Here are 20 games to watch on the 2025 NFL slate, from Aaron Rodgers’ triumphant return to the Meadowlands to another potential Russ Bowl at Empower Field at Mile High.
Week 1
Pittsburgh at New York Jets
Sunday, Sept. 7, 11 a.m., CBS
Tempting as it is to go with the Chiefs and Chargers slipping and sliding all over the Brazilian turf on Friday, Sept. 5, in Sao Paulo, we can’t resist QB Aaron Rodgers’ return to the Meadowlands for a matchup against former Steelers quarterback Justin Fields.
Baltimore at Buffalo
Sunday, Sept. 7, 6:20 p.m., NBC
Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Ravens counterpart Lamar Jackson split the NFL’s MVP awards last fall, marking the first time that’s happened in 21 years. The winner here gets an early leg up — in both the MVP race and the race for the AFC’s top seed.
Week 2
Philadelphia at Kansas City
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2:25 p.m., FOX
Did the Eagles put an end to the Chiefs’ dynasty with last February’s 40-22 beatdown in Super Bowl LIX? This game could provide an early clue as to how sturdy quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ squad truly is after five Super Bowl trips in six seasons.
Las Vegas at Los Angeles Chargers
Monday, Sept. 15, 8 p.m., ESPN
There’s no better coaching rivalry in football than Pete Carroll vs. Jim Harbaugh. It began in the Pac-12 with USC vs. Stanford, moved to the NFC West with Seattle vs. San Francisco, and now it comes to the AFC West. So, of course, the NFL buries it at 8 p.m. on a Monday.
Week 3
Houston at Jacksonville
Sunday, Sept. 21, 11 a.m., CBS
A relatively tepid Week 3 slate is saved by the presence of CU Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, who could spend half his day trying to shake free of All-Pro cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. and the other half locking down Pro Bowl receiver Nico Collins.
Marvin Mims Jr. (19) of the Denver Broncos celebrates after jumping above Geno Stone (22) and Mike Hilton (21) of the Cincinnati Bengals for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Bengals' 30-24 win at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Marvin Mims Jr. (19) of the Denver Broncos celebrates after jumping above Geno Stone (22) and Mike Hilton (21) of the Cincinnati Bengals for a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the Bengals’ 30-24 win at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)
Week 4
Cincinnati at Denver
Monday, Sept. 29, 6:15 p.m., ABC
If this is anything like last December’s instant classic at Paycor Stadium — an overtime thriller that included a Bo Nix-to-Marvin Mims Jr. heave at the end of regulation and walk-off TD pass from Joe Burrow to Tee Higgins — then we’re in for a treat.
Week 5
San Francisco at Los Angeles Rams
Thursday, Oct. 2, 6:15 p.m., Amazon Prime
Plagued by injuries, Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers went from Super Bowl LIV to a disappointing 6-11 campaign in 2024. After an exodus of talent in free agency, their hopes of returning to contention with a healthy Christian McCaffrey may very well hinge on this divisional matchup.
Week 6
Chicago at Washington
Monday, Oct. 13, 6:15 p.m., ABC
The top two picks in the 2024 draft meet again, with Chicago QB Caleb Williams looking to avenge last year’s Hail Mary heartbreaker. Jayden Daniels-to-Noah Brown ignited a 10-game Bears losing streak that led to the end of the Matt Eberflus era in Chicago.
Russell Wilson of the New York Giants looks to pass the ball during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on July 23, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Russell Wilson of the New York Giants looks to pass the ball during training camp at Quest Diagnostics Training Center on July 23, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Ishika Samant/Getty Images)
Week 7
New York Giants at Denver
Sunday, Oct. 19, 2:05 p.m., CBS
An early-season Russell Wilson injury denied Broncos fans a true Russ Bowl when the Steelers came calling last fall. But good things come to those who wait … unless first-round pick Jaxson Dart has already taken Wilson’s job at this point. Another “petty game ball,” anyone?
Week 8
Green Bay at Pittsburgh
Sunday, Oct. 26, 6:20 p.m., NBC
If only this were at Lambeau Field. Alas, we must settle for Aaron Rodgers facing his former team — the one he quarterbacked to 11 playoff bids and a Super Bowl title, not the one currently digging itself out from his disastrous two-year tenure — in the Steel City.
Week 9
Kansas City at Buffalo
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2:25 p.m., CBS
Sign us up for any meeting between Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Mahomes holds the head-to-head edge at 5-4 after winning January’s AFC title game, but Allen has won four straight regular-season meetings. Add a dash of snow and this is must-see TV.
Week 10
Atlanta vs. Indianapolis at Olympic Stadium, Berlin
Sunday, Nov. 9, 7:30 a.m., NFL
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. made his bones in the Crossroads of America, but his first game against an Indiana team will be in … Germany? The 2024 first-round pick showed flashes at the end of last season. Take another step, and Atlanta will contend in a winnable NFC South.
Week 11
Detroit at Philadelphia
Sunday, Nov. 16, 6:20 p.m., NBC
Washington’s playoff upset of Detroit robbed us of what could’ve been an epic NFC title game between the Lions and Eagles. Will Dan Campbell’s club remain explosive with former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson off to Chicago? A matchup against Philly’s D should reveal plenty.
Week 12
Tampa Bay at Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, Nov. 23, 6:20 p.m., NBC
Sean McVay and the Rams resurrected Baker Mayfield’s career with a brief cup of coffee at the end of the 2022 season. They’ll meet for the first time since, with the Heisman Trophy-winning QB now the leader of a Bucs franchise that’s won the NFC South four years in a row.
Week 13
Minnesota at Seattle
Sunday, Nov. 30, 2:05 p.m., FOX
QB Sam Darnold led Minnesota to 14 wins and a playoff berth, then the Vikings said “thanks, but no thanks” to offering him another contract with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings. Here’s guessing Darnold’s had this one circled for a while.
Week 14
Tennessee at Cleveland
Sunday, Dec. 7, 11 a.m., FOX
Consider this a bet that Shedeur Sanders will be taking snaps for the Browns … and ready to prove his father and CU Buffs head coach Deion Sanders right by taking down No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward in a battle of Class of 2025 quarterbacks.
Week 15
Miami at Pittsburgh
Monday, Dec. 15, 6:15 p.m., ESPN
Head coach Mike Tomlin hasn’t had a losing record once in 18 seasons in Pittsburgh. Aurora native Mike McDaniel has won eight games or more in each of his three seasons as head coach in Miami. Both may need a big year to hold on to their jobs.
Carrington Valentine #24 of the Green Bay Packers tackles DJ Moore #2 of the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on January 5, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Carrington Valentine #24 of the Green Bay Packers tackles DJ Moore #2 of the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field on January 5, 2025, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Week 16
Green Bay at Chicago
Saturday, Dec. 20, TBD, FOX
The best rivalry in football is also among the most one-sided, with the Packers holding a 26-5 edge in the series since 2010. If former Lions OC Ben Johnson is going to win over the Midway as the Bears’ new head coach, he must start beating the Pack first.
Week 17
Dallas at Washington
Thursday, Dec. 25, 11 a.m., Netflix
The league’s holiday gift to football fans? Three spectacular divisional matchups on Christmas Day… that will all be broadcast on either Netflix or Amazon Prime. Because nothing says happy holidays quite like making fans pay for two different streaming services.
Week 18
Indianapolis at Houston
Jan. 6 or 7, TBD, TBD
The AFC South is the early front-runner for the weakest division in the NFL. It stands to reason that one of the two games involving teams from that division will decide a playoff spot on the final weekend of the season. Here’s guessing it’s this one.
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