Patriots take on Steelers in week one - (2025)

Tom Brady begins life without Rob Gronkowski in New England Patriots’ season opener against Pittsburgh, the Steelers with plenty to prove this time around.

Super Bowl LIII champions New England Patriots will begin the defence of their title against AFC rivals Pittsburgh Steelers after the NFL schedule was confirmed on Wednesday (Patriots 7/2 – AFC Conference Outright).

Tom Brady (pictured) will start the new season without regular go-to receiver and star Tight End Rob Gronkowski after he decided to retire in the off season, while questions are being asked about the Steelers ahead of the new campaign as they prepare for life without Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown.

Fans had been expecting the Pats (7/1 Super Bowl Outright) to be given the honour of hosting the season opener, but that slot has been given to the Chicago Bears.

Green Bay travel to Chicago first up on September 5 and that clash will be the 199th between the two NFC North franchises.

The first Monday Night football of 2019 sees New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos do battle while all eyes will be on last year’s finalists Los Angeles Rams (10/1 Super Bowl Outright) amd how they may respond to what was a huge disappointment.

The Rams face Carolina Panthers on Sunday September 8, while Kansas City Chiefs will do battle against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

British fans must wait until October for the games that will be played at Wembley Stadium or at Tottenham’s new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Fans of the Bears and Oakland Raiders will have October 6 pencilled in their diaries as they prepare to head to north London.

Seven days later Carolina take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while the two games at Wembley see the Rams face Cincinnati and the Jaguars will be doing all they can to get past the Houston Texans.

The league returns to Mexico on November 18 as the Los Angeles Chargers try to get one over the Chiefs for the second time in 12 months.

Thanksgiving is always an exciting time in the NFL and Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills have been handed home ties, while the holiday schedule ends as New Orleans (9/2 NFC Conference Outright) travel to Atlanta Falcons.

Week 16, the final weekend of the campaign, sees three games scheduled for TV on Saturday, with the non-televised matches set to be played on Sunday.

The regular season will end on December 29, with Chicago finishing at Minnesota Vikings for the fourth successive year and, for the 11th straight season, all final fixtures are divisional games.

Odds subject to change.