for the third time (2019 and 2023) since head coach Kyle Shanahan was hired in 2017. San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey recorded his 12th career game with 10 receptions last week, most by a running back in NFL history.

McCaffrey has 33 career games with at least 50 rushing yards and 50 receiving yards, the second-most by a running back all-time, including in each of the first three weeks this season.

Jacksonville leads the NFL with seven interceptions and nine takeaways through the first three weeks, including multiple interceptions in each game. Since 2000, only five previous teams have recorded two-or-more interceptions in each of their first four games of a season: 2021 Dallas Cowboys (first five games), 2018 Miami Dolphins (first four), 2010 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (first four), 2007 Oakland Raiders (first four) and 2003 Kansas City Chiefs (first four).

Baltimore Ravens (1-2) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-2)

These sides meet for the seventh time in the past eight seasons, including playoffs.

Five of the previous six meetings have all been decided by seven-or-fewer points. Since 2018, when both Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes took over as their teams’ starting quarterback, Kansas City and Baltimore rank first and second in the NFL in points per game and total yards of offense per game, respectively.

Green Bay Packers (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (1-2)

Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons is set to play his first game in Dallas being acquired by the Packers from the Cowboys in August. During his four seasons with Dallas (2021-24), Parsons ranked fifth in the NFL in sacks (52.5) and tackles for loss (64) and became the second player since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, to record at least 12 sacks in each of his first four career seasons, along with Pro Football Hall of Famer Reggie White.

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NFL Week 2 Preview: Super Bowl LIX Rematch & Key Games

It’s Week 2 of the NFL season and Sunday features a mouth-watering rematch of Super Bowl LIX as the Chiefs travel to Philadelphia. Here’s a look at the biggest matchups of the weekend.

Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

Kansas City Chiefs look to bounce back after a Week 1 loss as they head to face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday evening.

The Eagles defeated the Chiefs 40-22 in last season’s Super Bowl, with Jalen Hurts delivering 293 total yards and three touchdowns to win MVP. Hurts rushed for two touchdowns in Week 1 against Dallas, marking his 16th career regular-season game with multiple rushing touchdowns – the most by any QB in NFL history.

Kansas City went unbeaten at home last year and boast the most home wins since Patrick Mahomes became starter in 2018 (45). Mahomes sits at 292 career TD passes and can pass Peyton Manning (293) for most TD passes in a player’s first nine seasons (including playoffs).

This will be the 11th time a Super Bowl rematch has happened the very next season – the winning team from the big game has gone 7-3 in previous meetings.

Washington Commanders (1-0) @ Green Bay Packers (1-0)

Both teams come off Week 1 wins and are looking to start 2-0. Washington QB Jayden Daniels has thrown at least two TD passes and posted a 100+ rating in six of his 11 career road starts.

For Green Bay, star pass rusher Micah Parsons notched a sack in his debut. In eight career games against Washington, he has 10.5 sacks, including multi-sack games in Weeks 12 & 18 last year.

Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)

Both teams eye a 2-0 start for the first time since 2018. Travis Etienne ranked second in Week 1 with 156 scrimmage yards (143 rushing).

Joe Burrow threw for 23 TDs and a 116.9 passer rating in eight home starts last year, including four straight games with 3+ TD passes and 110+ rating. Only Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers have done that in five consecutive home games.

Denver Broncos (1-0) @ Indianapolis Colts (1-0)

Denver aim for their first 2-0 start since 2021 after a dominant defensive Week 1 (six sacks, just 133 total yards allowed). No team has started a season with 6+ sacks in each of its first two games since 1998.

Indianapolis scored on all seven drives in a 33-8 Week 1 win over Miami, becoming the first team in 47 years to score on every possession in a game.

Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) @ Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)

The Chargers look to start 2-0 for the third time since 1970. Justin Herbert threw for 318 yards and 3 TDs with a 131.7 rating in Brazil last week — the only QB with 300+ yards and 3 TDs on Kickoff Weekend.

Raiders star rookie TE Brock Bowers had 103 yards receiving last week and now has 1,297 yards in 18 career games, second only to Mike Ditka for tight ends through 20 games.

