The highly anticipated release of the 2025 NFL schedule is just days away, with the full lineup set to be unveiled on May 14. As fans eagerly await this moment, there are plenty of ways to pass the time. One great option is to dive into our schedule predictions, where we forecast the exact matchups for some of the most exciting games of the upcoming season. This includes the thrilling Thursday night opener and the much-loved Thanksgiving and Christmas tripleheaders. Before making any travel plans, remember that these predictions are speculative. Let's jump into our predictions, starting with the first game of the season in Philadelphia.
Home Team: Philadelphia Eagles
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC, fubo try for free)
Possible Opponents: Giants, Cowboys, Commanders, Lions, Bears, Rams, Broncos, Raiders
As the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles are set to host the opening game of the 2025 NFL season. It's been 13 years since a Super Bowl champion faced a divisional rival in this game, which means we can likely rule out the Commanders, Cowboys, and Giants as potential opponents. The NFL often favors playoff teams for this prestigious slot, making the Lions and Rams strong contenders. The Lions would have been the Eagles' opponent in the NFC Championship if they hadn't experienced an upset loss in the divisional round last season. The Rams also pose a threat, having come close to defeating Philadelphia in the postseason.
Predicted Opponent: Lions or Rams
Time: 12:30 p.m. ET (Fox, fubo try for free)
Possible Opponents: Bears, Packers, Vikings, Giants, Buccaneers, Browns, Steelers
The NFL has a long-standing tradition of featuring the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day, where they typically face an NFC North rival or an AFC team. Over the past nine years, the Lions have played their division rivals seven times and faced an AFC team twice. With the Packers and Bears already having their turns in recent years, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Vikings make an appearance this year, especially with J.J. McCarthy starting.
Predicted Opponent: Vikings or Steelers
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)
Possible Opponents: Giants, Eagles, Commanders, Packers, Vikings, Cardinals, Chiefs, Chargers
This matchup is typically the most-watched regular-season game of the year, and the viewership could skyrocket if the NFL selects the Kansas City Chiefs as the opponent. This would mark the first time Patrick Mahomes plays on Thanksgiving, making it a must-see event. However, given the Cowboys’ history of facing divisional rivals in three of the last four years, the Commanders or another NFC East team could also be in line for this game.
Predicted Opponent: Commanders or Chiefs
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC, fubo try for free)
In recent years, the prime-time Thanksgiving game has featured at least one playoff team from the previous season. It’s almost a certainty that we will see at least one 2024 playoff team in this matchup, possibly two.
Predicted Game: Broncos at Chargers or Seahawks at Rams
Time: 3 p.m. ET (Amazon)
Home Team: TBA
The NFL has only seen two Black Friday games in its history, both of which featured division rivals. Last year, the Dolphins faced the Jets, while the Raiders took on the Chiefs the following year. With the league's penchant for marquee matchups, it's highly likely that this year's game will include a significant team, possibly the Patriots or the Giants.
Predicted Game: Patriots at Bills or Giants at Eagles
The NFL is making strides to dominate the Christmas holiday with a lineup of three major games. Last year, the league showcased four playoff teams in the Christmas slots, and it’s expected to continue this trend. The Chiefs have expressed interest in playing on Christmas annually, and while the NFL may not fully oblige, they are still likely to feature Kansas City prominently on this day.
Time: 1 p.m. ET (Netflix)
Predicted Game: Texans at Chiefs or Lions at Ravens
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET (Netflix)
Predicted Game: Bengals at Bills or Commanders at Packers
Time: 8:20 p.m. ET (Amazon)
Predicted Game: Rams at 49ers or Eagles at Broncos
If you're eager for more schedule predictions, fear not! We have extensive forecasts for all the international games set for this year. While the official schedule is yet to be released, you can still check out the upcoming home-and-away opponents for all 32 teams to get a head start on planning your football season.
