NFL 2025-26 Week 1 Regular Season Predictions

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(EDITOR'S NOTE: A lot of information posted here in this story is from statmuse.com, so please go use Statmuse for yourself to find any sports statistics and scores about all of your favorite athletes and teams in every major professional sport and strongly consider giving them your money to use their service for more detailed information if you already really like what you see when you use their services for free!)

By: Evan Troxel

These are my predictions to win and lose for the 2025-26 National Football League season for Regular Season Week 1 from Thursday, September 4th, 2025, through Monday, September 8th, 2025!

NFL 2025-26 Regular Season Week 1 Predictions (Predicted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2025, at 9:12 p.m. Eastern Time)

Thursday, September 4th, 2025 (NBC & Peacock, 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time)

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

The Dallas Cowboys are 71-57 (+14 more wins, 128 games played, L2) all-time against the Philadelphia Eagles in the regular season

Cowboys 3-1 (+2 more wins, 4 games played, W2) all-time on September 4th, 2 shutouts (won in 1994 and 1978), also won in 1994, lost in 1988, won against Giants in 1995

Eagles 1-1 (+0 more wins, 2 games played, L1) all-time on September 4th, won in 1988, lost in 1994 against Giants

Cowboys 74-58 (+16 more wins, 132 games played, L2) against Eagles in the regular season and playoffs all-time

Cowboys 31-32 (-1 more wins, 63 games played, L3) against Eagles away regular season

Cowboys 31-33 (-2 more wins, 64 games played, L3) against Eagles away regular season and postseason

The following information is from the 1967-68 season through the 2024-25 season!:

The defending Super Bowl Champions are 39-18-1 all-time in the first game of the regular season! They are 30-7-1 at home and 9-11 away!

On Thursdays, the defending Super Bowl Champions are 15-4 all-time in the first game of the regular season and they are 15-3 at home and 0-1 away!

From the 1970-71 season to before the 2025-26 season, the defending Super Bowl Champions are 37-17 in the first game of the regular season and 29-7 at home and 8-10 away!

The defending Super Bowl champions are 5-0 in the first week of the regular season on September 4th all-time and they are 4-0 at home and 1-0 away! (The Dallas Cowboys have won two of these five games and the Cowboys were the away team against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1994!) If the Philadelphia Eagles win tonight, they could make defending Super Bowl Champions 6-0 all-time and 5-0 at home in the first week of the regular season on September 4th! This upcoming season's Super Bowl LX (60) is in Santa Clara, California, and Super Bowl 50 was also in Santa Clara, California!

Specifically on the "four" or "4" date numerology, the defending Super Bowl Champions in Week 1 every season is 5-2-1 all-time! The only tie was in the actual year of 1967 on September 17th, when the Detroit Lions tied the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers 17 to 17! Also, specifically on the "four" or "4" date numerology, the home team in the game the defending Super Bowl Champions played in for Week 1 is 6-1-1 all-time! The only time the home team lost in this instance was on Monday, September 8th, 2003, when the defending Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers won at the Philadelphia Eagles!

The Philadelphia Eagles are 1-3 all-time in these defending Super Bowl Champions games in regular season Week 1! They are 1-0 as the champs and 0-3 as the non-champs! The Eagles are 1-1 at home and 0-2 away in these defending Super Bowl Champions games in regular season Week 1!

The Dallas Cowboys are 6-3 all-time in these defending Super Bowl Champions games in regular season Week 1! They are 3-2 as the champs and 3-1 as the non-champs! The Cowboys are 3-0 at home and 3-3 away in these defending Super Bowl Champions games in regular season Week 1 all-time!

My prediction to win and lose thoughts:

Either team could win this game!

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Possibility, a very strong possibility if I do change it

Predictions to win: Philadelphia Eagles

Predictions to lose: Dallas Cowboys

Results:

CHANGE IN PREDICTION (Re-predicted at 8:21 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, September 4th, 2025)

Prediction to win: Dallas Cowboys

Prediction to lose: Philadelphia Eagles

Results:

Friday, September 5th, 2025 (YouTube, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time)

Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Chargers

Corinthians Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Chiefs 71-57-1 (+14 more wins, 129 games played, W7) all-time against the Chargers regular season

Chiefs 2-0 (+2 more wins, 2 games played, W2) all-time on September 5th, 1-0 against AFC teams and at home (Baltimore Ravens in 2024) and scored exactly 27 points in both previous appearances on September 5th, also won in 1993 at Buccaneers

Chargers 1-0 (+1 more wins, 1 game played, W1) all-time on September 5th, defeated Seahawks 18-12 as the designated home team in 1993

Chiefs 71-58-1 (+13 more wins, 130 games played, W7) all-time against the Chargers regular season and postseason

Chiefs 32-31-1 (+1 more wins, 64 games played, W11) all-time AT the Chargers regular season

Chiefs 32-32-1 (+0 more wins, 65 games played, W11) all-time AT the Chargers regular season and postseason

Kansas City has a strong narrative to lose very very soon against the Chargers AWAY!

