Throughout the 2024 regular season, the Detroit Lions dominated the NFC, boasting a formidable offense that led them to an impressive 15-2 record and the conference’s top seed heading into the playoffs. However, their reign was short-lived, as they suffered an early postseason exit with a home loss to the Commanders. With their elimination, the Philadelphia Eagles seized control of the NFC, solidifying their dominance with convincing victories in both the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl.

Lions’ star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is eager for a chance to reclaim their top spot. On the February 12 episode of the St. Brown Podcast, he expressed his desire for Detroit to face the Eagles in the 2025 season opener, believing a fully healthy Lions squad would have performed differently in the playoffs. “You would see with our healthy defense how that (expletive) operates,” St. Brown stated.

Considering the Eagles’ 2025 home schedule, a matchup with the Lions makes perfect sense for the season opener. While Philadelphia will also host three other playoff teams, none offer the same intrigue as a rematch between these two teams, who last met in Week 1 of the 2022 season. With one of Detroit’s biggest stars advocating for the game, and the Eagles likely intrigued by the challenge, fans would be thrilled at the prospect of an early-season showdown that could serve as a preview of the next NFC Championship Game.