Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season is here, kicking off another regular slate of 272 games that need winners. Sporting News is back to provide picks and predictions against the spread for them all, starting with Thursday night's traditional opener at Super Bowl 59 champ Philadelphia through Super Bowl 60 next Feb. 8 in the Bay Area.
As usual there will be plenty of surprise results along the way that chance the course of the season. Looking at the lines and odds for the opening favorites and underdogs, here's a fearless forecast of professional pigskin prognostications vs. the spread:
(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook)
MORE: Updated NFL power rankings | NFL Week 1 picks straight up
NFL picks against the spread for Week 1
Game of Midweek: Cowboys at Eagles (-7.5, 47 o/u)
Thursday 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
The Cowboys' defense will be overwhelmed by the loaded Eagles' offense with its returning shakiness vs. the run and no Micah Parsons leading the pass rush. The champs will get some typical big pass plays from Jalen Hurts before putting it away with Saquon Barkley, tapping into a familiar winning formula from the Super Bowl run.
Pick: Eagles win 31-14 and cover the spread.
Game of Late Week: Chiefs (-3, 45.5 o/u) at Chargers (in Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Friday 8:15 p.m. ET, YouTube
The Chiefs will be ready for the Chargers' being stronger challengers with the defense and running game as the foundation. But Kansas City can counter with its strong overall D in South America and get Patrick Mahomes to make a few more clutch plays late than Justin Herbert.
Pick: Chiefs win 23-16 and cover the spread.
Game of the Week: Ravens at Bills (pick 'em, 51.5 o/u)
Sunday 8.20 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
Josh Allen won MVP last season but two-time MVP Lamar Jackson is coming off his best overall career work in 2024. The Ravens are built well to contain Allen in the passing game, but his strong running game with James Cook and himself will be a more effective counter to Jackson and Derrick Henry on the other side on the road.
Pick: Bills win 27-24 and cover the spread.
Lock of the Week: Rams (-2.5, 44 o/u) over Texans
Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
The Texans' offensive line woes and concerns at running back set them up for a tough spot against the Rams' dynamic young front seven. The Rams do have a concern with Matthew Stafford's health, but their line is well position keep him cleaner in the pocket than C.J. Stroud. The Texans may contain part of the Rams' receivers, but Davante Adams flanking Puka Nacua is a tough draw on the road.
Pick: Rams win 24-17 and cover the spread.
Upset of the Week: Lions (-2.5, 47.5 o/u) over Packers
Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
The Packers are getting the juice at home in this critical early NFC North game with Micah Parsons about to make his defensive debut. The problem is, the Lions will be comfortable running often at Parsons in Lambeau Field and have much fewer questions around the QB. Aidan Hutchinson gets the edge for more impact than Parsons.
Pick: Lions win 27-23
Buccaneers (-2.5, 46 o/u) at Falcons
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Buccaneers have a srreamlined, savvier offense with Baker Mayfield throwing downfield off Bucky Irving leading a strong running game. Michael Penix Jr. will be confident to try ot match him with plenty of help from Bijan Robinson. Tampa Bay outlasts the hosts with a little more defense on the road.
Pick: Buccaneers win 27-24 and cover the spread.
Bengals (-5.5, 47.5 o/u) at Browns
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Joe Burrow and Zac Taylor are known for notorious slow starts even as strong favorites. They will have that history back in the Bengals' minds with winning being the only goal, no matter how ugly in a rivalry game against Myles Garrett and the Browns' defense.
Pick: Bengals win 24-20 but fail to cover the spread.
Dolphins at Colts (-1.5, 47 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Mike McDaniel is feeling the heat and the vibes are working against the Dolphins early in the season while the Colts look for a little more stability from Daniel Jones at QB to facilitate Jonathan Taylor, Tyler Warren and the rest of the offense.
Pick: Colts win 23-20 and cover the spread.
Raiders at Patriots (-2.5, 42.5 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Drake Maye gets to operate in a much improved offense with his personnel and scheming from former Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels. Mike Vrabel also will work to get the defense to overachieve at home after containing rookie feature back Ashton Jeanty, spoiling counterpart Pete Carroll's own new team coaching debut.
Pick: Patriots win 24-20 and cover the spread.
Cardinals (-6.5, 42.5 o/u) at Saints
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Cardinals will get after Spencer Rattler well in the pass rush as Jonathan Gannon's defense takes care of a compressed offense on the road. Kyler Murray will make more a lot more plays in the Superdome with Marvin Harrison Jr. getting going early forhim in Year 2.
Pick: Cardinals win 23-20 but fail to cover the spread.
Steelers (-3, 38.5 o/u) at Jets
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Steelers are hoping to squeeze one last big season from Aaron Rogers and it helps the former Jets QB have a bigger chip on his shoulder than his counterpart, former Steelers QB Justin Fields. Rodgers will go to work on a familiar defense while Fields faces the pass defense wrath of T.J. Watt and Jalen Ramsey.
Pick: Steelers win 27-14 and cover the spread.
Giants at Commanders (-6, 45.5 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Giants are sticking with Russell Wilson as their starting QB at least for this game. Wilson will do his typical improvisation to try to keep New York competitive early before Jayden Daniels takes control of the game with plenty of help from his running gmae. Washington's momentum coming off a surprise last season will get the better of some hunger for Brian Daboll's team.
Pick: Commanders win 30-20 and cover the spread.
Panthers at Jaguars (-2.5 46.5 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
This is a fun battle of two rising offenses led by two recent No. 1 overall picks at QB, Bryce Young and Trevor Lawrence. Young will remain more confident and efficient for former Bucs' offensive coordinator Dave Canales, now armed with Tetairoa McMillan. Lawrence gets former Bucs' offensive coordinator Liam Coen to help deliver better with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. Give Jacksonville the edge at home with Hunter also helping the defense well vs. Young.
Pick: Jaguars win 30-27 and cover the spread.
Titans at Broncos (-8, 41.5 o/u)
Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
Cam Ward is showing plenty of early promise but his first NFL game he needs to debut vs. one of the league's toughest pass defenses in a hostile road environement. Ward will see Denver's pass rush often and also needs to be wary of Pat Surtain in coverage locking down Calvin Ridley. The Broncos will get their new-look running game well to complement the defense and take pressure off Bo Nix.
Pick: Broncos win 24-13 and cover the spreead.
49ers (-2.5, 44 o/u) at Seahawks
Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox
The 49ers have some wide receiver injuries but that's their only real concern on offense around Brock Purdy. Their defense also will want to go back to flexing under Robert Saleh. The Seahawks are not as strong on both lines, making it a rough starting QB debut for former 49er Sam Darnold.
Pick: 49ers win 27-20 and cover the spread.
Bears at Vikings (-1.5, 43.5 o/u)
Monday 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN and ABC
The Bears are only slight underdogs going into Minneapolis in a battle of second-year QBs Caleb Williams and J.J. McCarthy. Williams' staring experience plus the debut of the much-anticipated Ben Johnson offense vs. the Vikings defense give Chicago the edge over Minnesota and McCarthy the other way around.
Pick: Bears win 24-21.