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Possibility but not very likely

Predictions to win: Los Angeles Chargers

Predictions to lose: Kansas City Chiefs

Results:

Sunday, September 7th, 2025 (1:00 p.m. Eastern Time games)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons (FOX)

Bucs are 31-32 (-1 more wins, 63 games played, L2) all-time against the Falcons regular season

Bucs 2-3 (-1 more wins, 5 games played, L2) all-time on September 7th, 1-3 against NFC teams, 2-1 away (1-1 against NFC teams), 0-2 against current NFC South teams (0-1 away), lost two straight on September 7th against the NFC South, never played Falcons on September 7th before, haven't won on this date since 1997 (at Lions), also won in 1980 (at Bengals)

Falcons 4-2 (+2 more wins, 6 games played, W3) all-time on September 7th, current streak of winning one at home against current NFC South teams, 2-1 against NFC South teams, 1-1 against NFC South teams at home, 2-1 on September 7th all-time (current streak: W2), haven't lost on this date since 1997 (vs. Panthers), also lost in 1980 (at Vikings)

Bucs 31-32 (-1 more wins, 63 games played, L2) all-time against the Falcons regular season and postseason

Bucs 14-16 (-2 more wins, 30 games played, L1) all-time AT the Falcons regular season

Bucs 14-16 (-2 more wins, 30 games played, L1) all-time AT the Falcons regular season and postseason

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Not likely

Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns (FOX)

Bengals 1-5 (-4 more wins, 6 games played, W1) all-time on September 7th, 1-3 away, 0-2 home, 1-4 against AFC, 1-2 AT Baltimore Ravens and current AFC North teams, last played in 2014 with a 23-16 win at Baltimore

Browns 0-6 (-6 more wins, 6 games played, L6) all-time on September 7th, 0-3 at home and away, 0-2 at home and away against AFC team, 0-1 home and away against NFC teams, last game: In 2014, at Pittsburgh Steelers 27-30 loss

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Very likely

Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts (CBS)

Dolphins 2-5 (-3 more wins, 7 games played, W1) on September 7th all-time, 2-5 against current AFC teams, 0-3 away, 2-2 at home, Last game away: In 2006, the Dolphins lost against the Steelers 28-17, 1-1 against current AFC South teams (both at home, lost last game to Texans in 2003), Last game at home: Won 33-20 against Patriots in 2014, also won in 1997 (at home against Tennessee Oilers 16-13 win)

Colts 2-4 (-2 more wins, 6 games played, L2) on September 7th all-time, 2-3 against AFC teams, 0-2 at home, 0-1 against AFC at home, 0-1 against NFC at home (Bears in 2008), won in 1980 and 2003

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Possibility

Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots (CBS)

Raiders 2-3 (-1 more wins, 5 games played, L3) all-time on September 7th, last win was in 1980, 2-3 against current AFC teams and all games have been AWAY, lost in 2014 14-19 to the Jets, 0-1 against current AFC East teams all-time

Patriots 4-4 (+0 more wins, 8 games played, L2) all-time on September 7th, 1-2 against current AFC West teams, 1-1 home against AFC West (both games against Chiefs, L1, last game in 2017 which they lost 27-42)

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Possibility

Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints (CBS)

Cardinals 2-3 (-1 more wins, 5 games played, W1) all-time on September 7th, have never played a current NFC South team on this date before, 1-1 away (W1, won against 49ers in 2008), 1-2 home (W1, won against Cowboys in 1997), lost against "New" York Giants in 1980 away 35-41

Saints 1-5 (-4 more wins, 6 games played, L1) all-time on September 7th, 0-2 against current NFC West, 0-1 at home against NFC West (last game in 1980 against 49ers, 23-26 loss), 0-1 away (at Seattle, 10-27 loss), only win in 2008 (24-20 win against Bucs at home)

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Not likely

Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets (CBS)

Steelers 6-2 (+4 more wins, 8 games played, W5) all-time on September 7th, 5-0 against current AFC teams, 5-1 against AFC teams all-time if you count the Seahawks in 1986 (30-0 loss away), previous loss before that was in 1941 against the Cleveland Rams away 14-17, 0-2 away, 1-0 against AFC East (2006 at home vs. Dolphins, 28-17), never played against current AFC East team away on this date

