The Philadelphia Eagles secured the Lombardi Trophy in a convincing victory on Sunday night. While discussions will arise about how it was achieved and its repercussions for the budding Kansas City Chiefs “dynasty,” it’s time to focus on next season.
In the past 21 NFL seasons, the NFL Kickoff Game has featured the defending Super Bowl champions only once. Assuming the league maintains this tradition, the Eagles are likely to be playing at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on September 4, 2025, live on NBC. This leaves eight potential opponents: the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, and Los Angeles Rams.
A couple of these contenders can be ruled out immediately. It’s improbable the league will schedule the high-profile Cowboys for the opener; that matchup is better suited for later in the season when audiences may dwindle. Conversely, it’s unlikely they’d pit the Eagles against the underperforming Raiders. This narrows the field to six options, with the Commanders and Lions standing out as the frontrunners.
Both the Commanders and Lions enjoyed impressive seasons in 2024, promising a competitive matchup for the defending champions. Considering the NFL’s history regarding the Kickoff Game, the league often prefers opponents who had strong playoff runs from the previous year. For example, last season featured the Ravens facing the Chiefs in a rematch of the 2023 AFC Championship Game.
Next season, the league might mirror that strategy with a rematch of the recent NFC Championship Game between the Eagles and Commanders, or they could slot the 15-win Lions into the position. Both matchups look thrilling on paper, establishing them as likely candidates. Nonetheless, the NFL has a range of alternative options as well.
Teams like the Giants and Bears also fit into the mix due to their large market appeal which can generate a strong viewer turnout, largely based on their brand recognition. The Bears might be the more probable choice, especially with excitement surrounding Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson.
Additionally, the Rams could emerge as a dark horse in this discussion. They had a strong showing this season, falling to the champions in the Divisional Round, yet they lack the television clout of the Lions or Commanders. If the NFL seeks to boost ratings for a game that may not seem particularly attractive on paper but promises a solid competition, the Rams would be a prime candidate. The Broncos would fall under similar reasoning, although this matchup might be avoided for not being compelling enough.
The Eagles’ 2025 schedule is a bit of a murderer’s row, offering the league ample exciting matchups to consider for the season opener, just under seven months away.
