The tradition will continue this fall with the defending Super Bowl champion hosting the NFL regular-season opener, hoisting the Super Bowl champions banner before kickoff on Thursday Night Football.
And, while fans eagerly await the NFL full schedule release on May 14, the season-opener is one of the marquee games to be announced, along with the international games, Thanksgiving games, and which teams will be squaring off on Christmas Day.
Could Philadelphia Eagles vs. Detroit Lions Kick Off the 2025 NFL Season?
One former NFL Executive believes that he has the perfect season opener in mind, both for the league and the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field.
“The Detroit Lions were one of the best teams in the league for most of last season,” Former Giants VP Marc Ross writes for NFL Media, suggesting an Eagles-Lions matchup to open the season is the league’s best bet.
“That is, until they were ravaged by injuries, then were upset at home in the Divisional Round by the upstart Commanders. Thoughts of what could have been still sting for some, including Amon-Ra St. Brown, who said this offseason he wants a healthy Detroit team to get the first crack at the reigning champions this fall. This meeting will be must-see TV, with appealing matchups all over the field, including the Lions’ explosive offense vs. a defense that dominated in the Super Bowl. Not to mention, there would be star power galore, thanks to Saquon Barkley, Aidan Hutchinson, A.J. Brown and Jahmyr Gibbs, among plenty of others.”
Philadelphia opened the 2022 NFL Season, before eventually barnstorming to a Super Bowl showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs, in Detroit and a rematch of that game could produce some fireworks in South Philadelhpia to begin the 2025 campaign.
As Ross points out, the Eagles and Lions boast plenty of star power, there are plenty of compelling matchups within the game, and there is the possibility that this game could be an NFC Championship Game preview.
The wait is almost over to find out who will officially open the season, but Ross’ prediction for the Eagles’ first game is a compelling possibility.
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