The NFL schedule will likely be launched on Wednesday evening, revealing 256 video games unfold out over 4 months and scattered throughout the nation. It can characteristic bitter rivalries, tantalizing rematches, and storylines crammed with revenge.
But it surely gained’t have all the pieces. It might’t. The NFL slates are just too small, and too managed by a formulation that dictates a group’s opponents, to incorporate each single among the best potential matchups they might discover.
We all know what we’re lacking, although. So listed below are 10 of the largest potential matchups that gained’t make the lower when the 2025 NFL schedule is launched — the juiciest video games that we gained’t get, though we want we may:
The Travis Hunter Remorse-a-Bowl
Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
He wasn’t the largest star of the NFL Draft, however by all rights, Travis Hunter ought to have been. He’s planning to turn into the NFL’s first two-way participant since his former Colorado coach (and Shedeur’s dad) Deion Sanders within the late Nineteen Nineties. He could be essentially the most electrical star on the sphere. And the Cleveland Browns may have taken him at No. 2. However as a substitute, the Browns gave up his rights as a part of a large, first-round commerce with the Jacksonville Jaguars. They most well-liked to amass further picks and drop to 5 the place they took a defensive sort out (Mason Graham) as a substitute of bringing the Travis Hunter Present to the shores of Lake Erie. Perhaps Graham will likely be a wonderful participant. Perhaps the Browns wanted to do that as a result of they’ve so many points. But it surely positive would have been enjoyable to see Hunter taking part in towards them, simply to point out them up shut what they missed.
Battle of No. 1 picks
Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans
Caleb Williams spent his rookie yr within the NFL being overshadowed (and out-played) by Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels. And Cam Ward spent his 2025 NFL Draft day being overshadowed by nearly everybody, particularly Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders. So each of them know a factor or two about being neglected. However they’re nonetheless two reigning No. 1 general picks, in case anybody has forgotten, and nice expectations include that territory. Williams, after all, has a one-year head begin and performs for a Bears group that loaded up on expertise within the offseason. However it will nonetheless have been a lot simpler to guage them towards one another if they’d solely been scheduled to play head-to-head.
Robert Saleh’s revenge
San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Jets
The Jets unceremoniously dumped Robert Saleh in the midst of final season, as if the mess in New York was all his fault. And that indignity got here after two years of forcing him to subjugate himself to the whims of Aaron Rodgers. It’ll in all probability be some time earlier than he’s a head coach once more — there isn’t normally a giant marketplace for individuals the Jets have fired. However his fame as a defensive guru didn’t take a success. Actually, Saleh was shortly snatched up by his previous group in San Francisco. You simply know he would’ve been itching to take out his frustrations on what’s left of his previous group’s offense. However he’ll have to attend for one more time.
The ‘Develop Up’ Sport
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Dallas Cowboys
It was fairly clear that receiver George Pickens and Steelers coach Mike Tomlin didn’t see eye-to-eye in Pittsburgh. That’s why they have been so desirous to dump him this offseason and why they lastly traded him to Dallas on Wednesday morning. Final yr alone, Pickens loudly and clearly protested the way in which the teaching employees used him early within the season. Then late within the season, after getting two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in the identical recreation, Tomlin publicly reprimanded him, saying “He’s acquired to develop up.” Did he? The Cowboys suppose so. At the least they hope so. Both manner, Pickens certainly would’ve beloved to point out Tomlin how a lot he’s modified — or no less than to get a measure of revenge if he hasn’t.
The Harbaugh Bowl
Baltimore Ravens vs. Los Angeles Chargers
As a result of who doesn’t love a battle between these teaching brothers? We really acquired one final November, when John’s Ravens beat Jim’s Chargers 30-23. That, after all, got here 12 years after John’s Ravens beat Jim’s 49ers in Tremendous Bowl XLVII. John is definitely 3-0 all-time vs. his brother within the NFL. That reality would’ve been famous consistently had they confronted off once more within the playoffs final season, which they gave the impression to be on observe to do earlier than the Chargers misplaced. There’s all the time an opportunity of a playoff assembly this yr, since each of them are nice coaches and their groups are legitimately good. Nonetheless, it will’ve been good to see Harbaugh Bowl IV on the regular-season slate.
