Adam Schefter predicts Eagles 2025 NFL opener vs Bears instead of Lions

Posted by author February 16, 2025 NFL

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ESPN reporter predicts Ben Johnson’s first game as Bears head coach will take place at Eagles in NFL 2025 kickoff season opener.
NFL would save the Lions, who also visit the Eagles in 2025, for one of its primetime matchups later in the season.

ESPN NFL newsbreaker Adam Schefter called his shot predicting what the matchup for the 2025 NFL season-opening kickoff game will be.

We know the Philadelphia Eagles will be hosting the league’s annual Thursday night season opener as the defending Super Bowl champions. But who will they play?

We won’t officially know that until May, when the NFL typically has released the entire season’s schedule.

But Schefter senses a potential up-and-coming team will be picked as the opponent. The Eagles host the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, Denver Broncos and Los Angeles Rams in 2025.

The league could save Lions-Eagles for a different window during the season, knowing everyone will watch the NFL opening matchup no matter what, so why “waste” a prime matchup early on?

The Lions (15-2) and Eagles (14-3) were the NFC’s top-two seeds in the playoffs, though they never met because the Lions were obliterated in the divisional round by Washington.

“I also could see the league saving that game for one of its primetime, sweet ratings weeks where they need to get the big numbers,” Schefter said last week on “The Adam Schefter Podcast.”

Detroit and Philadelphia last met in Week 1 in 2022 at Ford Field, when the Eagles held on for a 38-35 victory. They last played in Philly in 2019, a 27-24 Lions win in Week 3.

The other top option would be the Commanders in an NFC championship game rematch, which was dominated by the Eagles, 55-23. The NFL has stayed away from division rivalry games in its kickoff openers — three times it has happened in the past 23 years.

But the Bears, now coached by NFL Assistant Coach of the Year Ben Johnson, become the matchup to watch, Schefter said. Johnson was the Lions’ offensive coordinator the past three seasons.

“I can totally see it now. Ben Johnson’s first game in Philadelphia,” Schefter said. “Bears looking to make a comeback. It’s not the marquee matchup that you’re giving away early on when you’re gonna get the ratings anyway with the Lions or the Rams. But it’s a compelling enough matchup that everybody would be excited to see it.

“My guess right now, guess, is Bears at Eagles in the opener. I’m calling my shot right now.”

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