Every NFL season is packed with marquee matchups, but only a select few teams are locks to get multiple primetime slots every year. With the 2025 NFL schedule release just around the corner, fans are already circling potential showdowns that they want to see on Sunday, Monday, or Thursday nights.
Some matchups are more obvious than others and are meant to be played under the bright lights. Other games don’t jump right off the page, but when digging deeper into potential storylines, you can see why they could deliver on the big stage. Here are nine matchups, including an obvious one, that the NFL should make primetime games in 2025.
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Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs
This one is a no-brainer – a rematch of Super Bowl LIX. The Philadelphia Eagles dominated the Kansas City Chiefs to the tune of 40-22. Even more notably, they thwarted the Chiefs’ attempt at a historic three-peat. It’s not hard to imagine a beatdown like that firing up Patrick Mahomes and company heading into the 2025 season.
Even if these two teams didn’t meet in the Super Bowl, it goes without saying that this matchup would be must-see TV. The Eagles and Chiefs come in at No. 4 and No. 5 in our 2025 post-draft power rankings, respectively.
Philadelphia experienced a ton of turnover in the offseason, particularly on the defensive side of the ball. Still, last year’s 2nd-ranked unit in Defense+ should be among the league’s best again. On the other side, Patrick Mahomes should have his full complement of weapons, including the return of Rashee Rice and the addition of Jalen Royals in the draft.
Both teams will look a bit different this time around, but you can almost guarantee that the rematch will get a primetime slot when the schedule is released. With names like Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Jalen Hurts, and Saquon Barkley, even the most casual of fans will be tuned in.
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders
The Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders gave us one of the most thrilling endings of any game last season. How could we forget Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels scrambling in the pocket for what felt like an eternity, heaving up a Hail Mary throw from his 35-yard line, then watching it get tipped before Noah Brown came down with it for the walk-off touchdown?
The theatrics from last season’s matchup alone are enough to warrant these two teams running it back under the lights this time. Factor in the fact that Daniels and Caleb Williams were the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, and you have a really intriguing matchup.
Last year’s contest was low scoring, and neither rookie quarterback played their best. But Daniels came up clutch when his team needed him the most, even if luck played a major factor. He also finished the game with a 92.7 passer rating compared to Williams’ 59.5. The two young signal-callers will forever be linked to one another. Daniels enjoyed a far superior rookie campaign. Many are interested to see how Williams responds to a less-than-stellar Year 1.
The Commanders won’t be sneaking up on anyone in 2025. The Bears might, though. While they didn’t live up to the breakout hype in 2024, their offseason moves suggest they could take a step forward. With an improved offensive line and a few new offensive weapons, Chicago could give Washington a run for its money. Washington’s offense could also be stronger with the additions of Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil.
Cincinnati Bengals at Denver Broncos
What are most fans looking for in a primetime game? Typically, they want to see two competitive teams duke it out in a high-scoring affair. Well, I present to you the Cincinnati Bengals’ offense, which is absolute cinema.
Cincinnati averaged 26.4 points per game in 2024 (8th in the NFL). They feature an elite offensive core, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. Both wide receivers got paid this offseason, so the drama is now in the rearview. In Chase Brown, they have an explosive option out of the backfield. The Bengals’ offensive line held them back last season. If they can improve up front and get even a little better defensively, they could return to the playoffs in 2025.
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The Denver Broncos were one of the biggest surprises of 2024. Not many people predicted Sean Payton’s squad to make the playoffs. They also didn’t expect Bo Nix to perform as well as he did in Year 1. On paper, they don’t profile as a high-powered offensive team, but they were 11th in scoring (22.7 PPG) a season ago. The additions of Evan Engram and R.J. Harvey could provide a boost as well.
While the Broncos’ offense is no slouch, it’s their defense that makes this matchup so intriguing. Denver was the top-ranked unit in Defense+ last season, and it appears as if they’ve gotten even better this offseason, adding Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Jahdae Barron. With playmakers all over the field, including the 2024 Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II, Denver has the pieces to make for a compelling chess match against the Bengals’ offense.
Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings
It’s been four years since we’ve seen the NFL’s two purple teams play each other. The last meeting between the Baltimore Ravens and the Minnesota Vikings ended with a Justin Tucker game-winning field goal in overtime. We could see another fireworks-filled contest time around.
