- Several Steelers have a lot to show in 2025: Aaron Rodgers and D.Ok. Metcalf are each set to play in opposition to their former groups of their first seasons within the Steel City, ought to Rodgers signal as anticipated.
- Mike Vrabel’s return to Tennessee shall be entertaining: Vrabel, who helped gasoline the Titans’ success not way back, will look to show the workforce made a mistake in firing him after 2023.
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Estimated Reading Time: 12 minutes
Amid the quietude following the tip of the 2025 NFL Draft, the NFL’s schedule launch has reinvigorated vitality into the soccer offseason. Players and groups lastly have an concept of how their upcoming seasons can take form, together with video games to circle on the calendars.
For some gamers and coaches, sure journeys or matchups can have additional depth, given their historical past. Below are the 12 greatest video games of the 2025 season that includes some kind of vindication.
1. Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 8)
Assuming Aaron Rodgers in the end indicators with the Steelers, this recreation ought to high the totem pole for revenge matchups. Until that occurs, we will solely speculate in regards to the unbridled animosity concerned on this showdown.
After spending the primary 17 years of his illustrious profession in Green Bay — the place he notched 12 seasons with an 80.0 PFF passing grade or higher and 4 MVPs — Rodgers was dealt to the Jets in April 2023. The Jets by no means squared off with the Packers in both of the previous two years, and this recreation will probably mark Rodgers’ first recreation in opposition to his previous franchise.
Rodgers (76.3 PFF passing grade in 2024) seeking to reassert his dominance at age 41 in opposition to his longtime workforce and mentee in Jordan Love is an amazing storyline.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Jets (Week 1)
The similar discourse with Rodgers applies right here, and his finalizing a contract (if he ever does) will lock in a recreation with infinite dangerous blood. Even if Rodgers by no means turns into a Steeler, although, this recreation has intrigue, given Justin Fields’ presence.
The Jets made what was believed to be a watershed transfer in buying and selling for Rodgers earlier than the 2023 season; as a substitute, he performed simply two snaps in his first yr and was inconsistent the following, ending with a 76.3 PFF passing grade and a 73.7% adjusted completion charge — his lowest since 2015. New York’s failures prompted wholesale adjustments in 2024 and 2025, together with releasing the longer term Hall of Famer and signing Justin Fields, who accrued a 65.7 PFF passing grade in six begins with Pittsburgh final yr.
Will Rodgers show that he’s nonetheless in a position to carry out at a excessive stage, in his former stadium, no much less? Will Fields make the Steelers look silly for each benching and never re-signing him? Both gamers beneath middle have essential agendas on the road on this contest.
3. New York Giants at Denver Broncos (Week 7)
On the floor, this contest could not catch one’s eye. But if Russell Wilson emerges because the Giants’ starter, this can assuredly be a recreation to maintain monitor of.
Wilson will make his second trek again to Denver after being reduce by the workforce through the 2024 offseason. Despite the Broncos swinging for the fences in buying Wilson, he produced solely a 69.8 PFF passing grade throughout two seasons out west, resulting in an unceremonious exit. While Wilson and the Steelers ventured to Empower Field final yr, Justin Fields was the starter, with Wilson not taking part in a snap.
Wilson isn’t assured to start out by this level within the yr for New York, contemplating the workforce has rookie first-rounder Jaxson Dart (91.9 PFF passing grade) ready within the wings and Jameis Winston (69.9 PFF passing grade) as an alternative choice. But if the previous Super Bowl champ is beneath middle for Big Blue, you’ll be able to assure that Wilson will attempt to spite his second franchise.
4. Detroit Lions at Washington Commanders (Week 10)
This recreation may not function the pure vitriol of some listed beneath it, but it surely nonetheless provides a showdown between two NFC contenders, together with one with a bitter style in its mouth. Washington surprised the injury-riddled Lions within the divisional spherical final season, knocking off Detroit by a 45-31 rating.
Detroit, which completed the 2024 season second in PFF total grade (93.8), misplaced each of its marquee coordinators however returned a lot of the nucleus from its 15-2 workforce a season in the past, together with Aidan Hutchinson (95.0 PFF pass-rushing grade). Meanwhile, the upstart Commanders completed fourth in offensive EPA per play and have solely upgraded that unit with additions comparable to Deebo Samuel (72.1 PFF receiving grade) and Laremy Tunsil (89.1 PFF pass-blocking grade).
