The NFC Divisional rematch from January and a matchup between top offenses in the AFC and NFC, headlining the three best matchups in week 3 of the 2025 NFL season.
Three Best NFL Week 3 Matchups
1. Los Angeles Rams (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
The 2024 NFC divisional round rematch will once again be played in Philly during the 1 pm Eastern slate of games on Sunday. Surprisingly, this matchup didn’t get the NFL primetime matchup as both teams are among the best in their conference and in the entire NFL.
The Rams will be looking for revenge against an Eagles team that beat them twice last season. However, during the Eagles’ dominant Super Bowl run last season, the Rams were the only team to give the Eagles a fight during the playoffs, falling 28-22. Through two games, the Rams have been stout both on offense and defense, while the Eagles haven’t quite been able to get things going on the offensive end. They have done enough to be 2-0.
If the Rams want a different outcome than what happened to them twice last season, it will start with slowing down Saquon Barkley. In two games against the Rams, Barkley ran for nearly 500 yards, with one of those games being for a record 255. The Rams’ defense versus Barkley will be one of the top matchups of the weekend.
2. Detroit Lions (1-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
This Monday Night Football matchup between the Lions and Ravens is one of the few games this year that could be a Super Bowl matchup. The Ravens opened up the season with a blunder against the Buffalo Bills after having dominated them for three and a half quarters; they let the Bills come back and beat them. The Lions will have to keep that in the back of their minds when they visit Baltimore on Monday.
Since Lamar Jackson has been the starter for the Ravens, he has a career record of 24-2 vs the NFC, which includes a blowout win over the Lions in 2023. Detroit bounced back last Sunday, putting up 25 points against the Chicago Bears. It was important for Detroit to get its offense going in the right direction because it’s going to be needed against Jackson and company.
3. Denver Broncos (1-1) at Los Angeles Chargers (2-0)
This matchup between the Broncos and Chargers will be critical to positioning themselves in the driver’s seat for the AFC West. With the Kansas City Chiefs off to a 0-2 start, the Broncos and Chargers will need to put as much cushion as they can between themselves and the Chiefs.
The Chargers look like the favorite to win the division through two games this season. Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert have convincing wins over the Chiefs and followed it up with another win over the Las Vegas Raiders. The Broncos can make a statement by beating the Chargers in LA after a bad loss to the Indianapolis Colts in week two.
The Broncos’ defense will definitely need to be better against Herbert and the Chargers after allowing Daniel Jones last Sunday to pass for over 300 yards. Denver also gave up 165 on the ground to Jonathan Taylor.
Last season, the Chargers swept the Broncos, so if Denver wants any chance at winning a division crown this season, they will need to at least split with LA.
Main Image: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