The Ravens enter the 2025 season as the No. 1 team in PFSN’s power rankings. Lamar Jackson didn’t win his third MVP award, but he was the best quarterback in 2024, according to our QB+ metric. His dual-threat ability and the arrival of Derrick Henry spearheaded Baltimore’s elite offense (2nd in Offense+). With weapons all over the field, this offense can hang with anyone. They’ll match up against a Vikings defense that ranked third in Defense+ but suffered some turnover in free agency.
Minnesota’s offense was explosive at times during the 2024 season, and it’s not difficult to see why. Sam Darnold revived his career under Kevin O’Connell, and he benefited from a dangerous arsenal of weapons. With Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and Aaron Jones on the field, opposing defenses have a lot of threats to account for.
J.J. McCarthy steps in as QB1 for the Vikings, and it will be interesting to see how he looks coming off a torn meniscus. Though he’s stepping into a great situation with a bevy of talented players at the skill positions and what should be one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, he’ll have his hands full with Baltimore’s defense. The Ravens landed a top edge rusher and safety in the draft. It will be fun to see how they match up against the exciting weapons on Minnesota’s side.
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers
The Minnesota Vikings make the list again for a few reasons, but none bigger than the storyline of J.J. McCarthy playing against his former college head coach Jim Harbaugh in primetime. The two won the College Football National Championship together to close the 2023 season.
McCarthy’s championship experience and winner’s mentality significantly boosted his draft stock, and he (obviously) received glowing endorsements from Harbaugh, who had recently become the Los Angeles Chargers’ new head coach. Harbaugh knows his former quarterback better than any other coach in the NFL, so it will be interesting to see how McCarthy fares in this matchup.
The 10th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, McCarthy carried plenty of momentum heading into last season. However, a knee injury during the preseason derailed his rookie campaign before it even got started. For Harbaugh, it must be rewarding to see his former player’s resiliency in the face of adversity. However, he’ll be hoping his defense can cause all types of problems for McCarthy in this one.
The Chargers’ defense was one of the league’s most improved units in 2024, finishing the regular season fourth in Defense+. They had the No. 1 scoring defense in football, led by a secondary that features several playmakers. On the other side, Justin Herbert’s 2024 numbers were underwhelming, and questions still exist about how good he can be. This matchup will be a challenging test for both quarterbacks. Who will rise to the occasion?
Green Bay Packers at Dallas Cowboys
You can bet that the Dallas Cowboys players remember what happened the last time the Green Bay Packers traveled to AT&T Stadium. Jordan Love and company knocked off the NFC East champs and did so in convincing fashion. It was an embarrassing moment for the Cowboys, one that likely still sticks with them to this day.
Dallas’ 2024 season was very forgettable, as they finished with a 7-10 record. Things unraveled for them after Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending injury, but even when healthy, they had some major flaws. After a quiet free agency period, the front office put together a solid 2025 draft class, filling a few of their most glaring holes.
While the Cowboys may not be ready to return to playoff contention, the Packers are coming off their second consecutive postseason berth. Despite an early exit, Green Bay was a well-rounded team in 2024, with the eighth-ranked offense and 10th-ranked defense.
The Packers have notoriously lacked a true No. 1 wide receiver, but perhaps, they’ve found one in Matthew Golden, who they drafted in the first round. Golden, a Texas native who played his college ball exclusively in the state, was linked to the Cowboys during the pre-draft process. However, Dallas passed on him, and he might want to make them pay for that. The Cowboys are coming off a down year, but they still sell, and this game has more than enough storylines.
Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams
If you need evidence as to why these two teams should face each other on primetime, look no further than their last two matchups. The Los Angeles Rams have suffered two close defeats at the hands of the Detroit Lions – one in the 2023 Wild Card round and the other an overtime thriller in Week 1 on Sunday Night Football. Should the NFL run it back? Absolutely.
Both games were decided by one possession, and there’s reason to believe this one could be tightly contested as well. The Lions posted the best Offense+ grade of the 2024 season and recorded the third-best in PFSN’s database dating back to 2019. Jared Goff has a plethora of weapons at his disposal, including Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams.
