NFL Kickoff 2025 Recap: Turning the Tide

The NFL is back, and what a start to this young season!

This is my fifth year writing the weekly NFL recaps on Vocal, but last year I did change it up. I decided that I would split up certain weeks if need be, because cramming (at most) 16 games in a single story can be exhausting. The same plan will be instilled this year, and I may split up more weeks, but not all of them--only if certain games stand out. Of course, Opening Week definitely applies. Last year, I wrote about the opening game and the international game separately, but here, I'll cover both this year.

The date we all waited for, September 4, 2025, finally arrived. The first day of the NFL season, the first of 272 total games on the regular season schedule. For the 19th time in 20 years, it was the defending champions opening the season; the Philadelphia Eagles raising the banner, showing off their trophy, and then preparing to host the Dallas Cowboys. We know the story with Dallas. A week before the game, they traded Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers for some magic beans. Now, they had to face the music. Many expected a shellacking, a flat out slaughter.

What they didn't expect was an ejection six seconds into the 2025 season.

So we see a flag and an ejection as the 2025 season barely got underway, and it was Jalen Carter. So Carter spat on Dak Prescott. Holy guacamole! Everyone was burying Carter for pulling this, but later video showed that Dak started the spitting. WOW! This drew several references on Twitter to Keith Hernandez's famous episode of Seinfeld, but it's clear that Dak baited Carter there, and Carter foolishly took the bait. I hope the league takes into consideration that Carter was baited and they don't do anything else to him.

As for the game, surprisingly, Dallas struck first. Javonte Williams, their new RB they got from the Broncos, runs it in and makes it 7-0. Eagles tie it up right after with a running touchdown from quarterback (and Super Bowl LIX MVP) Jalen Hurts. But Dallas would get in again, and it's Williams again. WOW! And it gets wilder! Jalen Hurts scored again, another running touchdown! 14-14 just like that! Dallas was cut down to a field goal later, but still, they were ahead and had yet to trail... until Saquon Barkley got in. After another Dallas field goal, a half that ended with no punts saw the Eagles up 21-20. Eagles added a field goal in the third, but then... a weather delay.

This opening game had everything. Ejections, Dallas playing their asses off, Hurts getting two non-Tush Push running touchdowns, and lighting striking. The delay lasted about an hour, and the rest of the game saw the defense take over. Dallas had one last chance, but a fourth down pass from Dak was dropped by CeeDee Lamb, who had a great performance: seven receptions for 110 yards (that's 18 fantasy points). But many fans want to blame Lamb for dropping a pass that wasn't entirely catchable, or they want to blame Dak for the "bad pass." How about blaming neither? This was a good close game, much closer than a lot of people expected. Even so, the Eagles are one up this season. The rematch will take place on November 23 at Jerry World.

Next up was the NFL's second annual trip to São Paulo, and this time, it was the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West battle. Of course, the Chiefs had all the attention, mainly because they were coming off coming up short in their attempt to three-peat, and of course there the whole Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift getting engaged thing. The Chiefs' response was definitely not great. Chargers struck first and dominated the first half. It was a 13-6 lead for the Bolts at the half, and Mahomes, well, sucked.

Mahomes managed to run one in, but the extra point was missed, so LA still had a one point lead. It became eight points when Justin Herbert connected with a familiar face: Keenan Allen, back with the Chargers and getting his first TD of the season. KC's next drive saw Mahomes connect with a familiar face as well: Travis Kelce. We say what we want about the Chiefs, but the Mahomes/Kelce tandem is quite the QB/TE duo. It really is. KC's two point conversion failed, making it 20-18 Bolts. Chargers strike again, and it's Quentin Johnston for the second time in the evening. KC FG makes it a one score game, but they need to get a huge stop to have a chance. A sack made it 3rd and 14 for the Bolts, but Herbert answered with a 19-yard run! With no KC timeouts left, it was victory formation time for the Chargers.

The Chargers held on and won, 27-21, over the three-time defending champions of the American Football Conference. The Chiefs had lost two games all of last season. In 2025, they're already one down. They've now lost back-to-back division games (yes, that loss to Denver in the end of 2024 was due to the Chiefs benching everyone of importance, but still), and it doesn't look good for KC after this. Next week, the Chiefs will host the Eagles in a Super Bowl rematch. They also have games against high profile teams like the Ravens, Commanders, and Bills coming up in a matter of weeks. The Ravens game is two weeks after the SB rematch. KC is staring at a possible and likely 1-3 start.

As for the Chargers, this was an amazing victory in their second year with Jim Harbaugh as coach. They really needed a new coach after Brandon Staley messed things up for years. Harbaugh saved this team last year. They still need to do better in the playoffs, but that's months from now. For now, they will leave Brazil with a huge win in their pocket, and they'll prepare for the Raiders, on Monday, September 15.

Two games down, 270 to go. The 2025 season is already on fire!