The Super Bowl champion Eagles will host the first game of the 2025 season, and the Detroit Lions are a clear frontrunner to be their opponent.

As is customary, the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles will kick off the 2025 NFL regular season by hosting the opening game on the first Thursday night of the season. ESPN’s Adam Schefter quickly highlighted some intriguing potential matchups.

The Detroit Lions have already played in the season opener, defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs to start the 2023 season. That victory made it clear that the Lions were no longer the “Same Old Lions.”

Kevin Patra from NFL.com examined four possible teams that could face the Eagles in the opening game of next season. It’s no surprise that the Lions were listed at the top.

According to Anthony Crupi of Sportico, the Lions were the most-watched NFL team during the 2024 regular season. Their 10 primetime games contributed greatly to this, offering fans a break from the usual Chiefs and Dallas Cowboys matchups.

This ability to attract viewers continued into the postseason, as the Lions’ playoff loss to the Washington Commanders became the fourth most-watched Saturday Divisional Round game ever on FOX.

Opening night NFL games always draw massive TV ratings, being the first meaningful live NFL game in nearly seven months. A matchup between the Lions and Eagles would feature two of the top NFC teams and could even serve as an early preview of the NFC Championship.

The NFL rarely misses a chance to maximize viewership, and while putting an NFC East rival against the Eagles might be acceptable, a Lions vs. Eagles game would undoubtedly generate more interest. The official schedule is typically released in mid-May, so fans will find out then.