On the other side, Matthew Stafford is 37 years old and heading into his 16th NFL season. Last season was a down year by his standards, but with the talent around him, he could return closer to form despite his age. The Rams moved on from Cooper Kupp but added Davante Adams, who, paired with Puka Nacua, could create an even stronger wide receiver duo. Additionally, Kyren Williams has posted two straight seasons with 1,100-plus rushing yards.
Both defenses will be tested in this one. Detroit finished the regular season with a top-5 unit in Defense+ despite losing Aidan Hutchinson to a season-ending injury. With a healthy return from Hutchinson and the addition of cornerback D.J. Reed, the Lions’ defense could be elite. As for Los Angeles, they finished as a bottom-10 unit last year. However, they’re extremely young on that side of the ball, and their development could elevate the unit in 2025.
And how could we forget the history between these two quarterbacks? The Lions and Rams swapped QBs ahead of the 2021 season. Goff is 2-1 against Stafford, but Stafford led his new team to a Super Bowl victory.
Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers
Led by the NFL’s reigning Most Valuable Player, Josh Allen, the Buffalo Bills should get plenty of primetime love in 2025. Allen will be 29 years old when the new season begins, and he’s in the middle of his physical prime. His heroics and flash plays stuck in the minds of voters, propelling him to his first MVP award. But after a crushing defeat to the Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game, he and the Bills desperately want to get over the hump.
Buffalo is sitting at the No. 2 spot in PFSN’s post-draft power rankings, and Allen’s game-changing ability has a lot to do with it. Despite lacking an elite group of skill position players, the Bills’ offense still averaged 29.5 points per game in 2024 (2nd in the NFL). Many fans question why general manager Brandon Beane didn’t aggressively attack the wide receiver position this offseason, but Joshua Palmer could develop into a deep threat for Allen, even if not a flashy addition.
Defensively, Buffalo made a big splash, signing 5-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Joey Bosa after the Chargers parted ways with him. The Bills had the lowest pressure rate of any playoff team in 2024, but Bosa’s arrival could provide a much-needed boost.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ inclusion in this matchup heavily depends on whether or not they sign Aaron Rodgers. All signs seemingly point to the Steelers being the most likely to land him, and they have been content with waiting on the 4-time MVP to make up his mind. Rodgers is 41, and his 2024 performance was hardly his best work. However, if Pittsburgh enters the season with Mason Rudolph or Will Howard under center, this game won’t have the same feel. Rodgers’ presence would give this offense some semblance of hope, especially with the newly formed tandem of DK Metcalf and George Pickens.
Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns
While this game may be the least likely to end up in a primetime slot, it could make a ton of sense. The Tennessee Titans and the Cleveland Browns check in at 30th and 32nd, respectively, in our power rankings. However, this matchup could garner a significant ratings spike for the NFL if Shedeur Sanders can overtake the Browns’ starting quarterback job.
Each of these teams entered the draft with a massive hole at the QB position. Tennessee addressed its need by selecting Miami’s Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. After a dramatic few days, Cleveland came away with two rookie quarterbacks in Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. The latter was once a projected top-10 pick but fell to No. 144 overall. Sanders also has a close relationship with Ward, and the two have developed a friendly rivalry.
The Browns will now have five quarterbacks on their roster, the others being Joe Flacco, Deshaun Watson, and Kenny Pickett. It will be an uphill battle for Sanders, who was drafted after Gabriel, but it doesn’t appear to be insurmountable. Flacco is the most reliable option to start Week 1, but he’s 40 and nothing more than a bridge QB. Watson has been unable to stay on the field, and when he has, he hasn’t lived up to the massive contract Cleveland gave him. Pickett hasn’t looked like a starter after three seasons in the league. Even though the Browns drafted Gabriel ahead of Sanders, he was ranked as a lesser prospect by experts across the industry.
If Sanders looks good in training camp and performs well with his opportunities in the preseason, it’s not farfetched that he could overtake at least a few of the guys on the depth chart and eventually start at some point during his rookie season. Considering the coverage Sanders’ draft slide received and the magnitude of every Colorado game, you can imagine the ratings if he and Ward are the starters when the Browns and Titans face off.