We are one week away from the release of the 2025 NFL schedule, and there are endless combinations from September through January. Focusing on the holiday games, this article gives the ideal matchups for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Christmas.
Thanksgiving
1:00 PM ET: Vikings @ Lions
Vikings-Lions has carried increased importance as an NFC North rivalry in recent years, and we could get a rematch of last season’s final regular season game on Thanksgiving. Detroit further boosted the secondary with the signing of D.J. Reed, and the cornerbacks battling Justin Jefferson—set to catch passes from J.J. McCarthy in 2025—will be must-see TV.
4:30 PM ET: Chiefs @ Cowboys
The NFL has indicated Kansas City’s desire to be a mainstay on Christmas won’t happen, so why not give them a shot at the Cowboys on Thanksgiving instead? This year will be the last chance for Dallas to host the current core of the Chiefs with Travis Kelce set to retire after the season, and Patrick Mahomes probably wants another shot at the Cowboys after being contained in the only other meeting (a 19-9 win for Kansas City).
8:15 PM ET: Jaguars @ Broncos
This is a unique matchup for the primetime showdown on Thanksgiving, but Jacksonville is suddenly an extremely exciting squad with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter—with a chance to be introduced to a more general audience—on offense. For Denver, we can count on more showcase games after rookie Bo Nix and the defense led them to a playoff berth in 2024.
Black Friday
3:00 PM ET: Bengals @ Ravens
The Raiders made it a battle last year in a heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs on Black Friday, but they entered the game with a 2-9 record, which followed up a disappointing debut for Amazon on the holiday with Dolphins-Jets in 2023. It’d be wise to go for more of a sure thing, and Bengals-Ravens are both contenders that gave us two classic games last season.
Christmas Day
1:00 PM ET: Bears @ Packers
The AFC dominated Christmas Day last year, so the schedule-makers might decide on an NFC-heavy slate this December. The history of Bears-Packers needs no explanation, and there could be even more intensity in 2025 with Ben Johnson and Matt LaFleur having a bit of a rivalry brewing between them.
4:30 PM ET: Seahawks @ Commanders
The Seahawks went 10-7 last season and earned more national games under Mike Macdonald—especially following a draft haul that received universal praise. One of the selections was Jalen Milroe in the third round, and if the rookie were to simply become the starter via injury to Sam Darnold at some point, it’d set up a rematch versus Jayden Daniels after the two combined for 318 rushing yards and five touchdowns (four by Milroe) in the LSU-Alabama matchup two years ago.
8:15 PM ET: Eagles @ Bills
Buffalo getting the opportunity to host the final regular season game at Highmark Stadium on Christmas Day feels like a natural decision by the league, but the opponent would be more of a debate. Philadelphia would give us a potential Super Bowl preview, and it’s a fresher matchup than Kansas City or Baltimore. Perhaps the Patriots would be another option to give the Bills an “easier” draw, but the Eagles would nearly erase the risk of a lopsided showdown.