Throughout the day, NFL insiders will be leaking different portions of the 2025 NFL schedule ahead of the full unveiling on Wednesday night.
The early morning leaks on Wednesday have provided Chicago Bears fans insight into who the Bears will not be facing in Week 1. We know that the Detroit Lions will be playing the Green Bay Packers to open the season, leaving two intriguing matchups for the Bears no longer in consideration for their season opener.
Another Week 1 game that would have been pure cinema would have been the Bears playing the Washington Commanders. It would have been a rematch of the Week 8 game last season where Jayden Daniels' Hail Mary ignited the downfall of the Bears' season. The rematch between the Bears and Commanders is already being billed as one of the top games of the 2025 season. However, that game will not be taking place in Week 1.
Jordan Schultz reports that the Commanders are playing the New York Giants to open their 2025 season.
It's worth pointing out that the NFC North teams are playing against the NFC East teams this season. For Week 1, we know that the four NFC East teams are playing each other. In addition to the Commanders facing the New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys are facing the Philadelphia Eagles in the first game of the NFL season. For the NFC North, we also know that the Green Bay Packers are facing the Detroit Lions in Week 1. That, in theory, could be setting the stage for the Bears to play the Vikings in Week 1.
As for when the Bears will face the Commanders this season, Christmas Day remains a possibility. Both the Bears and Commanders will be playing on Saturday, December 20. With the added day of rest before the Christmas Day games on Thursday, the Bears and Commanders make a logical primetime matchup.