The NFL season is right around the corner, and we’re ranking all of the Sunday Night Football games on the schedule from worst to best. All Sunday night games will be on NBC and kick off at 8:20 p.m. Eastern Time. Among games on the schedule: a duel of second-year star quarterbacks when Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos travel to the nation’s capital to face Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears are facing the San Francisco 49ers. Also, a certain revenge game featuring a future Hall of Fame quarterback against his former team. Which game tops our list?
17. Kansas City Chiefs vs New York Giants (Week 3, September 21)
This game between the Chiefs and Giants on Sunday Night Football ranks at the bottom of the list as far as intrigue goes. These two teams have not played against each other since 2021, when the Chiefs won 20-17. The only thing really intriguing about this game is Patrick Mahomes facing off against Russell Wilson. They are both former Super Bowl champions. Wilson is on his third team in three years now as quarterback of the Giants after being with the Denver Broncos and Pittsburgh Steelers the previous two years. It’s an early season matchup, so it may draw a lot of interest, maybe not. It remains to be seen.
16. Atlanta Falcons vs San Francisco 49ers (Week 7, October 19)
Falcons-49ers on Sunday Night Football is a flip of the coin as far as intrigue is concerned. By week seven, both teams could be leading their respective divisions, the NFC West and NFC South, and it could be a potential playoff preview. In their last matchup in 2022, the Falcons beat the 49ers 28-14 behind three touchdowns from Marcus Mariota (pictured above). Atlanta’s new quarterback Michael Penix Jr will be nearly halfway through his sophomore season at that point, so fans will get a good gauge of where he is in his development. For the 49ers, it’s just business as usual as they are led by quarterback Brock Purdy, who recently signed a five-year, $265 million contract. He got paid the big bucks for primetime games like these. Let’s see if he delivers.
15. Chicago Bears vs San Francisco 49ers (Week 17, December 28)
The final Sunday night football game on the schedule (for now) is the Bears against the 49ers in San Francisco. This game could end up getting flexed out for a more high-stakes game depending on where both teams stand before week 17. These two teams faced off in week 14 last year, and the 49ers rolled to a 38-13 victory. This time, they are facing off three days after Christmas. Both teams have changed this offseason. Although the Bears have a much-improved coaching staff led by Ben Johnson, it remains to be seen how they will perform this year. The 49ers re-tooled their roster this offseason, most notably trading wide receiver Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders. This game could either be a thriller or a blowout in late December.
14. Cincinnati Bengals vs Miami Dolphins (Week 16, December 21)
An AFC showdown in South Beach takes place four days before Christmas as Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals face Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins. This game could mean something or absolutely nothing, depending on where both teams are in the standings, respectively. Both teams missed the playoffs last season, as the Bengals had a historically bad defense and wasted an MVP-caliber season from Joe Burrow. The Dolphins struggled without Tagavailoa as he missed multiple games due to injury. The Bengals are one of the favorites to make it out of the AFC once again as a Super Bowl contender, while the Dolphins are expected to be in the middle of the pack. No matter the circumstance, it’s always fun watching Burrow and Tagavailoa battle.
13. New England Patriots vs Buffalo Bills (Week 5, October 5)
In early October, second-year quarterback Drake Maye of the New England Patriots faces off against Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football. Maye has a new coach in Mike Vrabel and will look to have a more successful sophomore season after a brutal rookie season when the Patriots went 4-13. For what it’s worth, they did beat the Bills in week 18 last season, 23-16, but the Bills sat most of their starters for that game, including Allen. This game in October will certainly be a big test for the Patriots as they continue to rebuild. Orchard Park will be rocking.
12. Seattle Seahawks vs Washington Commanders (Week 9, October 28)
In late October, the Seahawks travel to the nation’s capital to face Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders for a Sunday night football showdown. Seattle now has a new starting quarterback: Sam Darnold. Darnold was previously the quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 before the Seahawks signed him as a free agent this offseason. Seattle was previously led by Geno Smith (pictured above). The last time the Seahawks played the Commanders was in 2023, when Seattle came away victorious 36-33 on a last-second field goal. Now, a second-year superstar in Daniels will put his talent on display in what will be the first of two Sunday night games for Washington this season.
11. Minnesota Vikings vs Dallas Cowboys (Week 15)
In an early December matchup, it could be a pivotal game for playoff positioning in the NFC, depending on how the Vikings and Cowboys are playing. Both teams could be fighting for division titles, or trying to claim a wild card spot, or even the worst-case scenario: neither team is in playoff contention at all. Minnesota will rise or fall with its new quarterback, JJ McCarthy. On the other hand, Dallas is known for their yearly collapses in December, and facing the Vikings defense is certainly no easy task, as they are led by safety Harrison Smith and linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. Will Dak Prescott be up for the challenge on Sunday night football?
10. Pittsburgh Steelers vs Los Angeles Chargers (Week 10, October 27)
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers face off for the second consecutive year, as last year the Steelers won their previous matchup from week three of the 2024 season, 20-10. This time, the Chargers face Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers and Herbert have never faced each other since Herbert has been in the league, so this game is a treat to watch. Both teams carry playoff expectations in a loaded AFC conference, so this game in week 10 could go a long way to determining the standings. Los Angeles had an early exit in the Wild Card round as they lost to the Houston Texans, 32-12.