Jets 3-2 (+1 more wins, 5 games played, W2) all-time on September 7th, 2-0 away, 1-2 home, all against AFC, never played a current AFC North team yet either home or away on this date, last game and win in 2014 (19-14 vs. Raiders), last loss in 1997 (22-28 vs. Bills)

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Very very likely

New York Giants at Washington Commanders (FOX)

Giants 2-1 (+1 more wins, 3 games played, W1) all-time on September 7th, both wins against teams who are no longer in St. Louis (at Cardinals in 1980 41-35 win, vs. Rams in 2003 23-13 win), 1-1 away (lost at Jaguars in 1997 13-40)

Commanders 1-3 (-2 more wins, 4 games played, L3) all-time on September 7th, 1-1 against current NFC East teams (L1), won vs. Eagles at home in 1986, 41-14; 0-3 away, 0-2 against AFC Teams

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Not likely at all

Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars (FOX)

Panthers 4-0 (+4 more wins, 4 games played, W4) on September 7th all-time, 3-0 away (2-0 against NFC away), 2-0 against AFC, 1-0 against AFC Away (Chargers in 2008, 26-24 win), 1-0 against AFC Home (Jaguars in 2003, 24-23 win), Last game: 2014 against Tampa Bay, win 20-14

Jaguars 1-3 (-2 more wins, 4 games played, L3) on September 7th all-time, Last win: 1997 (vs. Giants 40-13), 0-3 away, 1-2 against NFC (L2), 0-2 against NFC away, Last game: 34-17 loss at Philadelphia in 2014

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Possibility, strong possibility I will change it (if I do change it) meaning I will pick the Panthers to win if I change it

Predictions to win: Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Washington Commanders, Jacksonville Jaguars

Predictions to lose: Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, Carolina Panthers

Results:

Sunday, September 7th, 2025 (Late afternoon games)

Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos (4:05 p.m. Eastern Time, FOX)

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (4:05 p.m. Eastern Time, FOX)

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (4:25 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS)

Houston Texans at Los Angeles Rams (4:25 p.m. Eastern Time, CBS)

Predictions to win: Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams

Predictions to lose: Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans

Results:

Sunday Night Football on Sunday, September 7th, 2025 (NBC, 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time)

Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills

Ravens 7-4 (+3 more wins, 11 games played, W1) all-time won-lost record against Buffalo Bills regular season

Ravens 2-2 (+0 more wins, 4 games played, L1) all-time won-lost record on September 8th, 2-1 vs. Bengals, 0-1 at Steelers, last game on September 8th (2014 against Bengals, 16-23 loss)

Bills 5-1 (+4 more wins, 6 games played, W4) all-time won-lost record on September 8th, won vs. Seahawks 34-10 in 2008 against a former AFC team at one time, 3-1 at home, 4-1 against teams who have been in the AFC at one time, 3-1 against AFC East, 2-1 against AFC East at home, 1-0 against AFC East away

Ravens 7-6 (+1 more win, 13 games played, L1) all-time won-lost record against Buffalo Bills regular season and postseason

Ravens 1-2 (-1 more wins, 3 games played, W1) all-time won-lost record AT Buffalo Bills regular season (only win for Baltimore in 2019 on December 8th)

Ravens 1-4 (-3 more wins, 5 games played, L2) all-time won-lost record AT Buffalo Bills regular season and postseason

The Ravens are 3-1 against the Bills all-time in the month of September! The Ravens have won all three at home, are on a three-game win streak and their only loss against the Bills was when they were away!

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Not likely, strong possibility though if I do change it

Predictions to win: Baltimore Ravens

Predictions to lose: Buffalo Bills

Results:

Monday Night Football on Monday, September 8th, 2025 (ABC & ESPN, 8:15 p.m. Eastern Time)

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

Vikings 68-57-2 (+11 more wins, 127 games played, W2) all-time against Chicago Bears in the regular season

Vikings 5-4 (+0 more wins, 9 games played, W2) all-time on September 8th, 0-3 against current NFC North teams which all just happened to be away, 0-1 against Bears away and overall (lost in 2002), scored exactly 28 points in their last two games on September 8th and won both times (at Giants in 2024 and vs. Falcons in 2019), 3-3 away on September 8th all-time

Bears 5-1 (+4 more wins, 6 games played, W3) all-time on September 8th, 3-1 against NFC teams, 4-0 on September 8th at home all-time, the Bears lost their only game against the Washington Redskins in 1996 (29 years ago)

Vikings 68-58-2 (+10 more wins, 128 games played, W2) all-time against Chicago Bears in the regular season and postseason

Vikings 28-33-2 (-5 more wins, 63 games played, W5) all-time at the Chicago Bears in the regular season

Vikings 28-33-2 (-5 more wins, 63 games played, W5) all-time at the Chicago Bears in the regular season and postseason

Either team could win this game! Chicago is due to lose on September 8th more!

