Over the course of NFL historical past, there have solely been two groups which have made it by way of a daily season undefeated — the 1972 Miami Dolphins and 2007 New England Patriots — and I feel we are able to all agree {that a} third group will not be becoming a member of that group in 2025.
What I am making an attempt to say is that it looks as if a lock that each group goes to lose no less than one sport and with that being the case, I’ve determined to take it upon myself to foretell when every group will undergo their first loss.
For half of the NFL, that first loss will are available Week 1, however what about everybody else? Let’s dive in.
First loss in Week 1
Dallas Cowboys (at Philadelphia Eagles). The Cowboys are a practice wreck. The Eagles are the reigning Tremendous Bowl champs. The Cowboys’ probability at an undefeated season goes to finish after one sport.
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Kansas Chiefs in Brazil). The Chiefs have received seven straight video games in opposition to the Chargers, however they’ve by no means overwhelmed them in Brazil, however there is a first time for every thing. The Chargers have had a run of dangerous damage luck with Rashawn Slater out for the season and the Chiefs are the Chiefs.
Atlanta Falcons (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers). The Buccaneers are 3-0 of their previous three highway openers and that features a powerful 20-16 win over the Lions final season, which was considered one of simply two losses that Detroit suffered through the common season. Michael Penix Jr.’s will likely be making simply the fourth begin of his profession and will probably be coming in opposition to a seasoned Buccaneers group. This looks like a Tampa Bay win.
Cleveland Browns (vs. Cincinnati Bengals). The Bengals have really been fairly horrible popping out of the gate over the previous two years, however the Browns have too many query marks. Cleveland’s protection would possibly be capable of preserve the Browns on this sport — they’ve really performed properly in opposition to Joe Burrow — however beating the Bengals looks as if a tall activity. This sport will doubtless be nearer than most suppose, however the Browns go down.
Indianapolis Colts (vs. Miami Dolphins). With Daniel Jones getting the primary begin of his Colts profession in Week 1, it looks like Indy’s offense might be going to battle for the primary few weeks of the season. The Dolphins have their very own issues, however Miami’s offense has sufficient firepower to get by Indy.
Arizona Cardinals (at New Orleans Saints). The Cardinals protection will get to go up in opposition to Tyler Shough, Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler. Benefit: Cardinals.
Las Vegas Raiders (at New England Patriots). The schedule-makers did not do any favors for the Raiders, who should fly throughout the nation for a sport that may kick off at 10 a.m. PT on their physique clock. The Patriots have added a number of key gamers on protection this offseason and people gamers will doubtless give Geno Smith some hassle.
New York Jets (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers). Primarily based on the feedback he made earlier this offseason, it appears fairly clear that Aaron Rodgers would love nothing greater than to destroy the Jets.
New York Giants (at Washington Commanders). The Giants had the worst document within the NFC final yr and so they get to open up the season on the highway in opposition to a group that made it to the NFC title sport. Typically life is unfair. That is a type of occasions.
Carolina Panthers (at Jacksonville Jaguars). We’ve got the Buccaneers offensive coordinator from 2023 (Dave Canales) teaching in opposition to the Bucs offensive coordinator from 2024 (Liam Coen). This will likely be Coen’s first sport as coach of the Jaguars and the offensive mastermind has loads of weapons to work with in Jacksonville, so this looks like a shootout win for the Jaguars.
Tennessee Titans (at Denver Broncos). Since 2003, there have been 16 quarterbacks who’ve been chosen with the primary total decide within the NFL Draft. They’ve mixed to go 1-15 of their first profession begin. Cameron Ward was taken with the No. 1 total decide. This looks like a sport the Titans are destined to lose.
Seattle Seahawks (vs. San Francisco 49ers). The 49ers have received six of the previous seven video games on this sequence and with San Francisco lastly anticipated to be wholesome, the 49ers will use the opener to point out that they’ll be a Tremendous Bowl contender in 2025.
Inexperienced Bay Packers (vs. Detroit Lions). Dan Campbell has had Matt LaFleur’s quantity over the previous few years, successful six of the previous seven in opposition to his NFC North teaching rival. For the Packers, it additionally does not assist that Jordan Love is at the moment coping with a thumb damage that is going to trigger him to overlook per week or two of follow heading into this opener.
Los Angeles Rams (vs. Houston Texans). The Rams have a beginning quarterback in Matthew Stafford who did not follow a single time from Aug. 1 by way of Aug. 17. When you have got a banged-up QB and a giant query mark at left sort out, just like the Rams do, the very last thing you wish to do is face a Texans group that’s led by two premier cross rushers in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr.
Baltimore Ravens (at Buffalo Payments). Sean McDermott is a former defensive coordinator and that has turn out to be useful when the Payments have needed to face Lamar Jackson. The Payments have received three of their previous 4 in opposition to the Ravens, together with the playoffs, and a giant purpose for that’s as a result of McDermott’s protection has held Baltimore to a mean of simply 16 factors per sport within the three wins.
Minnesota Vikings (at Chicago Bears). That is an intriguing sport: Not solely will J.J. McCarthy be making his first begin for Minnesota, however Ben Johnson will likely be making his teaching debut for the Bears. The Vikings will not have Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson has been coping with a hamstring subject in coaching camp, so Minnesota’s receiving group will not be at full energy. With the Bears enjoying at house in prime time, we’ll give them the slight edge.
