NFL 2025 Opener: Who Will the Super Bowl Champion Eagles Play?

• The Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX parade was held on Valentine’s Day
• NFL offseason business is off to a running start
• Philly’s opponent in the 2025 opener is up for debate, speculation, and odds

On Valentine’s Day 2025, the City of Philadelphia held its parade to celebrate the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX win over the Chiefs. Fans are likely still slightly hungover from Sunday into Monday and are currently embarking on another weekend of basking in their team’s second Lombardi Trophy in eight years.

However, league business will proceed as normal. Already, the Jets have informed Aaron Rodgers they intend to part ways with him. Teams are hiring new head coaches and assistants. The NFL Draft is more than two months away and already “mock drafts” (most of which are indeed worthy of mockery) are appearing every day.

And despite the league not releasing its schedule until May, there are odds as to which team the Eagles will play in the 2025 NFL opener.

There are several theories as to how the league chooses its opening night opponent for the champs. Let’s look at which team might get the nod and why.

The Rivalry Theory

Some matchups get ratings and garner attention year-round. Bitter rivals like nothing more than beating each other. In that context and the current climate, the Cowboys and Giants are options to visit Philly.

Although the Cowboys and Eagles genuinely hate each other and their fans hate each other to the fifth power, the “rivalry” is more division-related than the teams competing against each other. Historically, they have only met in the postseason four times with Dallas winning three. They have rarely been title contenders at the same time. Currently, the Cowboys are in flux with a new head coach and their perpetual drama. Their Super Bowl drought has reached 30 years.

The Giants are awful and expecting them to make a wondrous jump in 2025 is somewhat delusional. The NFL likes rivalries, but it also likes competitive games, particularly in the first game of the season. This will not happen.

The Rising Team and Hot QB Theory

The Commanders split their two games with the Eagles during the regular season and surprisingly advanced to the NFC Championship Game for a rubber match where Philly destroyed them 55-23. Still, Washington is on the rise with sensational quarterback Jayden Daniels. This is a high-probability option.

Presumably, the Bears are only listed because of their own pending QB star, Caleb Williams, and a new head coach, Ben Johnson. Chicago will make offseason noise as it improves its offensive line and boosts its offense to suit the QB and coach. But they are probably not going to be playing on opening night.

The Postseason Threat Theory

Philly hopes to repeat and the Rams and Lions are two of the biggest threats to their NFC supremacy. The Eagles beat the Rams 28-22 in the Divisional Round. LA came close to a stunning comeback and upset.

Los Angeles had 2024 chalked up to a bridge year, but they won the NFC West and came close to beating the Eagles. Apart from QB Matthew Stafford (who is expected to return), they are very young and could take the next step toward legitimate championship contention.

The Lions were the favorites to reach the Super Bowl from the NFC but were upset by Washington. Dan Campbell’s squad has gotten close to the summit in 2023 and 2024. They fell short. Their Divisional Round upset loss to Washington was devastating. They have lost both coordinators (Johnson to the Bears and Aaron Glenn to the Jets). They do have the injury excuse as they were ravaged and beaten down by the time the playoffs started, but with attrition and wear, their window is slowly closing.

Who Will the Eagles Play?

The NFL did not become a global money machine by miscalculating what the fans want to see. Based on all the factors listed above, the Commanders check all the boxes the NFL looks for on opening night vs the Super Bowl champs.