Everything We Know About the 2025 NFL Season
September 4 marks the start of the 2025 NFL season, and things are really ramping up for pro football fans as they get ready for an exciting few months ahead. Find out everything we know about the current season, including top games in the 2025 NFL schedule, best players and teams, pro football contests taking place, who is poised to take on the Big Game, and more. Let’s get into it!
Top 2025-26 NFL Games
Every NFL game has the opportunity to be special, but there are always a few that you want to have circled on your calendar. Whether it’s two top teams going at it or a huge divisional rivalry, some games are truly appointment television.
Week 1 kicks off with a doozy, as the defending AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs head to São Paulo, Brazil, to face the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chiefs will be looking to start things off on the right foot after a devastating loss in the Big Game, while the Chargers have big aspirations of their own.
Week 3 brings us a potential Big Game preview, as the Detroit Lions travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens on a Monday night. Both teams had great regular seasons last year, only to falter heartbreakingly in the playoffs. Still, these teams are both poised for big runs again, and this early-season matchup will be a good barometer.
In Week 8, Aaron Rodgers, now on the Pittsburgh Steelers, will face his old team, the Green Bay Packers, on a Sunday night. Green Bay is seen as a Big Game contender, while the Steelers are more on the periphery. Still, high drama will commence when Rodgers sees his old team for the first time since leaving.
Finally, be sure to see the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles take on the Chiefs in a Big Game rematch in Week 2. The game will be in Kansas City, and the Chiefs will look to exact a measure of revenge.
The Big Game
At the end of the season comes the much-anticipated Big Game. Though it’s anyone’s game to play at this point, we are still looking forward to and making plans for the annual championship game of the Big Game LX, which is scheduled to be played on Sunday, February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
If you can’t make it to the game itself, the next-best option is heading to Circa Sports for the Big Game Bash, where you can watch the game on the 78M pixel screen at the world’s largest sportsbook. Or, take advantage of the Las Vegas weather in February and lounge poolside at Stadium Swim® for the Big Game Bash Watch Party where you can trade your living room party at home for a cabana party in Vegas.
Top 2025-26 NFL Teams
Several teams can consider themselves true contenders for the Big Game. Of course, we have to start with the Eagles, who bring back most of the same team that dominated in the Big Game. The same goes for the Chiefs; even though their season ended disastrously, they should still be considered a dangerous team.
Beyond that, some other teams have claims for contention. The Buffalo Bills have reigning MVP Josh Allen at quarterback, along with improvements on defense due to the addition of defensive end Joey Bosa. The Ravens will be in the mix, thanks to their star quarterback, Lamar Jackson, and a ferocious defense led by linebacker Roquan Smith and safety Kyle Hamilton.
The Lions will also be there, and they will be hoping for better health. Last season, they were devastated by injuries, including losing stud defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, cornerback Carlton Davis III, defensive tackle Alim McNeill, and running back David Montgomery. Davis III is no longer on the team, but Hutchinson, McNeill, and Montgomery are all healthy and ready to go. That should really help.
Beyond that, look for the Washington Commanders, last season’s upstart, to challenge the NFC crown, along with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams. In the AFC, the Chargers are a threat, as are the Denver Broncos. The Cincinnati Bengals are also in the mix.
Top 2025-26 NFL Players
You can’t start a conversation about NFL players without talking about the reigning MVP, Josh Allen. Allen threw for 3,731 yards, 28 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, while rushing for 531 yards and another 12 touchdowns. He’s one of the most electrifying players to watch in the league. Also on the quarterback side is Lamar Jackson from the Baltimore Ravens, who threw for 4,172 yards, 41 touchdowns, and only four interceptions, while adding 915 yards on the ground.
At running back, Saquon Barkley from the Philadelphia Eagles is one of the most exciting players in the league. He led the league with 2,005 yards rushing and had 13 touchdowns, powering the Eagles to a Big Game championship. Another key running back is Derrick Henry from Baltimore, who was tied for the league lead with 16 touchdowns, and Jahmyr Gibbs from Detroit, who had 1,412 yards rushing and also had 16 touchdowns.