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NFC Players of the Week – Kickoff Weekend 2025

NEW YORK — Sept. 10, 2025 — Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, Los Angeles Rams linebacker Nate Landman, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Kameron Johnson have been named the NFC Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played on Kickoff Weekend (September 4–5, 7–8).

Offense: QB J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings

• McCarthy accounted for three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) as Minnesota rallied from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat Chicago, 27–24.
• Became the first QB to erase a 10+ point deficit in the 4th quarter of an NFL debut and win in regulation since Hall of Famer Steve Young (1985).
• First player with at least two TD passes and a rushing score in an NFL debut since Cam Newton (2011).
• Third Vikings quarterback to earn Week 1 Player of the Week honours (Daunte Culpepper, 2004; Sam Bradford, 2017).
• Joined Tom Brady as the only former Michigan quarterbacks to win the award over the last 15 seasons (2011–25).

Defense: LB Nate Landman, Los Angeles Rams

• Registered 10 tackles and a game-sealing forced fumble in the Rams’ 14–9 victory over Houston.
• The decisive forced fumble came with 1:51 left as the Texans entered the red zone.
• Earned his first Defensive Player of the Week Award.
• Fourth Ram to claim Week 1 honours (Robert Quinn, 2013; Aaron Donald, 2015; Trumaine Johnson, 2017).
• First Colorado alum to win since Chad Brown in 2003.

Special Teams: WR Kameron Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Delivered a 54-yard punt return in the third quarter of Tampa Bay’s 23–20 win at Atlanta — the longest return in the NFL during Week 1.
• Contributed on 12 special teams snaps as both a returner and a gunner.
• Earned his first career Player of the Week award.
• Second Buccaneer to win Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 1 (Bradley Pinion, 2021).
• First Barton College player ever to secure a Player of the Week honour.

Source: NFL Compute – Week 1 Awards (2025 Season)

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Week 1 Wins

Six teams that missed the postseason in 2024 won in Week 1: Arizona, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

The Indianapolis Colts defeated Miami, 33-8, marking their first season-opening win since 2013. They scored on all seven of their offensive possessions, becoming the first team in at least 47 years to score on every offensive possession of a game.

Jones repeats his Giants’ feat

Quarterback Daniel Jones totalled 298 yards (272 passing, 26 rushing) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one passing) with no interceptions in the victory, while rookie tight end Tyler Warren recorded seven receptions for 76 yards in his NFL debut.

Jones is the first quarterback to record at least two rushing touchdowns, one touchdown pass and no interceptions in his first start with a team since Jones accomplished the feat in his first start with the Giants on 22 September 2019.

Warren is the third tight end in NFL history with at least seven receptions in his first career game, joining Keith McKeller (nine receptions with Buffalo on 18 October 1987) and Monty Stickles (eight with San Francisco on 25 September 1960).

Four TD passes for Rodgers on Steelers’ debut

In his Pittsburgh debut, quarterback Aaron Rodgers recorded four touchdown passes with no interceptions and a 136.7 passer rating, while kicker Chris Boswell kicked the game-winning 60-yard field with just over a minute remaining in the Steelers’ 34-32 victory over the Jets.

Rodgers has 28 career games with at least four touchdown passes and no interceptions, tied with Tom Brady for the most in NFL history.

Rodgers also has 35 games with at least four touchdown passes, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning for the third-most in NFL history. Only Tom Brady (39 games) and Drew Brees (37) have more.

Rodgers completed eight of 10 play action passes for 71 yards and three touchdowns, tied for his most touchdowns on play action passes in a game since at least 2016.

60+ yards field goal for Boswell

Boswell is the tenth kicker all-time, and first since Tyler Bass on 3 November 2024, with a game-winning field goal of 60-or-more yards in the final two minutes of regulation or in overtime.

Buccaneers’ 23-20 winners over Falcons

In his NFL debut, Tampa Bay rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka recorded four receptions for 67 yards and two touchdowns in the Buccaneers’ 23-20 victory over Atlanta, including the game-winning 25-yard touchdown reception with 59 seconds remaining.

Egbuka is the second player since the 1970 merger to record a game-winning touchdown reception in the final minute of regulation or overtime in his first career game, joining Ernest Wilford (with Jacksonville on 12 September 2004).

