NFL-Five storylines to follow as the 2025 season kicks off: Allen’s title bid, Rodgers’ farewell

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By Angelica Medina

(Reuters) -Here are five storylines to follow for when the NFL 2025 season kicks off on Thursday:

1. Buffalo’s championship window opens

The Buffalo Bills have all the ingredients needed for a title run: a full complement of offensive weapons is returning, and 2024 NFL MVP Josh Allen is leading the attack. 

They also have a favourable schedule featuring games against the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints. 

However, the team’s post-season heartbreak continues to haunt them, particularly the four losses to Kansas City since 2020, including the devastating 32–29 defeat in the AFC Championship.

2. Hunter’s two-way gamble

The Jacksonville Jaguars drafted two-way sensation Travis Hunter second overall, sparking fascination over whether he can play full-time at both wide receiver and cornerback. 

The Jaguars are banking on Hunter defying convention, which would mark a bold return to the early days of football. 

However, coach Liam Coen is still assessing his usage time for the rookie. A minor upper-body injury that forced him to miss the pre-season will not prevent him from playing in his first NFL game.

3. Rodgers’ Pittsburgh swan song

Aaron Rodgers is entering his first year with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has indicated that the upcoming season will be his last. The 41-year-old quarterback will face his former team, the New York Jets, on Sunday, aiming to end the Steelers’ 16-year title drought.

The four-time league MVP will be looking to capitalise on former Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf, while relying heavily on a defence captained by Cameron Heyward and T.J. Watt.

4. Sanders spotlight quest

Never before has there been such intense scrutiny of a fifth-round rookie draft pick as there is with Shedeur Sanders.

Meanwhile, Cleveland’s head coach, Kevin Stefanski, is set to choose Joe Flacco as the starting quarterback, with Sanders remaining behind Kenny Pickett and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel.

Nevertheless, there are still high hopes for Sanders, who impressed in the pre-season, completing 17 of his 29 pass attempts for 152 yards and no interceptions in three games.

5. ‘Tush Push’ survives, rules evolve

While NFL owners narrowly failed to ban the controversial ‘tush push’ play, in which teammates literally shove the quarterback forward, with only 22 of the required 24 teams voting in favour of prohibition, the rules have evolved.

The league did, however, approve dynamic kick-offs and modify the touchback rules, moving them to the 35-yard line. They also added overtime to the regular season, giving both teams possession opportunities.

The traditional ‘chain gang’ on the sideline will also be replaced by ‘Hawk-Eye’ technology to measure first downs more accurately, and instant replay will be expanded to include assistance for on-field officials with a variety of calls.  

(Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City))