The league is blessed with some major receiving talent, starting with Ja’Marr Chase of Cincinnati, who led the league with 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns. He’s part of a cadre of former LSU teammates who are dominating the league, including Justin Jefferson from Minnesota, Brian Thomas Jr. from Jacksonville, and Malik Nabers of the Giants. That foursome was in the top seven in receiving yards.
On defense, Myles Garrett from Cleveland is on a Hall of Fame track at defensive end and was second in the league with 14 sacks. Another awesome pass rusher is T.J. Watt from Pittsburgh, who just signed a mega contract to stay in the Steel City, along with Dexter Lawrence of the Giants, who is probably the best interior defensive lineman. Kerby Joseph from Detroit led the league in interceptions and is a key ballhawk for a top defense.
Circa Sports Pro Football Contests
As the 2025 NFL season begins, so are the most exciting pro football contests in the game. With 18 weeks of games, Circa Sports is kicking off another year of the popular Circa Million and Circa Survivor football contests to test your sports betting skill this season – all with a combined guaranteed prize pool of $24 million. On top of that, Circa Grandissimo makes its debut for the ultimate high-stakes survivor contest.
If you’ve already entered, good luck! It’s going to be an exciting season. If you’ve missed the 2025 football contest registration, you can still follow along with the weekly standings on X, and be sure to prepare for next year’s contests by starting your 2025 football betting strategy early!
Circa Sports Million VII
Back for its seventh season, Circa Million is back with one of the highest prize pools yet. We have high hopes for all participants in the Circa Sports Million VII contest with 100% playback to players. Get ready to compete for the $1 million first prize and some serious bragging rights.
Entrants make five picks against the spread every week as they go head-to-head with the other contestants, competing to win a share of $6 million in total guaranteed cash prizes. Each correct selection awards one point, while each push will earn a half point. With monthly payouts and no rake, this season’s pro football contest is sure to be competitive.
Circa Survivor
Those who have entered the exciting Circa Survivor football contest will test their luck for the chance to win big with 32 teams, 20 legs, and 15 million dollars on the line. The contest will last up to 20 weeks starting with Week 1 of the NFL season and include Thanksgiving Day and Christmas as their own contest weeks.
For each leg of the contest, entrants select one NFL team, and each team can only be selected once per entry during the contest. If a team is selected that loses or ties its NFL game during contest weeks 1-20, the entire entry will be eliminated from the contest. Circa Survivor continues until a single entry remains. The last remaining entry will win the entire pool with a minimum of $15 million dollars and the potential to win even more with no rake.
Circa Grandissimo
Introducing Circa Grandissimo, the ultimate high-stakes pro football survivor contest with a $100,000 entry fee and a guaranteed prize pool of at least $1.5 million. With no rake and the entire survivor pool going to the last entry standing, this is one of the boldest contests Circa Sports has ever launched.
Entrants must select one winning NFL team each week across 20 legs, including weeks for Thanksgiving/Black Friday and Christmas Day. Each team can only be chosen once per entry, and a single loss or tie means elimination. If multiple entries survive all 20 weeks, or if all remaining entries lose in the same week, the pool will be split equally. Players can enter up to two times, with a chance to rebuy if eliminated on the opening Thursday or Friday.
Beyond the competition, every entrant receives the full Grandissimo Experience: a stay in a premium suite at Circa Resort, curated dining with top chefs from Barry’s Downtown Prime and Andiamo Steakhouse, a private Stadium Swim experience, limo service, a year-long VSiN subscription exclusive gifts, and more. This inaugural season of Grandissimo promises unmatched excitement both on and off the field.
How to Bet on Football in Vegas
Now that the 2025 NFL season is starting up, it’s time to place your bets. Circa Sports is the ultimate sportsbook in Las Vegas for football sports betting. Stop by Circa Resort, the D, or one of the other Circa Sports locations in Las Vegas to place your bets in person. Can’t make it into the sportsbook? Download the Circa Sports app on iOS or Android to have your bookie right in your pocket.
Whether in person or on the app, join Circa Sports for your premier place to bet on football in Vegas.
