NFL predictions for Week 1: New York Jets upset Aaron Rodgers' debut with Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills triumph over Baltimore Ravens, along with additional forecasts
The NFL season is upon us, and fans are eagerly anticipating the action-packed games that lie ahead. Here's a roundup of some of the key matchups, debuts, and storylines to watch out for in Week 1.
In the NFC, two of the better-performing teams, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers, will square off. The Packers will welcome Micah Parsons to their ranks, while Matt Stafford, limited by a back injury, faces a fierce Texans defense.
The Chicago Bears, expected to have a better offense with Johnson, will face the New York Giants. Ben Johnson will make his coaching debut for the Bears, a significant milestone in his career. The game promises to be a close one, with the Bears favored to win in a small upset, making their first start on the road always tough.
In the AFC, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, favored against the Atlanta Falcons, will see Baker Mayfield aiming for a good year. Aaron Rodgers returns to face the Jets, with Justin Fields playing for the other team. The Buccaneers will be looking to avenge their playoff loss to the Jets last season.
The Arizona Cardinals, expected to have an improved defense in the 2025 season, will face the New Orleans Saints. The Cardinals are favored in this matchup, with Bo Nix expected to have success throwing for the Cardinals.
The Cincinnati Bengals, with Joe Burrow continuing his success from last year, are favored against the Cleveland Browns. The Bengals will be looking to bounce back from their playoff loss to the Bills last season.
In the AFC West, the Las Vegas Raiders will face the New England Patriots, with the Patriots favored. The Raiders will be relying on their young quarterback, Cameron Ward, to lead them to victory. Mike Vrabel makes his coaching debut for the Patriots, hoping to guide his team to a strong start.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will face the New York Jets, with the Jets favored by 2.5 points. The Jets will be putting pressure on Jayden Daniels, who starts for the Commanders.
The Baltimore Ravens will face the Buffalo Bills, with the Bills favored by 1 point. The Ravens, led by Lamar Jackson, will be looking for payback against the Bills, who beat them in the playoffs last year.
In the NFC West, Christian McCaffrey and Trent Williams return for the San Francisco 49ers, taking on the Seattle Seahawks. Russell Wilson makes his Giants debut against the Washington Commanders, while C.J. Stroud tries to bounce back from his sophomore slump against the Los Angeles Rams.
Finally, the Carolina Panthers will face the Jacksonville Jaguars, with the Jaguars being favored. The Panthers will be relying on Daniel Jones, who makes his debut for the team, to lead them to victory. Liam Coen makes his head coaching debut for the Jaguars, hoping to guide his team to a strong start in the new season.
The game between the Steelers and Jets will be streamed on the website, ensuring fans worldwide can catch all the action. The NFL season is off to an exciting start, and fans can't wait to see how it unfolds. The author starting with NFL picks for Sports.com in the 2025 season is S. Samek, who has previously been involved with providing weekly NFL picks as seen in the 2025 NFL Week Two Picks on the Hammer Down Sports Blog.
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