After winning the Super Bowl, the Philadelphia Eagles will get to kick off the 2025 season with a home game at Lincoln Financial Field. While the Lombardi Trophy and over 67,000 fans will be in attendance, the bigger question is who the Eagles will be hosting on opening night.
The list of Philadelphia’s 2025 opponents presents plenty of options. The Eagles could host a playoff rematch with the Washington Commanders or the Los Angeles Rams. They could play the NFC Championship Game that wasn’t by hosting the Detroit Lions or could face a traditional rival in the Dallas Cowboys.
But even with Pete Carroll’s first game as Las Vegas Raiders head coach and a matchup with Sean Payton and the Denver Broncos on the table, an NFL insider projected a shocking choice for who the Eagles could begin their Super Bowl defense against.
NFL Insider Adam Schefter Thinks The Eagles Will Open 2025 Season Against the Bears
ESPN’s Adam Schefter ran through the options during the latest episode of his podcast and predicted that the Chicago Bears would be the most logical opponent to open the 2025 season in Philadelphia.
“The Chicago Bears, in my mind, become the matchup to watch for that Thursday night opener,” Schefter said. “The Bears are looking to make a comeback. It’s not the marquee matchup that you’re giving away early on when you’re going to 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…is Bears at Eagles in the opener. I’m calling my shot right now.”
The Bears finished last season at 5-12 but they have already created some buzz this offseason. Ben Johnson joins Chicago after he was the hottest head coaching candidate over the past two seasons and he’ll be paired with Caleb Williams, who was the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft.
Chicago also has the means to improve over the offseason with $62.9 million in cap space and the 10th overall pick in the NFL Draft. If the Bears selected Boise State star Ashton Jeanty with their first-round pick, it would make for a marquee matchup against the defending Super Bowl champion.
That would mean a lot to the Bears. But for the Eagles? Not so much.
Taking into consideration Schefter’s reasoning to save the Lions game for a week they need big ratings, it also would be more appealing to have two NFC powers battle each other in the opening game of the season than one who finished in last place of their division.
Then again, most people will watch opening night regardless of who is playing and could find entertainment rooting for their fantasy football team or throwing down a bet on the matchup.
Even if the opponent doesn’t generate excitement, the Super Bowl celebration will do the heavy lifting. Playing the Bears could also guarantee the Eagles start the season with a win in front of a national audience, but it’s something that will be discussed until the 2025 schedule is officially released in a few months.