Remaining unbeaten groups after Week 1: 16
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First loss in Week 2
Commanders (at Packers). After enjoying on Sunday in Week 1, the Commanders have to show round and play a Thursday ROAD sport at Inexperienced Bay, which is not a simple ask. If the Packers lose in Week 1, which is strictly what we now have occurring, then they’re going to be determined to win this sport so they do not fall to 0-2.
Jaguars (at Bengals). If you wish to beat the Bengals, it’s a must to cease Joe Burrow, and sadly for the Jaguars, they are not precisely constructed to do this. Jacksonville surrendered the MOST passing yards per sport within the NFL final season and the Jaguars will discover out on this sport in the event that they’ve carried out sufficient to repair that subject.
Dolphins (vs. Patriots). This a sport the Patriots’ new-look protection might find yourself dominating, particularly in opposition to a Dolphins offense that hasn’t regarded overly good in coaching camp.
Bears (at Lions). This can be a fascinating sport with Johnson dealing with his previous group, however the schedule-makers did not do the Bears any favors. They should play on Monday in Week 1 after which face the Lions on a brief week. If anybody is aware of the right way to decelerate Johnson’s offense, it is Campbell, so we’ll give the Lions the sting right here.
Eagles (at Chiefs). After getting embarrassed in Tremendous Bowl LIX, the Chiefs are going to be out for revenge.
Buccaneers (at Texans). In Week 1, the Texans are getting a Rams group that doubtless will not have beginning left sort out Alaric Jackson. In Week 2, they’re getting a Bucs group that doubtless will not have beginning left sort out Tristan Wirfs. The Houston protection goes to feast early within the season.
Remaining unbeaten groups after Week 2: 10
First loss in Week 3
Patriots (vs. Steelers). If the Patriots get off to a 2-0 begin, that might be a pleasing shock, however their undefeated run will finish right here in opposition to a Steelers protection that has its method with Drake Maye.
Cardinals (at 49ers). After getting off to their first 2-0 begin since 2021, the Cardinals’ parade involves an finish in opposition to a 49ers group in a detailed sport that goes right down to the wire.
Lions (at Ravens). Jackson has a profession document of 24-2 in opposition to NFC groups and that is mainly all it’s good to learn about this Monday evening showdown. Benefit: Ravens.
Remaining unbeaten groups after Week 3: 7
First loss in Week 4
Chiefs (vs. Ravens). The Chiefs have a brutal schedule to begin the season with three of their first 4 video games in opposition to groups that made the playoffs final season (Chargers, Eagles, Ravens). It will not be shocking in the event that they slip up in a type of video games and we’ll say it occurs on this one.
Broncos (vs. Bengals). This would possibly find yourself being the perfect sport of Week 4. These two groups gave us a shootout final season and it will not be shocking if we get one other one with the Bengals pulling off the highway upset.
Remaining unbeaten groups after Week 4: 5
First loss in Week 5
49ers (at Rams). For the reason that begin of the 2020 season, no group has been higher than the Rams on the subject of successful a Thursday sport on quick relaxation. Over the previous 5 seasons, the Rams have performed six such video games and so they’ve received all of them, so we’ll say that streak continues right here.
Bengals (vs. Lions). After an emotional Monday evening win over the Broncos, the Bengals have to show round and face the Lions on a brief week. The Lions should not a group you wish to be dealing with on a brief week.
Texans (at Ravens). Final season, the Texans performed six video games in opposition to groups that made the playoffs and so they went 1-5 in these video games. Though this group is nice, it stays to be seen if it could compete with the perfect groups within the NFL and the Ravens needs to be probably the greatest groups within the NFL.
Remaining unbeaten groups: 2
First loss in Week 7
Steelers (at Bengals). After getting off to a shocking 6-0 begin in Pittsburgh, Rodgers lastly suffers his first loss with the Steelers throughout this Thursday evening sport in Cincinnati. Over the previous six years, AFC North groups are 3-13 when pressured to play a prime-time sport on the highway in opposition to one other AFC North group and that ugly development will proceed right here.
Remaining unbeaten groups after Week 7: 1
First loss in Week 9
Payments (vs. Chiefs). If the Payments can get previous the Ravens in Week 1, there is a good probability we might see them make all of it the way in which till November with an unbeaten document. Nevertheless, that streak will finish with a loss to the Chiefs. Though the Payments have really dominated the Chiefs within the common season, we will give the sting to Kansas Metropolis right here, as a result of on this hypothetical scenario, if the 7-0 Payments transfer to 8-0 with a win over Okay.C., that might put them within the driver’s seat for the highest seed within the AFC. When the stress is on, the Chiefs are inclined to carry out and the stress could be on right here.
So there you have got it, the Payments would be the last undefeated group, however that is not essentially an excellent factor and this is why: The ultimate unbeaten group has struggled to win the Tremendous Bowl this century. Since 2000, the last undefeated group within the common season has solely received the Tremendous Bowl as soon as and that got here in 2006 when Peyton Manning’s Colts received the Lombardi Trophy after beginning the season 9-0. That is a 19-year drought if you happen to’re scoring at house.
