The kickoff of the 2025
New Orleans Saints season begins with a renewed optimism in New Orleans. This Saints team enters the season with a new Head Coach in Kellen Moore. Much like they did following the retirement of Drew Brees, similarly following the resignation of Sean Payton, the Saints enter a new era for the franchise. Unlike those circumstances though, the Saints are not following greatness, now they follow a regime of disappointment and frustration. Now is the time for Kellen Moore to put his stamp on a new era that sets itself apart from all eras before it.
The expectations have been expectedly lowered for the Saints this season, but hope remains for the team to compete for the division title. These Saints may not have what it takes yet to compete for the Lombardi Trophy in
Super Bowl LX in Santa Clara, California next February, but they will certainly attempt to shock the league. Their chance to rise from the ashes of the past four seasons of disappointment begins here in Week 1.
All season and postseason, we will be presenting you with each and every game on the NFL schedule along with my picks for each game. It’s been a long wait for this season to begin, so let’s get started.
WEEK 1
Thursday, September 4th – NFL Kickoff 2025
Cowboys at Eagles
It is only fitting that Philly unveils their Super Bowl LIX banner in front of their longtime NFC East rivals. Dallas, reeling from the loss of their best player, will now suffer the embarrassment of their rivals completing their victory lap in front of a national audience.
Philadelphia wins 38-13.
Pick:
Eagles
***
Friday, September 5th – NFL São Paulo Game
Chiefs at* Chargers – Corinthians Arena – São Paulo, Brazil
Kansas City looks to make their annual climb up the NFL mountain to the Super Bowl, and this may be the toughest trek yet, following a stunning fall from that mountain this past February. Now their journey begins against a familiar foe in an unfamiliar land. Regardless, the destination remains the same.
Kansas City wins 21-14.
Pick:
Chiefs
***
Sunday, September 7th – Early Games
Buccaneers at Falcons
Tampa looks to win the NFC South for a record-breaking fifth-consecutive season, but the team most likely to end that reign, primarily due to their young QB Michael Penix Jr, will look to make this a tough race right from the start.
Atlanta wins 34-28.
Pick:
Falcons
***
Bengals at Browns
Cincinnati looks to surprise a public that is sleeping on them this season, against their in-state rivals in Cleveland that are well… Cleveland.
Cincinnati wins 23-10.
Pick:
Bengals
***
Dolphins at Colts
If any team is going to be making a run at the top-overall pick in next year’s draft, it’s Indianapolis. Miami may be in disarray this season, but they couldn’t have picked a better opponent to open against.
Miami wins 20-6.
Pick:
Dolphins
***
Panthers at Jaguars
Carolina certainly hopes they have improved this season, but Jacksonville is a team that certainly has improved, behind the remarkable talents of Travis Hunter.
Jacksonville wins 24-17.
Pick:
Jaguars
***
Raiders at Patriots
These old AFC foes may have transformed their woeful ways of the recent past, behind the hirings of Pete Carroll and Mike Vrabel respectively as head coaches, but it will be Vegas that gets the win for their new coach first.
Las Vegas wins 26-21.
Pick:
Raiders
***
Steelers at Jets
Yes, it’s the “Aaron Rodgers game” and yes, it will probably underwhelm. Both quarterbacks, who flip-flopped teams this offseason, will be pretty rough to watch, as defense will be the story of this game.
New York wins 20-17.
Pick:
Jets
***
Giants at Commanders
The defending NFC finalist Commanders will open a season full of hope and excitement with a win over their NFC East rivals.
Washington wins 24-20.
Pick:
Commanders
***
Cardinals at Saints
The Saints open the season with a notably brutal four-game stretch, the “easiest” of which is this one, at home against Arizona. These Cardinals are not projected to be a player this season, but have proven to be a feisty and well-coached team. That is the most comparable projection for the Saints themselves this season. This team has potential to be better than most expect, but it may take some time to get there. Arizona isn’t the toughest opponent in this early stretch, but they have the coaching and talent to spoil the season-opening party in the Dome.
Can the Saints win this game? Certainly. Will the Saints win this game? It’s truly a coin-toss, considering we haven’t seen this group in a complete game setting with most of their starters out there, and their coaches showing their cards. This game will be close all the way through, tied in the closing minutes, and a late mistake by Arizona will prove costly, as the Saints capitalize with a touchdown in the final minute, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.
Saints win 24-17.
Pick:
Saints
***
Sunday, September 7th – Late Games
Titans at Broncos
Sean Payton and Denver will look to qualify for the playoffs again, starting their campaign with a layup victory over rookie QB Cam Ward and Tennessee.
Denver wins 14-10.
Pick:
Broncos
***
49ers at Seahawks
These NFC West rivals have seen some diminished expectations this season, due to some critical personnel moves, but don’t be surprised to see them start the year with a strong outing here.
San Francisco wins 27-23.
Pick:
49ers
***
Lions at Packers
Detroit has fallen short of lofty aspirations for two straight years now, and right off the bat, they face the team most well positioned to knock them off the top of the NFC North. Not only that, but Green Bay has a new defensive weapon poised to give Jared Goff nightmares.
Green Bay wins 30-24.
Pick:
Packers
***
Texans at Rams
Houston had another successful season by all reasonable metrics, but there was a sense of disappointment around the team. Now with another season under the belt for CJ Stroud and more weapons at his disposal, the Texans may be ready to take another leap and they will make it hard to be overlooked this year in the AFC.
Arguably, the most overlooked team in the NFC this year resides in Los Angeles. All eyes are on Philly, Detroit, and Washington in the NFC, but the Rams were the only team that nearly beat Philly in these past playoffs, in Philly, in the snow no less. The Rams have only upgraded since then, most notably replacing Cooper Kupp with Davante Adams. The biggest question mark will be the health of Matthew Stafford, which will be critical. With arguably the best coach in the NFL at the helm, for better or worse, the Rams may be gearing up for another run at the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles wins 31-17.
Pick:
Rams
***
Sunday Night Football
Ravens at Bills – Game of the Week
This just may be the AFC Game of the Year right off the jump. This rematch of their thrilling Divisional playoff game, won my Buffalo, will certainly live up to the billing. These teams may be the perennial runner-up to Patrick Mahomes in the AFC, but both are looking to finally slay that dragon this year, and the winner of this game puts themselves in a great position to do just that when the time comes. Just like the last meeting, this one will come down to the wire, as Baltimore exacts the smallest bit of revenge.
Baltimore wins 21-19.
Pick:
Ravens
***
Monday, September 8th – Monday Night Football
Vikings at Bears
Behind former QB Sam Darnold, Minnesota had a remarkable regular season last year, until they did what they usually do in the playoffs. Now they turn to JJ McCarthy to keep the ship sailing. On the other sideline, fellow second-year QB Caleb Williams finally has a new coach to guide him, in former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. These teams may not be fighting for the division title with the Lions and Packers this year, but they will make this division tough.
Chicago wins 30-20.
Pick:
Bears
***
That’s how I see it, tell us how you see Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season unfolding. Leave your comments and insight below. Finally, Saints football is back!
