NFL week one is here, and there are eight divisional matchups on tap.
Divisional matchups are massive, even in week 1.
Getting off to a 1-0 start is always beneficial in the NFL, but doing so against a divisional rival is even more impressive.
Losing in week 1 to a divisional opponent can come back and haunt you later in the season.
Half Of Week 1 Games Are Divisional Matchups
Here are the eight divisional matchups set for week 1.
- Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles
- Kansas City Chiefs vs Los Angeles Chargers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Atlanta Falcons
- Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns
- New York Giants vs Washington Commanders
- San Francisco 49ers vs Seattle Seahawks
- Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers
- Minnesota Vikings vs Chicago Bears
Dallas Cowboys vs Philadelphia Eagles(-8.0) (O/U:47.5)
This game is the season opener. It will be on Thursday, September 4, at 8:20 PM EST on NBC.
The reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles open the season at home against the Dallas Cowboys.
This is a big game for both teams.
Dallas wants to get off to a good start and show they can win games and play good defense after trading star pass rusher Micah Parsons. The Cowboys will need their defense to slow down Saquon Barkley and the Eagles’ offense. Dak Prescott and the offense will need to be crisp and avoid turnovers against a stout Eagles defense.
Philadelphia will want to establish the run early and often. Philly is the better team and will want to dominate from kickoff.
Kansas City Chiefs(-3.0) vs Los Angeles Chargers (O/U:46.5)
The Chiefs and Chargers will battle on Friday, September 5, at 8 PM EST on YouTube.
Kansas City got embarrassed in the Super Bowl last year by the Eagles and will want to bounce back. The AFC West is better with the Chargers and Broncos taking steps forward. If the Chiefs want to continue to dominate the AFC West, a win against the Chargers in week 1 will go a long way.
The Chargers want to prove they can win the AFC West, and there is no better way to show they can than to defeat the bullies of the West in week 1. The Chiefs have won the AFC West for nine straight years under Andy Reid. The Chargers want to change that, and winning in week 1 would be huge.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers(-2.5) vs Atlanta Falcons (O/U:47.0)
The Bucs and Falcons square off on Sunday, September 7, at 1 PM EST on FOX.
Tampa Bay is somewhat flying under the radar in the NFC, but they are good enough to challenge any team in the Conference. They have a good offense and an underrated defense.
Atlanta will start Michael Penix Jr and hope he turns out to be a franchise QB. The Falcons have a high-powered offense with Bijan Robinson at RB and Drake London at WR.
Both teams will be fighting to win the NFC South, and this is a massive game for both teams as it could help determine the division winner at the end of the season. This week 1 contest matters a lot to both teams.
Cincinnati Bengals(-5.0) vs Cleveland Browns (O/U:48.0)
The Bengals and Browns will square off on Sunday, September 7, at 1 PM EST on FOX.
Joe Burrow and the high-flying Bengals will try to avoid starting the season 0-1. They have been notorious for starting the season slow and losing games in September that they should win. It cost them a playoff spot last year. The defense remains a major question mark, but as long as Burrow is healthy, the Bengals will have an elite offense.
Cleveland is not thought of to challenge for the AFC North crown, but it seems the best time to face the Bengals is in September. The Browns’ QB room is full of question marks. Joe Flacco will start the year under center with Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders backing Flacco up.
For the Bengals to have a chance to win the AFC North, they will need to start better, and defeating the Browns will be key.
New York Giants vs Washington Commanders(-6.0) (O/U:45.5)
The Giants and Commanders will square off on Sunday, September 7, at 1 PM EST on FOX.
This is a big game for both teams. The Giants want to prove they are an improved team and have the defense to prove it. They have an elite front 7 that can be very disruptive. Russell Wilson will start at QB with Jaxson Dart as his backup. It remains to be seen how long Wilson will hold onto the starting role with Dart waiting in the wings.
Washington wants to prove last year was not a fluke. They want to show they are Super Bowl contenders and can compete with the Eagles for the NFC East crown.
This is an underrated good game, as the Giants have the defense to keep this game interesting.
San Francisco 49ers(-2.5) vs Seattle Seahawks (O/U:43.0)
The 49ers and Seahawks will square off on Sunday, September 7, at 4:05 PM EST on FOX.
San Francisco was hit with the injury bug last year. Christian McCaffrey missed most of last season, as well as WR Brandon Aiyuk and other notable names. Aiyuk is not healthy to start the year, and it could be a bit before he returns, but McCaffrey is fully healthy. The 49ers will want to prove they are still Super Bowl contenders.
Seattle is not being talked about much. They brought in Sam Darnold to be their starting QB. The Seahawks moved on from WR DK Metcalf, trading him to the Steelers. Defeating the 49ers at home in week 1 would be big for the Seahawks.
Detroit Lions vs Green Bay Packers(-2.5) (O/U:47.0)
The Lions and Packers will square off on Sunday, September 7, at 4:25 PM EST on CBS.
This is a massive game for both teams. Detroit lost its offensive and defensive coordinators in the offseason. They want to show they are still an elite team that is a Super Bowl contender. They will enter the season healthy, as they lost countless defensive players last year.
The Green Bay Packers traded for star pass rusher Micah Parsons. If and how much he plays in week 1 is uncertain. However, the Packers made this move to go all in and win a Super Bowl. Defeating the Lions in week 1 and gaining a massive edge in a very tough NFC North would be very beneficial for Green Bay.
This will be must-watch television.
Minnesota Vikings(-1.5) vs Chicago Bears (O/U:44.0)
The Vikings and Bears will square off on Monday, September 8, at 8:15 PM EST on ABC.
Another NFC North game that will be a must-watch. The Vikings moved on from QB Sam Darnold after an excellent 2024 campaign and will start J.J. McCarthy under center. The Vikings have a Super Bowl-caliber roster, but they need McCarthy to play well to be a legit threat.
The Chicago Bears did everything possible to help Caleb Williams improve in the offseason. They brought in offensive guru Ben Johnson and revamped their offensive line. Week 1 will be a massive test for Williams and the Bears.
This is a great game with a lot on the line in week 1.
