The arrival of Ben Johnson seems to have brought renewed attention on the Chicago Bears.
Given their market and the history of the franchise, the Bears will always be a team that gets a considerable amount of primetime games. This offseason, there was speculation that the Bears may be the team to play the Philadelphia Eagles in the game that lifts the lid on the 2025 NFL regular season.
It would have been a true litmus test for the Bears. Johnson's arrival, along with an offseason dedicated to improving the trenches, seems to have the NFL believing the Bears could be a team on the rise. However, that belief did not extend to the schedule makers.
As announced on Monday morning, the Dallas Cowboys will be the team to play the Eagles in the opening game of the 2025 regular season.
And it begins: Super Bowl champion #Eagles vs #Cowboys to open the 2025 NFL season. pic.twitter.com/Qhr5siERFp
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 12, 2025
As if we do not already get enough Cowboys vs. Eagles national games during the season, the NFL makes a rather boring decision.
The Bears will not be playing the Eagles to open the 2025 season
The Bears are playing the NFC East this season, so with this announcement, we know that their Week 1 opponent will not be the Eagles or Cowboys. Of course, the rematch with the Washington Commanders would serve as an intriguing opening match for the Bears' 2025 season. It was the Week 8 loss to the Commanders that derailed the Bears' 2024 season.
In following the blueprint of the NFL selecting the Cowboys and Eagles as the opening game of the 2025 season, a division rivalry game may be in line for the Bears for Week 1. After not playing the Green Bay Packers until the second half of their 2024 season, renewing the rivalry to open the 2025 season would be a statement game to begin Johnson's tenure. Given the building feud with Matt LaFleur, that would be a game worthy of getting national attention.
