In the end, the NFL is again.
Our practically seven-month drought involves a merciful finish on Thursday evening when the Philadelphia Eagles host the Dallas Cowboys in a star-powered rivalry recreation match for primetime.
That recreation alone options no scarcity of intrigue, with the Eagles kicking off their championship protection and the Cowboys getting their first style of life with out Micah Parsons.
And that’s solely the beginning.
Each workforce has a purpose to dream going into Week 1, be it championship aspirations or a rookie quarterback who presents hope for the longer term.
Listed below are a few of 2025’s largest NFL storylines as the brand new season lastly arrives.
PARSONS FALLOUT
The Cowboys’ blockbuster commerce sending the perennial Professional Bowler Parsons to the Inexperienced Bay Packers final week shifted the very material of the NFL.
The addition of Parsons, a generational cross rusher who is simply 26, thrust the Packers even additional into Tremendous Bowl rivalry, dramatically upgrading a protection that was already among the many NFL’s greatest.
That’s why Inexperienced Bay traded defensive sort out Kenny Clark and two first-round picks for Parsons, then signed him to a market-resetting four-year, $188 million extension.
Whether or not that imaginative and prescient involves fruition is compelling, as is the place Dallas goes from right here.
Gamers like Parsons, significantly at his age, are nearly by no means traded, however contract negotiations grew to become so fractured that Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones was prepared to drag the set off.
A full evaluation on this commerce gained’t be attainable till we see what Dallas does with the picks it acquired in return, however clearly, the Cowboys are worse on paper this 12 months.
Will probably be fascinating to see if this comes again to hang-out the Cowboys — and the way rapidly.
The Cowboys host Parsons and the Packers on Sept. 28.
CHIEFS REVENGE
If Tremendous Bowl LIX marked the conclusion of the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ dynasty, it definitely led to spectacular trend.
In search of a three-peat, the Chiefs trailed 34-0 at one level in February’s 40-22 loss to the Eagles, leaving a bitter style within the mouths of Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and firm,
The Chiefs now start their revenge tour, desirous to show that the Tremendous Bowl was an aberration and never the start of the top.
Kansas Metropolis went 17-3 final 12 months, together with the playoffs, however 12 of these wins have been by one rating or fewer. The Chiefs have gained 17 consecutive one-score video games.
Even for the good Mahomes, that isn’t sustainable.
However the Chiefs boast an Andy Reid-led offense, a stout protection and championship pedigree, which means nobody ought to query their means to bounce again.
EAGLES AGAIN?
It’s extraordinarily troublesome to repeat as Tremendous Bowl champions, regardless of what the latest dynasties by Mahomes’ Chiefs and Tom Brady’s New England Patriots would possibly recommend.
However that’s what the Eagles try to do.
It definitely gained’t come simply, contemplating the driving pressure of final 12 months’s run, operating again Saquon Barkley, is 28 and touched the ball an unimaginable 482 instances between the 2024 common season and playoffs.
Anticipate a lighter workload for the workhorse Barkley, which might put extra on the plates of Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ passing recreation.
The Eagles additionally misplaced necessary depth from final 12 months’s protection, with defensive sort out Milton Williams, defensive finish Josh Sweat and cornerback Darius Slay all gone.
And Philly has the Washington Commanders, led by standout second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels, respiratory down their necks within the NFC East.
With all of that being mentioned, the Eagles enter this 12 months among the many Tremendous Bowl favorites.
AFC BREAKTHROUGH
Different Tremendous Bowl favorites embody the Buffalo Payments and Baltimore Ravens, who’re each nonetheless making an attempt to interrupt by after years of arising brief.
Allen’s Payments beat Lamar Jackson’s Ravens within the AFC Divisional Spherical final 12 months, then misplaced to Mahomes and the Chiefs within the AFC Championship Recreation. The 12 months earlier than that, Kansas Metropolis beat the Ravens within the AFC Championship Recreation.
The Chiefs have eradicated the Payments from the playoffs in 4 of the final 5 seasons.
If the Chiefs actually are on the decline, this may very well be the 12 months Allen or Jackson lastly breaks by and makes it to the Tremendous Bowl.
Additionally trying to reclaim their place among the many AFC’s elite are the Cincinnati Bengals, who purpose to bounce again from final 12 months’s 9-8 disappointment behind a high-powered offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
RODGERS REDEMPTION
The Aaron Rodgers experiment didn’t work out for the Jets.
Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 1 of 2023, then led the Jets to a 5-12 file final 12 months in his return.
However fairly than retire, Rodgers, 41, determined to return for a twenty first season, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers after the brand new Jets regime launched him.
Rodgers handed for 3,897 yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions final 12 months, and his manufacturing improved towards the top of the season.
The Steelers aren’t Rodgers to be their savior because the Jets as soon as did, however how a lot he has left within the tank will dictate whether or not Pittsburgh can prolong its run with out a shedding season to 22 years.
BEAR DOWN
Lots was working towards Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams in 12 months one.
His offensive line was a multitude.
His offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, was fired in November, and his head coach, Matt Eberflus, was fired lower than three weeks later.
Thomas Brown was promoted from passing recreation coordinator to offensive coordinator to interim head coach all inside a month.
That excessive lack of continuity can be troublesome for any QB to endure, not to mention a rookie already navigating the expectations that include being the primary general choose.
However the state of affairs is significantly better for Williams this 12 months.
The Bears employed Ben Johnson, the offensive mastermind who helped flip the Detroit Lions right into a high-scoring juggernaut, to be their head coach, they usually retooled their O-line within the offseason.
Chicago additionally used excessive draft picks on tight finish Colston Loveland and extensive receiver Luther Burden, who be a part of D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze as weapons for Williams.
With all of that assist, it’s now as much as Williams to take the subsequent step in his improvement and show he’s worthy of the hype.