Re-Pete Affair
Las Vegas Raiders vs. Seattle Seahawks
Pete Carroll gained 137 video games, went to the playoffs 10 instances and the Tremendous Bowl twice (successful as soon as) throughout his 14 years teaching the Seahawks. Then he was pushed out after the 2023 season. And Geno Smith went to 2 Professional Bowls, went 27-22 and made one journey to the playoffs in three seasons as Seattle’s beginning quarterback. However then he was pushed out final yr. Now they’re collectively once more in Las Vegas hoping to shortly flip the Raiders right into a contender. However their revenge towards their previous, ungrateful franchise should wait, as a result of they’re not on the Seahawks’ schedule till 2026.
Russell Wilson’s Revenge
New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s not simply that the Steelers thought so little of Wilson main them to the playoffs final season that they didn’t make him a proposal to remain. It’s that they appeared to favor his backup, Justin Fields. And as soon as Fields signed with the Jets, the Steelers determined they’d fairly anticipate 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers to make up his thoughts about desirous to nonetheless play (they’re nonetheless ready, after all). And oh, by the way in which, the Giants have been ready on Rodgers too, earlier than they lastly acquired fed up and signed Wilson as a substitute. There’s nonetheless no assure that Rodgers will play. But when he does, it’ll nearly definitely be with Pittsburgh. And boy would Wilson have beloved to play towards the previous man that everybody appeared to favor over him.
These Lion Eyes
New York Jets vs. Chicago Bears
For the final couple of years, two of essentially the most coveted coordinators within the league labored collectively in Detroit. Now, former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is the top coach of the Bears, whereas former Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is the top coach of the Jets. The 2 have been identified for his or her sturdy management and good schemes. In fact, the world by no means acquired to see how they might do game-planning towards one another in an actual, non-practice state of affairs. Sadly, we gained’t get to see it this yr both. However the excellent news is that they’ll each nearly definitely nonetheless be employed when the Jets journey to Chicago in 2026.
Maintaining with Jones
New York Giants vs. Indianapolis Colts
It wasn’t all that way back when Daniel Jones was thought of the successor to Eli Manning in New York. And the Giants believed in him a lot they gave him a four-year, $160 million contract. Two years later, they couldn’t get out of that quick sufficient as their succession plan collapsed underneath the load of Jones’ accidents and horrible play. Now Jones will get an opportunity to battle for one more beginning job in Indianapolis, the place he’s acquired likelihood to beat out Anthony Richardson. If he does, although, he’ll need to show to the Giants that they made a mistake from afar because the Colts and Giants don’t play one another this season — except they find yourself taking part in within the Tremendous Bowl, which appears fairly unlikely.
Colorado Homecoming
Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos
With no less than three quarterbacks in entrance of him on the depth chart, there’s nearly no state of affairs the place Shedeur Sanders performs a single down this season. However don’t suppose for a second that can cease the hype or the celeb circus that surrounds him. And it will be multiplied by 10 if solely the Browns have been scheduled to play this season in Denver, a brief, half-hour drive from his previous campus in Boulder, Colo. (the place, after all, his school quantity has already been retired). The tales and social media protection could be in all places. His dad, together with in all probability most of Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes group, could be within the stands and doing loads of pregame interviews. Yeah, Shedeur would in all probability be in road garments because the inactive fourth quarterback. He may even be on the follow squad. However you simply know that focus will observe him wherever he goes and could be brightest in his previous hometown.
Ralph Vacchiano is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. He spent the earlier six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Each day Information. Comply with him on Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.
Get extra from Nationwide Soccer League Comply with your favorites to get details about video games, information and extra
