NBC's SNF begins its milestone 20th season with a blockbuster Kickoff Weekend. First, it's a renewal of the most-played regular-season SNF matchup as Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys visit Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts, NFL rushing leader Saquon Barkley and the Super Bowl-champion Philadelphia Eagles in NFL Kickoff '25 on Thursday, Sept. 4 on NBC, Peacock, and Telemundo. The opener marks the record 17th matchup between the clubs in NBC's SNF package and the first time Dallas and Philadelphia will meet in Week 1 since 2000.

Three nights later (Sept. 7), NBC Sports' SNF opener features the past two NFL MVPs as Lamar Jackson ('23 MVP) and the AFC North champion Baltimore Ravens visit Josh Allen ('24 MVP) and the AFC East champion Buffalo Bills in a rematch of last season's AFC Divisional Playoff – a two-point Buffalo victory. The game is the first in Buffalo's 53rd and final season at Highmark Stadium, which will make way for a new Bills' home in 2026.

The NBC Sunday Night Football schedule features eight matchups of 2024 playoff teams – including five meetings of division winners – highlighted by Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, who have played in five of the last six Super Bowls, hosting Jared Goff and the Detroit Lions on October 12. With the Chiefs and Lions posting the respective best records in the AFC and NFC last season, this game marks the second-ever NBC SNF matchup of the prior season's top playoff seeds (NFL Kickoff '16 – Carolina-Denver in a Super Bowl rematch). The last Lions-Chiefs matchup was a thriller – a 21-20 Detroit victory in NFL Kickoff '23 on NBC and Peacock.