3 NFL Matchups We're More Excited About Than the Super Bowl LIX Rematch

Jeff Reynolds|published: Fri 16th May, 08:51 2025

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) rolls out in the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

Super Bowl rematches are almost always overplayed — the revenge subplot and all — as if the Chiefs winning a Week 2 regular-season game with the Eagles evens the score for the centerstage collapse in New Orleans that left Kansas City as runners-up in Super Bowl LIX.

But they’ll be primed for a game in September because of the timeslot and subplots, and to that we say: you can have it.

Here are three other games we’re more excited about than the LIX redo:

Detroit Lions at Philadelphia Eagles, Nov. 16

The Sunday night game in Week 11 should have some meaning tied to it — possibly the No. 1 seed in the NFC — and most likely some circuitry will trace to tiebreakers in the final playoff bracket in the conference.

The Lions were the best team in the NFL in the regular season, with a consistency only matched by the Chiefs. Neither was good enough to claim the Lombardi Trophy.

Two teams anchored in throwback tendencies and arguably the top two offensive lines in the NFL, this game sets up as a chess match dotted with All-Pro talent on either side of the ball.

Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders, Oct. 13

Nov 10, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) reacts after a pass against the New England Patriots during the second half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images

A Monday nighter in Maryland, D.C. kid Caleb Williams gets a chance to run it back with Washington wunderkind Jayden Daniels. Daniels beat the Bears with an improbable 52-yard bomb, and the walk-off Hail Mary was enough to shake the tectonic plates in Chicago for another coaching change.

Williams, the No. 1 pick in 2024, is now paired with former Lions offensive guru Ben Johnson, and huge things are expected.

Only bigger things are expected from the Commanders, who played in the NFC Championship Game behind Daniels — drafted one spot after Williams — and first-year head coach Dan Quinn.

Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills, Dec. 7

Jan 19, 2025; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) looks to throw during the first quarter against the Baltimore Ravens in a 2025 AFC divisional round game at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

One of the flex packages could come for this game, which deserves a primetime perch and no distractions from other games in the same timeslot.

Joe Burrow and Josh Allen are next to impossible to stop, and we don’t anticipate Buffalo or Cincinnati resembling the 1985 Chicago Bears defensively.