Packers’ beat Detroit 27-13

Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs rushed for 66 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ 27-13 victory over Detroit. Since Week 11 of the 2024 season, Jacobs has scored a rushing touchdown in 10 consecutive games, including the postseason.

He becomes the fourth player since 2000 to record a rushing touchdown in 10 consecutive games, including the postseason, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (12 straight games in 2004), Jonathan Taylor (11 in 2021) and Priest Holmes (11 in 2002).

Five receptions for Bowers in Raiders’ victory

Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers recorded five receptions for 103 yards in the Raiders’ 20-13 victory over New England.

Bowers has 1,297 receiving yards in 18 career games and surpassed Pro Football Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr. (1,275 receiving yards) for the second-most by a tight end in his first 20 career games in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,411 receiving yards) has more.

Rams edge Houston 14-9

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford passed for 245 yards and a touchdown while wide receiver Puka Nacua had 10 receptions for 130 yards in the Rams’ 14-9 victory against Houston.

Stafford has 60,054 passing yards in 223 career games, tying Matt Ryan (223 games) as the second-fastest player to reach 60,000 career passing yards all-time. Only Drew Brees (215 games) reached the mark in fewer games. Stafford is the 10th player in NFL history to pass for 60,000 yards.

Nacua, playing in his 29th career game, recorded his fifth game with at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards, tied with Lionel Taylor (five games) for the most-ever by a player in his first 30 career games.

Nacua has 194 receptions, surpassing Michael Thomas (190) for the second-most ever by a player in his first 30 games, trailing only Odell Beckham Jr. (206).

Nacua has 2,606 receiving yards, surpassing Ja’Marr Chase (2,540) for the third-most by a player in his first 30 games in the Super Bowl era, trailing only Odell Beckham Jr. (3,035) and Justin Jefferson (2,735).

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The Philadelphia Eagles can become the 10th team ever to repeat as Super Bowl champions. Since 2000, the defending Super Bowl champions have started the following year with a win on Kick-off Weekend in 20 of the past 25 seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers

Week One will see the first of the 2025 NFL regular season games played internationally as the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers meet on Saturday (1.20am Irish time) at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil. This game will be streamed for free on YouTube.

The Chiefs have won seven consecutive games against the Chargers, with each of the last three wins featuring the game-winning go-ahead score in the final seven minutes of the fourth quarter.

New starting quarterbacks

Twelve teams are expected to have a different starting quarterback in Week 1 than started for them to open the season last year: Atlanta (Michael Penix Jr.) Cleveland (Joe Flacco), Indianapolis (Daniel Jones), Las Vegas (Geno Smith), Minnesota (J.J. McCarthy), New England (Drake Maye), New Orleans (Spencer Rattler), the New York Giants (Russell Wilson), the New York Jets (Justin Fields), Pittsburgh (Aaron Rodgers), Seattle (Sam Darnold) and Tennessee (Cam Ward).

Detroit at Green Bay

Since 2021, when Dan Cambell was hired as head coach, the Lions have a 6-2 record against the Packers, including three consecutive wins at Lambeau Field.

Houston at the Los Angeles Rams

The reigning AFC South champion Texans and reigning NFC West champion Rams are set to meet for the first time since 2021. Houston running back Nick Chubb and Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams are expected to make their club debuts on Kick-off Weekend.

Baltimore at Buffalo

The only game on Kick-off Weekend that is a rematch from the 2024 postseason, the Bills and Ravens are set to meet for the fifth time in the past six seasons, including the playoffs.

In the 2024 AFC Divisional playoffs, the Bills defeated the Ravens at home, 27-25, while Baltimore earned a 35-10 home win over Buffalo in the regular season in Week 4.

When two-time Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson (2019 and 2023) and the Baltimore Ravens visit reigning MVP Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, it will mark the fifth time ever that the two most recent MVPs will meet in Week 1.

Tampa Bay at Atlanta

Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans leads all active players with 105 touchdown receptions and ranks second with 12,684 receiving yards entering the 2025 season. This year, Evans can become the first player in NFL history with at least 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first 12 career seasons.

Cincinnati at Cleveland

Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, in 2024, became the fifth player in NFL history to lead the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (1990) and Sterling Sharpe (1992) as well as Steve Smith (2005) and Cooper Kupp (2021).

