NFL robs the Bears of a perfect Week 1 matchup but the alternative could be much more favorable to kick off the Ben Johnson Era

We are 0-1 on our 2025 schedule predictions for the Chicago Bears based on latest NFL news on Monday morning. The full schedule will release on Wednesday for all 32 teams but we now know who the first game will be to open the season, and it's not Bears vs the defending Champs.

The Philadelphia Eagles will open the season against the Dallas Cowboys to kickoff the 2025 regular season, a matchup no one wants to see. I mean, come on. We're all tired of seeing the NFL pump up the Cowboys year after year.

Seeing the Ben Johnson-led Bears open the season against the Eagles would have been perfect. I wouldn't have minded seeing the Rams, Commanders, or Lions open the season against the Eagles. But, no, we get the Cowboys.

Now that we know the Bears won't be facing the reigning Super Bowl Champs, we can start trying to dissect who the Week 1 opponent could be. But, keep in mind, at some point the Bears will have to face the Eagles on the road in 2025 and will also face the Cowboys at Soldier Field.

Best Possible Week 1 Opponents 

Let's start by saying that any NFC North opponent will be a solid Week 1 matchup, whether it's against the dreaded Green Bay Packers, having Ben Johnson begin his head coach career against his former team in Detroit, or facing J.J. McCarthy in his first regular season game as the Minnesota Vikings' starter. Each matchup would kill.

Outside of three divisional opponents, here are two more teams I wouldn't mind seeing the Bears face to open up the regular season.

vs. Cleveland: This one is the current betting favorite according to DraftKings. It's not the most exciting Week 1 matchup, but it's the most favorable for the Ben Johnson Era to get started on the right foot, similar to 2024 when the team opened the season against the Tennessee Titans. This matchup could even be Caleb Williams vs. Shedeur Sanders, if the polarizing rookie wins the starting gig.

Either way, the Bears will have a much more favorable Week 1 opponent now that we know for sure the team won't be opening the season against the Eagles.