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Parsons’ Packers debut, Rodgers vs Fields, and more major talking points ahead of NFL Week 1
The 2025 NFL season kicks off with Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, and the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles hosting the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.
How the champs look in the season opener is just one of the intriguing storylines to follow entering the launch of the league’s latest campaign.
Here, DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla presents five things to look out for in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season.
Will the Philadelphia Eagles show they have not lost a step?
Kathryn Riley/Getty Images
The Philadelphia Eagles return Super Bowl LIX MVP Jalen Hurts and top all-time single-season rusher Saquon Barkley to power their offense.
But how will they hold up on defense, particularly their secondary, having lost cornerback Darius Slay and safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson?
That question could be answered in the Eagles’ home opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
The Eagles thoroughly battered their NFC East rivals by a combined 75-13 in two games last year.
Whether Dak Prescott can puncture holes in the Eagles’ secondary with quick strikes to the talented CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens to make this game interesting remains to be seen.
But the Eagles' quest to become the 10th team in NFL history to repeat as champs begins now.
The atmosphere of the Kansas City Chiefs against the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil
David Eulitt/Getty Images
Patrick Mahomes has led the Kansas City Chiefs to a Super Bowl victory in three of the last six years. In addition to making international headlines for recently proposing to pop royalty Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce is one of the greatest tight ends ever to step foot onto the gridiron.
Both have helped the franchise build robust brand equity to the point where the NFL has slugged in the Chiefs against the Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and live on YouTube, on a lone Friday night game in an attempt to continue spreading American football worldwide.
The energetic atmosphere alone is enough to check this game out, although Mahomes and the Chiefs will be seeking their eighth straight victory over their AFC West rivals.
Aaron Rodgers vs. Justin Fields after swapping spots
Aaron Rodgers was the starting quarterback for the New York Jets, while Justin Fields was in the pocket for the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
Now, they swap spots as Rodgers leads the Steelers into East Rutherford, New Jersey to take on Fields’ Jets.
Adding to the intrigue is the 41-year-old Rodgers can launch this season by beginning to chip away at the six touchdowns needed to surpass Brett Favre’s 508 for fourth on the list for most touchdown passes in NFL history.
Micah Parsons thrown into the Packers’ fire against the Lions’ high-powered offense
Still scratching your head over the Dallas Cowboys' shocking trading their star defensive end Micah Parsons? Well, so are we.
Fresh off the startling trade, Week 1 has the Green Bay Packers throwing the four-time Pro Bowler right into the fire against the Detroit Lions, the second-rated total offense in the NFL last year.
Parsons, 26, can win over the Cheeseheads at Lambeau Field with a monstrous debut for the Packers.
As Cowboys' fans already know — and will definitely miss — Parsons is certainly capable.
MVP Lamar Jackson vs. MVP Josh Allen
This Sunday Night Football matchup in Orchard Park, New York, marks a rematch of their AFC Divisional Playoff game, where Jackson threw for two touchdowns and Allen punched in a pair of TDs on the ground in the Buffalo Bills’ 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens. During the 2024 regular season, Jackson led the Ravens to a 35-10 trouncing of the Bills.
Which quarterback will lead his squad to a solid start to this 2025 campaign? We're about to find out.
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