Since 1970, only three players have led the NFL in receiving yards in consecutive seasons: Pro Football Hall of Famers Andre Johnson (2008-09), Calvin Johnson (2011-12) and Rice (1989-90, 1993-95).

Pittsburgh at the New York Jets

Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers enters the 2025 season leading all active players with 503 regular-season touchdown passes and 548 touchdown passes, including the postseason.

This season, he needs five touchdown passes to surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (552 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most touchdown passes, including the postseason, in NFL history and six touchdown passes to surpass Favre (508 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most regular-season touchdown passes all-time.

Tennessee at Denver

The Tennessee Titans selected Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Since 1967, 19 quarterbacks have been selected with the first pick in the NFL Draft and started in Week 1 of their rookie season, including each of the past five quarterbacks chosen No. 1 overall [Caleb Williams (2024), Bryce Young (2023), Trevor Lawrence (2021), Joe Burrow (2020) and Kyler Murray (2019)].

Minnesota at Chicago

Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, is expected to make his first NFL debut on Kick-off Weekend. McCarthy can become the fifth quarterback since 1990 to make his first career start on a Monday, joining Sam Darnold (September 10, 2018 at Detroit, with the New York Jets), Aaron Rodgers (September 8, 2008 vs. Minnesota, with Green Bay), Philip Rivers (September 11, 2006 at the Oakland Raiders, with San Diego) and Brian Griese (September 13, 1999 vs. Miami, with Denver).

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Sky Sports will continue to have the first-choice game on Sunday at 6pm and the first pick for the Sunday 9pm slot.

Irish NFL fans will have a greater choice this season, as Sky will have a second 6pm game and two other 9pm games shown live concurrently on Sky Sports.

The first NFL regular season game to take place in Ireland, Minnesota Vikings v Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park this month, will be live on Sky, as will all the London regular season NFL games, and the Commanders v Dolphins game in Madrid.

As a result, the 2025-26 season will see an almost 50% increase in the number of live NFL games available on Sky Sports, as the broadcaster extends its longstanding partnership with the NFL to over 30 years.

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The new season kicks off on Thursday, 4 September, in Philadelphia, and concludes with 16 division games in Week 18 – two on Saturday, 3 January, and 14 on Sunday, 4 January.

The 2025 NFL schedule will feature each team playing 17 regular-season games and three preseason games for the fifth consecutive year.

The 17th game will feature teams from opposing conferences that finished in the same standing within their respective divisions the previous season. The AFC will be the home conference for the 17th game in 2025.

Week One

The NFL’s 106th season begins with the league’s annual primetime kick-off game, as the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday, 4 September.

On Friday, 5 September, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers will meet at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil, the second-ever regular-season NFL game to be played in South America. It will mark the first NFL game to be streamed live and for free in its entirety exclusively on YouTube.

Week 1 continues on Sunday, 7 September, with three divisional games in the early window, as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit the Atlanta Falcons, the Cincinnati Bengals visit the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Commanders host the New York Giants.

Six of the eight teams participating in the late window won at least 10 games last season.

Netflix to stream two games on Christmas Day

For the second consecutive season, Netflix will stream two NFL games on Christmas Day in Week 17, as the Dallas Cowboys visit the Washington Commanders and the Minnesota Vikings host the Detroit Lions. Additionally, Netflix will stream at least one holiday game in 2026.

The regular season will conclude with Week 18 on Saturday, 3 January, and Sunday, 4 January. For the 16th consecutive year, all 16 games scheduled for the final week of the season are division contests, enhancing the potential for more games with playoff ramifications.

The NFL’s 32 teams will each play 17 games over 18 weeks. Byes will begin in Week 5 and end in Week 14.

Fifteen games will be Super Bowl rematches and 12 games are rematches from the 2024 playoffs, including Super Bowl LIX (Philadelphia at Kansas City in Week 2), both Championship Games (Kansas City at Buffalo in Week 9; Philadelphia and Washington in Weeks 16 and 18) and each of the four Divisional playoff games (Baltimore at Buffalo in Week 1; Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia in Week 3; Detroit at Washington in Week 10; Houston at Kansas City in Week 14).

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