Likelihood to change prediction before game time: Possibility, strong possibility though if I do change it, meaning I will be picking the Minnesota Vikings to win (if I do change it) and not changing it back!

This is the second game on September 8th against each other all-time. Minnesota lost 23-27 at Chicago in 2002.

The Vikings are 10-8 (+2 more wins, 18 games played, W1) against the Bears all-time on Mondays. The Vikings are 7-3 (+4 more wins, 10 games played, W3) at Chicago on Mondays all-time. The Bears are 5-3 (+2 more wins, 8 games played, L1) on Mondays at Minnesota all-time.

The Vikings are 2-3 (-1 more wins, 5 games played, L1) against the Bears in Week 1 all-time if I am not mistaken. The Vikings are 2-0 at home and 0-3 at Chicago for these games. This information comes from statmuse.com which you can use for free or you can pay Statmuse if you wish to do so.

Stats posted/listed on Monday afternoon, September 8th, 2025, after the regular season Week 1 games (except the Monday Night Football game) in the 2025-26 season

Vikings are 5-4 (+1 more wins, 9 games played, W2) on September 8th all-time

Vikings 33-37 (-4 more wins, 70 games played, W1) on Mondays all-time

Vikings 14-26 (-12 more wins, 40 games played, L1) on Mondays AWAY all-time

Vikings 5-6 (-1 more wins, 11 games played, L1) on Mondays in September all-time

Vikings 3-4 (-1 more wins, 7 games played, L3) in September on Mondays AWAY all-time

Vikings 46-53-2 (-7 more wins, 101 games played, W2) in September AWAY all-time

Vikings 376-270-4 (+106 more wins, 650 games played) against the NFC all-time in the regular season

Vikings 159-163-3 (-4 more wins, 325 games played) against the NFC AWAY all-time in the regular season

Vikings 73-63-2 (+10 more wins, 138 games played, L1) against the NFC North all-time in the regular season

Vikings 29-38-2 (-9 more wins, 69 games played, L1) against the NFC North AWAY all-time in the regular season

The Vikings have a winning percentage at or above .500 for three of the above ten data points. The Vikings are currently on a winning streak for three of the 10 data points listed above.

Bears are 5-1 (+4 more wins, 6 games played, W3) on September 8th all-time

Bears 38-44 (-6 more wins, 82 games played, L1) on Mondays all-time

Bears 18-16 (+2 more wins, 34 games played, L2) on Mondays at HOME all-time

Bears 8-8 (+0 more wins, 16 games played, W2) on Mondays in September all-time

Bears 5-6 (-1 more wins, 11 games played, W1) in September on Mondays at HOME all-time

Bears 64-43-2 (+21 more wins, 109 games played, W2) in September HOME all-time

Bears 310-338-1 (-28 more wins, 649 games played) against the NFC all-time in the regular season

Bears 181-142-1 (+39 more wins, 324 games played) against the NFC all-time HOME in the regular season

Bears 58-80 (-22 more wins, 138 games played, W1) against the NFC North all-time in the regular season

Bears 34-35 (-1 more wins, 69 games played, L3) against the NFC North at HOME all-time in the regular season

The Bears have a winning percentage at or above .500 for five of the above ten data points. The Bears are currently on a winning streak for five of the 10 data points listed above.

Predictions to win: Chicago Bears

Predictions to lose: Minnesota Vikings

Results:

Those are all of my predictions for right now! Be sure to come back to this page for my re-predictions of my NFL original predictions for Regular Season Week 1 (and also to see how many wins and losses I actually get with my original predictions and my re-predictions for Regular Season Week 1) and be sure to come back to this website for my predictions to win and lose for next week (and for every single week after that for the entire 2025-26 National Football League season or until as long as I want to keep making predictions)!

Be sure to follow me on my various social media which you can find on this page for right now. Also, be sure to follow me on Twitter/X @Evan_Troxel. Also, be sure to definitely follow me on Gab @Evan_Troxel as well in case I ever get censored and banned from X and Facebook!

I reserve the right to change my predictions before game time. I also can change my predictions AFTER game time ONLY if I decide BEFORE game time that I want to change my predictions and I just do not have access to the Internet before game time.

LEGAL NOTICE: I DO NOT endorse and I do not encourage people to gamble or bet your own money and other people's money at all! These predictions are not meant to be taken as extremely serious advice for betting and gambling purposes anytime at all in the near future!