For most of final yr, the Lions gave the impression to be one of many two greatest groups in soccer, however we by no means even bought to see them within the NFC Championship recreation. This 2025 rematch shall be their alternative to avenge that defeat in a essential recreation for NFC seeding.
Lions Defensive Grades in 2024 Divisional Round
5. Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Week 2)
Any Super Bowl rematch the yr after the sport must be on this sort of listing. Considering the additional historical past between these franchises, this duel ought to be one of the vital anticipated of 2025.
Kansas City and Philadelphia had been among the many favorites to play in New Orleans, and that’s precisely what occurred. But few anticipated the Eagles’ 40-22 drubbing of the Chiefs, squashing their hopes of a three-peat due to a dominant defensive efficiency (30 whole pressures, 4 turnover-worthy performs from Patrick Mahomes). The Chiefs probably nonetheless have a bitter style of their mouth after how the Super Bowl concluded, particularly on condition that it occurred by the hands of Andy Reid’s former workforce.
The Eagles have had Kansas City’s quantity a bit as of late, prevailing within the Super Bowl in addition to through the 2023 common season. This subsequent version of a budding rivalry affords the Chiefs an opportunity at revenge — and to reclaim their place as possibly the NFL’s greatest workforce.
6. Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 2)
The Steelers have some actual vendettas this season that they will handle straight away. This time, it doesn’t contain their (presumed) enigmatic quarterback, however fairly a high-profile wideout.
In March, Pittsburgh made a bombshell commerce acquisition of huge receiver D.Ok. Metcalf from the Seahawks in change for a second-round choose. Metcalf (75.0 PFF receiving grade) provides the Steelers a higher-end WR1 than the departed George Pickens, and the workforce rewarded him with a profitable five-year, $150 million extension to lock him in for the long run. Metcalf’s exit from Seattle got here on the heels of an inconsistent 2024 marketing campaign that includes solely two video games above a 70.0 PFF receiving grade and lingering discontent about play calling.
It’s not usually {that a} new participant will get to swimsuit up in opposition to his former workforce this shortly. Metcalf will definitely be amped as much as battle in opposition to Devon Witherspoon and Tariq Woolen in an actual recreation, like in numerous practices earlier than.
7. Kansas City Chiefs at Buffalo Bills (Week 9)
The Chiefs and Bills can have confronted each other in six straight seasons, together with in 4 of the previous 5 postseasons. Each recreation has a playoff environment, and this one ought to be no completely different.
Since 2021, Buffalo has had its season finish 4 instances by the hands of Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs; final yr adopted swimsuit, with Kansas City knocking off the Bills 32-29 in an AFC Championship basic. The Bills’ quest to lastly beat the Chiefs and make a visit to a Super Bowl feels Sisyphean at this level.
Buffalo addressed its protection — the overarching purpose for its repeated losses to the Chiefs — this offseason by including Maxwell Hairston, Joey Bosa, T.J. Sanders and Michael Hoecht. The Bills will look to beat the Chiefs for a fifth straight time within the common season and eventually have that consequence prolong to January.
8. New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans (Week 7)
As Mike Vrabel assumes the Patriots’ head-coaching place, he’ll have lots on his plate to get New England again to a aggressive workforce. Even in his first season, he received’t completely have the ability to ignore his previous with a visit to Nashville on the books.
Vrabel spent six seasons teaching the Titans, amassing a 54-45 report with a 2-3 playoff mark, together with a visit to the 2019 AFC Championship recreation. Following 2021, the Titans declined considerably beneath Vrabel, going 13-21 with zero playoff appearances and ending no higher than 18th in PFF total grade. Tennessee fired Vrabel after the 2023 season, with many across the league believing that he was let go too quickly.
New England has swiftly rebuilt its roster this offseason beneath Vrabel’s auspices, including Milton Williams (91.7 PFF pass-rushing grade), Stefon Diggs (79.7 PFF receiving grade), Will Campbell (80.6 PFF pass-blocking grade) and Carlton Davis (74.5 PFF total grade). Vrabel and the new-look Patriots — together with former Titans Harold Landry III and Jack Gibbens — will look to ship a message at Nissan Stadium.
