Half a century in the past, James Brown had successful with “The Payback” by which he sang, “I want some get-back.” Properly, within the 2025 season, a number of NFL groups will probably be in search of their very own “get-back.” Whereas these groups have all summer season to stew about it, let’s check out the highest 10 revenge video games for the upcoming season.
As a result of, because the Godfather of Soul sang, “Payback is a factor you gotta see.”
Seattle has moved on from some of the dynamic pass-catchers in crew historical past, buying and selling DK Metcalf to the Pittsburgh Steelers in March. A second-round choice within the 2019 draft, Metcalf completed his tenure in Seattle ranked No. 6 in franchise historical past in receiving yards (6,324) and fifth in touchdowns (48).
Metcalf was changed in Seattle by Cooper Kupp, who has his personal beef to settle when the Seahawks face the Rams in Week 11 and Week 16. Los Angeles unceremoniously launched the previous Tremendous Bowl MVP and signed Davante Adams. For the Steelers, Metcalf replaces mercurial deep menace George Pickens, who was shipped to the Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Dak Prescott went down with a season-ending hamstring damage in Week 9 final yr and didn’t get a chance to play the Eagles. The Cowboys misplaced their two video games in opposition to the eventual Tremendous Bowl champions by a mixed rating of 75-13.
Now wholesome, Prescott intends to maintain Philadelphia from turning into the primary crew to repeat as NFC East champs because the Eagles gained the division in 4 consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2004. Prescott can lean on the truth that he’s 9-4 in opposition to Philadelphia throughout his time in Dallas. Because the QB mentioned after seeing the Eagles win the Tremendous Bowl in February: “It’s our flip, and it’s on us.”
Final season, Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers had been swept by Sean McVay’s Rams for the primary time since 2018. And whereas Shanahan nonetheless leads the all-time collection in opposition to his shut good friend and former teaching colleague (10-7 together with postseason), it’s honest to say that if the 49ers need to get again to the Tremendous Bowl, that path leads by way of the reigning NFC West division champs in Los Angeles.
Detroit completed with the most effective document within the NFC final season and was one of many favorites to achieve the Tremendous Bowl. Then the Lions received embarrassed at house by Washington within the divisional spherical.
They get an opportunity to actual some revenge on the highway this season. However with offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn each leaving for head teaching jobs, Dan Campbell could have his fingers full replicating his crew’s 2024 success, not to mention slowing down dynamic Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
A two-point conversion may have despatched final yr’s AFC divisional-round matchup into extra time, however Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews dropped the go. In consequence, two-time NFL MVP Lamar Jackson and the Ravens as soon as once more fell wanting fulfilling Tremendous Bowl expectations.
Ravens TE Mark Andrews’ drop on a two-point conversion with below two minutes remaining secured Buffalo’s 27-25 win within the divisional spherical of the 2024 playoffs. (Photograph by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Photographs)
So as to add insult to damage, though Jackson had higher general numbers final season, it was Payments QB Josh Allen who gained the league MVP award. And whereas Jackson owns a 3-1 document over Allen throughout the common season, the Buffalo star has gained when the video games matter most, with a 2-0 edge within the playoffs. This yr’s sport offers one other alternative for 2 of the most effective quarterbacks within the sport to battle for AFC supremacy.
Chicago’s 2024 season took a disastrous flip in Week 8 when Washington executed a profitable Hail Mary that led to an inconceivable 18-15 win for the Commanders. It was the start of a 10-game shedding streak for the Bears, throughout which the crew fired head coach Matt Eberflus.
In that Hail Mary sport, Daniels outplayed No. 1 general decide Caleb Williams down the stretch. Now, Williams will get his likelihood to point out his progress below new head coach Ben Johnson, one of many league’s greatest offensive minds. On the opposite sideline will probably be Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who reportedly interviewed for Chicago’s prime job and who coached Williams in school at USC.
RELATED: Anatomy of a Hail Mary: How Jayden Daniels and the Commanders beat the buzzer
Patrick Mahomes will get a chance to redeem himself after one of many worst performances of his profession in Kansas Metropolis’s embarrassing Tremendous Bowl loss to the Eagles. Within the 40-22 defeat, the two-time NFL MVP and his teammates fell woefully wanting their three-peat aim.
The humbling loss led to wholesale modifications to an offensive line that allowed Mahomes to be sacked six occasions within the Tremendous Bowl. This early-season barometer in opposition to Philadelphia will present a sign if free-agent left deal with Jaylon Moore can maintain up as Mahomes’ blindside protector.
On account of an injured calf, Russell Wilson didn’t get a chance to play the Broncos in Denver final season. However the creator of “Broncos Nation, Let’s Trip” ought to get an opportunity to face his former crew this season — if he hasn’t been changed by rookie QB Jaxson Dart by this level of the season.
Wilson’s two years in Denver fell effectively wanting the immense expectations positioned on him after the crew engineered a blockbuster commerce for his companies. In his second season, Wilson was benched by Sean Payton and later launched, with the Broncos paying “Mr. Limitless” $39 million to play for Pittsburgh. In Week 7 at Denver, the 36-year-old QB may get his alternative to point out he can nonetheless make some Russell Wilson magic occur.
One other quarterback attempting to defeat Father Time is Aaron Rogers, who turns 42 in December. If Rogers certainly indicators with the Steelers as anticipated, he’ll face the crew that unceremoniously launched him this offseason. The Jets flew Rodgers throughout the nation for a dismissal assembly that reportedly lasted all of 20 minutes.
New York then signed QB Justin Fields, who will get to face the crew that changed him with Wilson final season after six video games. The athletic Fields has potential, however he should show he may be correct sufficient from the pocket to guide the Jets again to the postseason.
In Week 8, the Steelers host the Packers, which may give Rodgers his first shot on the crew with which he spent his first 18 NFL seasons. If for no different cause than the potential of two of the most effective revenge video games of 2025, Rodgers must signal with Pittsburgh.
Inexperienced Bay hosts Philadelphia in a matchup of two 2024 playoff groups. Nevertheless it’s far more than that: The Packers are the crew that proposed the ban on the tush push, a proposal that was narrowly defeated in an NFL homeowners’ vote in Might.
On this grudge match, head coach Nick Sirianni and the Eagles will certainly use the almost unstoppable brief yardage play led by quarterback Jalen Hurts as typically as attainable.
Eric D. Williams has reported on the NFL for greater than a decade, overlaying the Los Angeles Rams for Sports activities Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma Information Tribune. Comply with him on X at @eric_d_williams.
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