For Pittsburgh, they have been looking for an experienced veteran quarterback to lead them to the promised land. They too had an unceremonious exit from last year’s playoffs, losing to their fellow AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens, 28-14. With the defense the Steelers have, they are capable of beating anyone with good to great quarterback play. This Sunday night football game on October 27th between Pittsburgh and Los Angeles will be fun.
9. Green Bay Packers vs Dallas Cowboys (Week 4, September 28)
Once again, the Packers make a trip to Dallas to face the Cowboys. The last time these teams faced off was in the 2023 NFC Wild Card game when the Packers won in dominant fashion, 48-32. A lot is expected out of Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers this season, as they look to truly put themselves in the class of elite contenders. They certainly have a chance to make a statement early in the season. The last five matchups, including the playoffs, have all gone in favor of Green Bay, and the Cowboys look to turn that around with their dynamic duo of Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb. We’ll find out who shows up biggest in the Lone Star State.
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Los Angeles Rams (Week 12, November 23)
The Bucs and Rams play four days before Thanksgiving. In what is expected to be a wide-open NFC playoff race, this game has stars galore. Wide receivers Mike Evans and Puka Nacua, running backs Bucky Irving and Kyren Williams, and of course, the quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield and Matthew Stafford. Mayfield signed with Tampa as a free agent in 2023 to replace Tom Brady when he retired. Tampa and Los Angeles have not played against each other since November 2022, when the Bucs beat the Rams 16-13. Let’s see what happens this time around.
7. Houston Texans vs Kansas City Chiefs (Week 14, December 7)
CJ Stroud vs Patrick Mahomes. What else could you ask for? The Texans and Chiefs have given fans many great games over the last few years, and we could be in store for another thriller in December. Kansas City beat the Texans in last year’s AFC Divisional Playoffs, 23-14. In an early December showdown, it could be a critical game to determine playoff seeding for the AFC. Stroud is looking to bounce back after struggling last year, primarily because injuries wrecked the entire receiving corps. With a fully healthy team, Houston is a contender.
6. Denver Broncos vs Washington Commanders (Week 13, November 30)
The last time the Denver Broncos faced off against the Washington Commanders in 2023, the quarterbacks for that matchup were Sam Howell and Russell Wilson. It turned out to be one of the most thrilling games that season as the Commanders pulled off a 35-33 victory in Denver. Fast forward two years later and two young star quarterbacks will face off: Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. Daniels is coming off winning Rookie of the Year in 2024, leading the Commanders on a magical run to the NFC Championship Game in over 30 years. Nix led the Broncos to the playoffs for the first time since 2015. This game will be a fun one to watch between Nix and Daniels. Who will prevail?
5. Atlanta Falcons vs Minnesota Vikings (Week 2, September 14)
A matchup of two young quarterbacks takes place right off the bat in week two as Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. faces off against JJ McCarthy and the Minnesota Vikings. McCarthy is coming off a torn meniscus and missing his entire rookie season last year. It’s his team now, where he has a load of weapons to work with, led by wide receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Aaron Jones. On the other side, Penix Jr. will lead a very talented Atlanta Falcons team themselves led by running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London. Two quarterbacks, both in their second season, and with a lot of questions surely to be answered.
4. Detroit Lions vs Kansas City Chiefs (Week 6, October 12)
The Lions travel to Kansas City once again to take on the Chiefs. In the season opener of the 2023 season, Detroit made a statement by pulling off the upset on opening night in Kansas City, 23-20. This time around in 2025, it is a potential Super Bowl preview. Quarterback Jared Goff is coming off the best season of his career, throwing a career high 37 touchdowns in addition to completing 72% of his passes. It remains to be seen what the Lions’ offense will look like without their former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, as he is now the head coach of the Chicago Bears. On the other side, the Chiefs look to make yet another run to the Super Bowl, led by Patrick Mahomes and coach Andy Reid. These two teams gave us a thrilling regular season opener in 2023. What will be in store for early October 2025?
3. Detroit Lions vs Philadelphia Eagles (Week 11, November 16)
This game is a potential preview for the NFC Championship game next January when the Detroit Lions travel to Philadelphia to face the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles. Last year, these were the two best teams in the NFC. Detroit was ravaged by injuries on defense all season, and it ultimately caught up to them in the playoffs, as they were upset by the Washington Commanders in the NFC Divisional Playoffs. The Eagles ran their way to a Super Bowl victory behind superstar running back Saquon Barkley and a dominant defense. Now, with Detroit fully healthy, they get a shot at knocking off the champs in what should be a thrilling matchup.
2. Baltimore Ravens vs Buffalo Bills (Week 1, September 7)
After one of the most thrilling playoff games of recent memory, the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills face off once again. Buffalo pulled off a nail-biting victory in the AFC Divisional playoff game, 27-25, and now they face off in week two. Any time Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen face off, it promises to be a fun game. Baltimore made a significant signing this offseason: cornerback Jaire Alexander. The Packers released Alexander in March, and Baltimore signed him to a one-year deal to add another lockdown corner alongside Marlon Humphrey. The Bills’ offense will certainly be tested.
1. Green Bay Packers vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 8, October 26)
There have been many great matchups over the years between a former player and their former team: Tom Brady facing the New England Patriots as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Joe Montana facing the San Francisco 49ers as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, and as most Packer fans remember, Brett Favre facing off against the Packers as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Add one more to the list when Aaron Rodgers will face Green Bay for the first time in his career when the Packers travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers. October 26th will be must-see TV.
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