10 Best Matchups of NFL Season

by Eric Fulton
The 2025 National Football League season kicks off this week. Thirty-two teams are fighting for the right to become the champion of Super Bowl 60. As always, the NFL provides six months of high drama, but in five of those months, 18 regular-season games are played, and while there are many exciting matchups, here are my 10 most anticipated matchups of the season.
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10. Dallas Cowboys vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 1, September 4)
Opening Night in the NFL is always a show. The Super Bowl winners from the last season get to raise their championship banner in front of millions, and you can feel the excitement all around. For the second time in the last five years, the Eagles will get to kick off the season at home as champions. What better way to open up the season than by having their most hated rival come to town? The Cowboys are not supposed to be really good in 2025, but they would love nothing more than to spoil the celebration in Philadelphia in front of the world.

9. Denver Broncos vs. Houston Texans (Week 9, November 2)
Both Denver and Houston made the playoffs last season. While it was great for both teams, they want to be at the level the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens are right now. The Week 9 matchup features a very good offense in the Broncos facing a very good defense in the Texans. It should be a better game than people expect.

8. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Week 1, September 5)
For the second year in a row, the NFL is headed to Brazil. This time around, two AFC West rivals will square off in South America. Kansas City is coming off its second Super Bowl loss in the last five years. The Chargers are coming off a playoff appearance last year and will look to dethrone the Chiefs in a highly contested AFC West. Plus, everyone will be able to watch the game for free on YouTube.

7. Chicago Bears vs. Washington Commanders (Week 6, October 13)  
Last year, Chicago and Washington had one of the best games of the year. The Commanders won that game on a “Hail Mary” touchdown that catapulted them to the NFC Championship game.  Both teams have two young quarterbacks in Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. Will the Bears get their revenge from last year? Or will the Commanders continue their climb up the NFC ladder?

6. Washington Commanders vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 16 &Week 18, December 20 and January 3 or January 4)
Philadelphia and Washington will meet twice in the final three weeks of the regular season. Both matchups could decide the NFC East and possibly the number one seed heading into the playoffs. They split the regular-season matchups last year, but it was the Eagles that blew out the Commanders in the NFC Championship game. I am excited to see both games.

5. Baltimore Ravens vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 4, September 28)
Last year, these two teams put on a great game on opening night with Kansas City winning by a toe as Isiah Likely went out of bounds on the final play of the game. That game cost the Ravens the chance to play at home in the Divisional Round and maybe the AFC Championship game. Once again, home-field advantage could come into play when these two teams collide.

4.  Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 3, September 21)
The Rams and Eagles played an awesome game in the Divisional Round in last season’s playoffs, with the Eagles hanging on late to end the Rams’ season. This time, the weather should be better than it was in January as the two meet for NFC supremacy in this early-season clash.

3. Baltimore Ravens vs. Buffalo Bills (Week 1, September 7)
Another thrilling game from last season’s Divisional Round in the NFL Playoffs was the great game between Baltimore and Buffalo. The Bills won a close affair thanks to a missed two-point conversion by the Ravens. Now the two teams meet early in week 1, which will decide who has the early advantage in the AFC.

2. Philadelphia Eagles vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Week 2, September 14)  
The rematch of Super Bowl LIX happens early in the season in Kansas City. The Eagles have won the last two matchups against the Chiefs, including their most recent visit to Arrowhead Stadium. Of course, the Chiefs will definitely bring their ‘A’ game in the best game of Week 2.

1. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills (Week 9, October 26)
The Bills and the Chiefs have provided some classic games and moments over the last few years, and the matchup in week nine should be another great game. The biggest question is, can Josh Allen and the Bills finally get over that next hump and make it to the Super Bowl, or will Patrick Mahomes and company continue to be Buffalo’s kryptonite?