Stefon Diggs’ Career PFF Grades
9. Dallas Cowboys at Chicago Bears (Week 3)
Like a season in the past, the Bears have assembled a really productive offseason, beginning on the high in hiring Ben Johnson as head coach. But as is customary, the workforce will nonetheless cope with its ghosts of the previous, together with in Johnson’s first season.
After a number of weeks with time administration points and late-game collapses, the Bears fired Matt Eberflus after Week 13 of final season. Eberflus totaled a meager 14-32 report as Chicago’s chief, together with zero journeys to the postseason. Following his demise within the Windy City, Eberflus is now the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator, seeking to enhance a unit that completed twenty eighth in EPA per play in 2024.
Bears offenses by no means discovered their footing beneath Eberflus, cumulatively rating twenty first in EPA per play and twenty fifth in success charge throughout his tenure of simply over two and a half years. Ironically, Johnson shall be tasked with enhancing that in Caleb Williams’ second season, and he’ll battle Eberflus calling photographs on the opposite facet of the ball in his first recreation again at Soldier Field.
10. Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Rams (Week 15)
The Lions and Rams have encountered each other fairly a bit up to now two seasons, squaring off within the 2023 NFC wild-card spherical and in an extra time thriller to start the 2024 season. But this matchup is distinct in representing Jared Goff’s second return to Los Angeles after elevating Detroit to contender standing.
As the No. 1 total choose in 2016, Goff performed solely 5 seasons with the Rams, catalyzing the workforce’s run to Super Bowl 53 however accumulating a 78.1 PFF passing grade that ranked solely 18th amongst 29 certified quarterbacks from 2016-20. Consequently, the Rams executed a league-changing commerce, sending Goff to Detroit in change for Matthew Stafford, who has fared higher since changing into a Ram (86.5 PFF passing grade).
Goff has rounded into kind with the Lions, posting an 80.1 PFF passing grade since going to Detroit and galvanizing the workforce’s turnaround. Now, he’ll return to his previous metropolis for the second time with way more confidence, on the lookout for a greater consequence than a loss in 2021.
11. Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills (Week 1)
Like Chiefs-Bills, Ravens-Bills has turn into among the many extra spirited head-to-head, non-traditional rivalries within the NFL. And in the identical vein, the collection has turn into fairly lopsided within the playoffs.
Baltimore was eradicated from each the 2020 and 2024 postseasons on the street in Buffalo. Last yr’s recreation featured Lamar Jackson exorcising some playoff demons with a 76.0 PFF passing grade, however two turnover-worthy performs and woes from Mark Andrews (a drop on the tying two-point conversion and a fumble) spelled the tip of the Ravens’ spectacular season. Since their divisional-round loss, Baltimore has compiled one other stellar draft and signed DeAndre Hopkins (77.0 PFF receiving grade).
When Baltimore and Buffalo battled throughout final yr’s common season in primetime, the Ravens ran wild en path to a commanding 35-10 win — all for his or her fortunes to show in January. John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson will hope to keep away from the identical destiny in 2025.
12. New York Jets at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 3)
Most of the video games on this listing have overt narratives, however Jets-Buccaneers is a sleeper with lots to show, particularly on Tampa Bay’s sideline.
Before taking up as Buccaneers head coach in 2022, Todd Bowles was the Jets’ head coach for 4 seasons, the place he went solely 24-40 with zero playoff berths. Bowles is definitely the final Gang Green coach to perform a successful report, which he did in 2015, however remains to be considered unsuccessful within the submit. Meanwhile, new Buccaneers edge rusher Haason Reddick was traded to the Jets earlier than the 2024 season, however a contract dispute and holdout led to him taking part in simply 392 whole snaps with restricted success (52.9 PFF pass-rushing grade).
Having guided Tampa Bay to 3 straight playoff appearances and franchise stability, Bowles will check his mettle in opposition to his previous employer for the primary time as a head coach, with Reddick additionally looking for to make the Jets look silly for not granting him the contract he desired.