2025 NFL schedule launch: Rating the 11 greatest video games on FOX

We’re really residing in a golden period of NFL soccer.

A league with extra parity and extra star quarterbacks than ever earlier than is scheduling prefer it. The NFL has branched out into new time slots, new days of the week, new strategies for airing video games. There are extra good video games and extra methods to look at them than ever earlier than.

Nonetheless, there’s one thing so satisfying a few good Sunday slate. It’s enjoyable to look at soccer on Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays, but it surely’s powerful to beat the OG.

In honor of that, listed below are a few of my favourite matchups we’ll see on Sundays — and an epic doubleheader on a December Saturday — this 12 months on FOX.

*AGOTW = America’s Sport of the Week

RELATED: 2025 NFL schedule launch: Win-loss predictions, evaluation for each staff

11. Vikings at Seahawks: Week 13, 4:05 p.m. ET

I want this recreation was occurring a bit earlier within the season, earlier than we had a transparent thought of what these groups have been going to be. Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 report final season, and now the ensures on his Seahawks contract are greater than the remainder of his profession earnings mixed. How will he dwell as much as that anticipation, and the way will his 2025 examine to J.J. McCarthy, who will (presumably) lead the Vikings into Seattle on the finish of November? This ought to be a extremely enjoyable take a look at who’s dealing with the breakup higher. 

10. Eagles at Cowboys: Week 12, 4:25 p.m. ET (AGOTW)

It’ll be onerous to prime the anticipation sitting on their Week 1 kickoff recreation in Philadelphia, however the return matchup on this rivalry remains to be juicy. Both the Cowboys or Eagles have gained the NFC East in eight of the previous 10 seasons. Even with Washington’s emergence, it’s a superb guess that is going to be an important recreation for playoff standing.

9. Lions at Bengals: Week 5, 4:25 p.m. ET (AGOTW)

The one different time Joe Burrow has performed the Lions, they have been 0-6 throughout an abysmal 2021 season. This time, Detroit involves Cincinnati as one of the full groups within the league and a Tremendous Bowl favourite. Feels like an ideal time for the Bengals to announce themselves as professional in 2025. On the primary Sunday in October, this can be a huge probability for each groups to make an announcement about the place they stand.

T7. Eagles at Commanders: Week 16, TBD (Saturday)

We don’t know kickoff instances but, however FOX’s Saturday doubleheader is the centerpiece of the Week 16 slate. Washington has plenty of huge video games on the schedule but none greater than a rematch of the NFC Championship Sport. The Commanders have been simply completely satisfied to be taking part in on that stage in January, however a 55-23 beatdown couldn’t have left a superb style of their mouths. It’d be foolish to say Washington can avenge that loss, provided that the Eagles are hanging a brand new championship banner of their constructing this fall. However perhaps the Commanders have closed the hole this 12 months — and perhaps a giant win right here may push them to a division title. Securing the NFC East crown in Week 16 could be vital for Philadelphia, which travels to Buffalo the next week earlier than closing out the common season at dwelling in opposition to Washington.

T7. Bears at Packers: Week 16, TBD (Saturday)

This recreation doesn’t want storylines to be good. Oldest rivalry within the NFL, two younger groups with huge expectations for the season. Even when that’s true, it’s that rather more enjoyable when there’s some added intrigue. Ben Johnson made waves in January when he kicked off his introductory Bears press convention by saying how a lot he loved beating Matt LaFleur when he labored for Detroit. LaFleur has executed his greatest to downplay the feedback, but it surely’s fairly straightforward to deduce that the Packers’ head coach might need some added motivation to place the Bears of their place.

6. Commanders at Cowboys: Week 7, 4:25 p.m. ET (AGOTW)

We didn’t really see Jayden Daniels sq. off in opposition to Dak Prescott in 2024. The Cowboys’ starter had already been misplaced to damage when Dallas and Washington met for the primary time final 12 months, so this may (hopefully) be their first NFL faceoff. On prime of that, this ought to be an early take a look at how the Commanders and Cowboys measure as much as the Eagles within the NFC East.

5. Eagles at Payments: Week 17, 4:25 p.m. ET (AGOTW)

I’d have put this recreation barely increased on the listing if it was occurring earlier within the season. Given the success we’ve seen from the Payments and Eagles, we are able to’t assure that they’ll be taking part in all their starters with simply two video games till the playoffs. Nonetheless, there’s so much to love. Star quarterbacks, loaded rosters, and the potential for winter climate in Orchard Park. This could possibly be one other basic, like their additional time recreation in 2023.

4. Rams at Ravens: Week 6, 1 p.m. ET

There aren’t many offenses which are extra enjoyable to look at when all the things’s clicking. In 2023, Lamar Jackson and Matthew Stafford delivered one of the enjoyable afternoons of the season on a wet day in Baltimore. I’m optimistic they will do it once more on Oct. 12. Each of those groups will probably be gunning to win their divisions, and Davante Adams is now readily available with Stafford and Sean McVay. The potential for fireworks right here is sky excessive.

3. Bears at Lions: Week 2, 1 p.m. ET

What a time Week 2 goes to be. Hours earlier than the Tremendous Bowl rematch between Kansas Metropolis and Philadelphia, Ben Johnson will make his return to Detroit for the primary time since leaving for Chicago. The Bears’ new head coach oversaw the most effective offenses in soccer when he labored for the Lions, and the hope will probably be that he can hit the bottom operating with Caleb Williams & Co. There’s no higher probability to show he’s the person for the job than an early win on the highway in opposition to the reigning division champs.

2. Bengals at Payments: Week 14, 4:25 p.m. ET (AGOTW)

In a season filled with big-time quarterback matchups, this is among the greatest. Not solely are Josh Allen and Joe Burrow two of the most effective within the recreation, however additionally they haven’t performed fairly often. The Bengals and Payments have solely matched up twice since their star quarterbacks entered the league, with Cincinnati profitable each contests. The Payments have had the higher run of issues over the previous two years, however the Bengals completely have the expertise to re-claim their spot as an actual AFC contender.

1. Eagles at Chiefs: Week 2, 4:25 p.m. ET (AGOTW)

It’s a well-liked reply for a motive, as a result of who doesn’t wish to see the 2 greatest groups within the league face off once more? The Eagles have been the higher staff on Tremendous Bowl Sunday, however I’m constructive your complete Chiefs group is determined to show they weren’t as overmatched as they appeared that night. If this recreation was later within the season, it wouldn’t intrigue me as a lot. There are too many variables, too many issues that may change because the season wears on. However in Week 2, when each groups are nonetheless prone to be pretty wholesome? Signal me up.

David Helman covers the NFL for FOX Sports activities and hosts the NFL on FOX podcast. He beforehand spent 9 seasons masking the Cowboys for the staff’s official web site. In 2018, he gained a regional Emmy for his function in producing “Dak Prescott: A Household Reunion” in regards to the quarterback’s time at Mississippi State. Comply with him on Twitter at @davidhelman_.

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