Of the 272 NFL games each season, more than 50 are played in prime time. The ratings in those windows are big deals to the league’s broadcast partners (and the league itself). Prime-time matchups almost singularly (aside from the Monday night doubleheader) command the attention of the entire fan base.
As the NFL starts releasing its marquee games of the 2025 season, here are 18 prime-time games – one for each week of the season – and we’ve done the work for the league (although it may be too late) by pointing out the nighttime matchups the public most wants to see.
(For the purposes of this exercise, ‘prime time’ means ‘Thursday Night Football’ (Prime Video), ‘Sunday Night Football’ (NBC/Peacock) and ‘Monday Night Football’ (ESPN/ABC/Disney).
Week 1 ‘SNF:’ Detroit Lions at Washington Commanders
Starting strong in a rematch of last year’s divisional round bout that ended with the Commanders throttling the Lions in Detroit. Dan Campbell’s Lions wouldn’t have to wait long for a shot at redemption. And the world would receive an early look at Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, which is never a bad thing.
Week 2 ‘MNF:’ New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
Instead of playing in the South Florida September heat, let the day pass by and let the Dolphins and the Patriots receive some relief from the elements by kicking this AFC matchup off in prime time. Patriots first-year head coach Mike Vrabel will look different in Patriots blue compared to his Tennessee Titans garb, but he’ll also look right at home since he played there. Plus, always good to get the Dolphins on early before the usual end-of-season drop-off.
Week 3 Prime Video: Buffalo Bills at Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals’ Joe Burrow against the Bills’ Josh Allen is an underrated quarterback rivalry. And you know what plays great in prime time? This is a nice opportunity for Amazon to get away from its usual intra-division matchups.
Week 4 ‘MNF:’ San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks
Two teams who are hoping to look different than they did in 2024. Going to the NFC West for a fun prime-time watch is admittedly risky. But having a look at Sam Darnold in Seattle and figuring out whether the 49ers can return to the form that made them the taste of the NFC – when healthy – for a considerable stretch (contemporaneously holding that distinction with the Philadelphia Eagles).
Week 5 ‘SNF:’ Lions at Eagles
And speaking of those Eagles, here they are again. It would be odd if they hadn’t been on prime time once more before this point following the season kickoff on Sept. 4 against the Dallas Cowboys. Detroit on the schedule twice in five weeks with Mike Tirico and Cris Collinsworth on the call? Now that’s something to look forward to.
Week 6 ‘MNF:’ Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
The Bears, as my colleague Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz pointed out, are one of the teams that should receive more prime-time games this season. First-year head coach Ben Johnson should have some sea legs by then, and after he called out Packers head coach Matt LaFleur during his introductory news conference, the duo’s first meeting should be prime-time viewing.
Week 7 ‘TNF:’ Washington Commanders at New York Giants
Are the Giants moving in the right direction after a buzzy offseason? This would go a long way to finding that answer with Daniels and the Commanders coming to town on a short week.
Week 8 ‘MNF:’ Baltimore Ravens at Pittsburgh Steelers
Who knows what Aaron Rodgers is thinking at this point. But if he and the Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson are division rivals in one of the most recognized and respected brands in football, the AFC North, then at least one of those faceoffs has to be in prime time.
Week 9 ‘SNF:’ Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs
Super Bowl rematch is always going to get the prime-time treatment.
Week 10 ‘Prime’ TNF: Dolphins vs. Los Angeles Rams
People forget the Rams came the closest to upsetting the Eagles during last season’s run to the Lombardi Trophy. They should be in the mix again in 2025.
Week 11 ‘SNF:’ Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
Quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy were taken two picks apart in the 2024 draft. This would be a rematch of the 2023 college football national title game, when McCarthy’s Michigan Wolverines defeated Penix’s Washington Huskies.
Week 12 ‘TNF:’ Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Titans and Jaguars playing on a Thursday is a ritual by this point. But this year, there is the intrigue of the top two picks of the 2025 draft – Cam Ward and Travis Hunter, respectively.
Week 13 ‘MNF:’ Arizona Cardinals at Houston Texans
Cardinals signal-caller Kyler Murray and his Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud can be two of the most-electrifying players in the league. If Murray is healthy and Stroud regains some of his rookie-season form, a fun fireworks show on a Monday night is always appreciated.
Week 14 ‘SNF:’ Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers
As the season enters the final stretch, let the playoff feels arrive with this AFC West matchup. Both are trying to dethrone the Chiefs in the division. But first they’ll have to outduel each other.
Week 15 ‘TNF:’ Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs’ run in the NFC South doesn’t always receive the proper recognition. It’s a make-or-break year for Bryce Young. What could be a division race kicks off Week 15.
Week 16 ‘MNF:’ Ravens at Bills
A rematch of last year’s AFC divisional round bout. Allen vs. Jackson. Yes please.
Week 17 ‘SNF:’ Bears at Lions
Nobody is saying the Bears are going to overtake the Lions in the NFC North this season. But it’s also fair to have playoff expectations for this Chicago roster. Their mettle will be revealed in a late-season date at Ford Field.
Week 18 ‘SNF:’ Bengals at Ravens
This is more of a ‘what do we want to see of massive consequence for game no. 272?’ I present to you a fantasy of mine for the 2025 season – the Ravens and Bengals prey on their AFC North foes, the Steelers and Browns and enter the final week of the season in a battle for first place. The winner retains a high seed (perhaps the No. 1 seed?) while the loser has to go on the road for the wild-card round (unless the proposal on behalf of the Lions, which would give home-field advantage to the team with a higher winning percentage, passes before then).
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