Dec 29, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is tackled by Dallas Cowboys linebacker Eric Kendricks (50) during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Summer is starting to wind down. Students are heading back to school, the days are getting shorter and hope is in the air.

That hope is rampant in the sports world, especially in the NFL. This time of the year is when fanbases across the league are most optimistic about how things could turn out in 2025. Free agency additions, coaching changes and highly-regarded draft picks; they're all the elements of a positive outlook on the upcoming season.

The summer marching on means the NFL draft and free agency are far behind us. Teams will have cut rosters down from more than 70 players to 53 ahead of the regular season.

Preseason action will help in those roster decisions. Three games - four for the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit Lions, thanks to the Hall of Fame Game - will provide teams with the tape needed to make their best moves in preparing for 2025.

It's almost time for the real action to get underway. Here's everything to know about the NFL's Week 1 slate:

When does NFL Week 1 start?

Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season begins on Thursday, Sept. 4.

As is tradition, the reigning Super Bowl champions will host the opening game of the new season. For the 2025 season, the Philadelphia Eagles will host NFC East foe Dallas at home in prime time. These teams faced off twice in 2024, with the Eagles winning both matchups by a combined score of 75-13.

Over the previous 10 seasons, defending Super Bowl winners are 6-3 in their Week 1 matchups (the 2019 season opener did not feature the defending champion Patriots). Two of those three losses came in the last three years: Kansas City in 2023 and the Los Angeles Rams in 2022.

NFL Week 1 schedule, how to watch

The opening week of NFL action in 2025 will span four days, starting with the Eagles-Cowboys game. Here's a complete look at the schedule:

Thursday, Sept. 4

  • Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Friday, Sept. 5

  • Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City Chiefs (in Sao Paulo, Brazil), 8 p.m. ET, YouTube

Sunday, Sept. 7

  • Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
  • Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
  • Indianapolis Colts vs. Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
  • New England Patriots vs. Las Vegas Raiders, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
  • New Orleans Saints vs. Arizona Cardinals, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
  • New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
  • Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
  • Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
  • Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
  • Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX
  • Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
  • Los Angeles Rams vs. Houston Texans, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
  • Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

Monday, Sept. 8

  • Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings, 8:15 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is NFL Week 1? Starting date, schedule, matchups, how to watch

Reporting by Ayrton Ostly, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect