NFL Watchability Index 2025: We Ranked All 272 Games by SBR Excitement Score

Ahead of the 2025 NFL season, we're rolling out our brand-new SBR Watchability Index driven by a proprietary formula to help you decide which games are worth watching every week. We've ranked all 272 games and will be updating this page weekly throughout the regular season and postseason, so be sure to bookmark it and check back regularly during the year.

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After much fanfare, the NFL finally released its full weekly schedule for all 272 games this season. But not every game is created equal.

That's why I created the SBR Watchability Index, which relies on a mix of advanced metrics and NFL odds - and a dash of narrative spice - to rank every game of the 2025 NFL season by a proprietary "excitement score."

Unlike other NFL watchability rankings, our algorithmic approach heavily incorporates quantitative data to predict which games will be worth planning your schedule around this fall. After all, if you're going to commit 3.5 hours (or more) of your free time, shouldn't it be based on more than just headlines and hype?

Here's a look at our NFL game rankings and honorable mentions for the most exciting game of the year. Keep scrolling to the bottom for our full rankings of every game from 1 to 272 ahead of the 2025 NFL regular season.

🔥 Top 5 best games of 2025 NFL schedule

Here's a look at the five best games of the 2025 NFL season based on our SBR Watchability Index, which relies on a data-driven formula to determine which games are worth your attention this season.

Want to bet on any of these matchups? Check out our 2025 NFL schedule & opening odds for full betting lines on all 272 games.

⭐ Game of the Year: Ravens @ Bills (Week 1)

🎉 Excitement score: 104.02
🏈 Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 7 @ 8:20 PM ET

It's only fitting that the first game on our list breaks the scale ... OK, not exactly, but it's the only matchup all year to post better than a 96 SES (SBR Excitement Score). Even its unadjusted score (93) - which only includes on-field factors - would have nearly taken the top spot all on its own.

It's when you start to appreciate the pomp and circumstance of this matchup that it really pulls away from the field. Consider this: the last time we saw these teams play in January, it generated "Game of the Century" levels of hype and was ultimately decided by a goal-line stand on a 2-point conversion.

Since then, Josh Allen took home his first MVP award in a historically close race against Lamar Jackson, who enters this year atop the NFL MVP odds in pursuit of his third such trophy. Why not put their encore showdown on Sunday Night Football as a Week 1 crescendo? This will be tough to beat all season long.

While both of these teams are among the Super Bowl favorites, only one of them is projected to reach the AFC Championship in our NFL AI predictions.

2️⃣ Chiefs @ Bills (Week 9)

🎉 Excitement score: 95.39
🏈 Kickoff: Sunday, Nov. 2 @ 4:25 PM ET

These teams' Week 11 meeting last year - which effectively ended with Allen scampering for a 26-yard touchdown run on fourth down to seal the win - was one of the best games of the season, and the Chiefs got their revenge in the AFC Championship before getting blasted in the Super Bowl.

Both sides know how important it'll be to win this Week 9 contest, which could easily be the deciding factor for home-field advantage between these two Super Bowl odds contenders. Any time Allen and Patrick Mahomes share the same field, it's essentially appointment viewing.

3️⃣ Eagles @ Chiefs (Week 2)

🎉 Excitement score: 94.60
🏈 Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 14 @ 4:25 PM ET

It shouldn't surprise anyone to see this Super Bowl rematch slotted into the top five, especially with the Chiefs slightly favored to deliver payback to the defending champions just two weeks into the regular season. You think they won't be fired up for this one?

This game has the lowest betting total (45.5) of any matchup in the top 15 of our adjusted SES rankings, but it makes up for it with just about everything else - star power, bad blood, familiarity, and a whole lot of hype around this early-season title rematch. I wouldn't want to miss it.

4️⃣ Ravens @ Chiefs (Week 4)

🎉 Excitement score: 93.60
🏈 Kickoff: Sunday, Sept. 28 @ 4:25 PM

When you have Mahomes, Jackson, and Allen vying for MVPs in the same era, they're bound to dominate big-game rankings like this one. Sure enough, the Ravens and Chiefs are featured a combined eight times in the top 10, including this Week 4 matchup between two familiar foes.

Baltimore has beaten Kansas City just once in its last seven tries - a thrilling 36-35 win in 2021 - and lost the season opener last year by literal inches. The Chiefs are narrowly favored to win this one, too, but I wouldn't be shocked if that flips before kickoff of what should be another instant classic.

5️⃣ Eagles @ Bills (Week 17)

🎉 Excitement score: 85.77
🏈 Kickoff: Sunday, Dec. 28 @ 4:05 PM

There's a chance this game is a dud by the time we get to Week 17, when some top teams start resting their starters if they can afford it. But there's an even better chance that it flirts with Game of the Year territory by that point.

If either the Eagles or Bills (or both) need a Week 17 win to remain in the hunt for a No. 1 seed or division title, this could serve as an early Super Bowl preview with legitimate spoils for the winner and dire consequences for the loser. It's also one of just two games all year that Philadelphia isn't favored to win.

🚨 More spotlight games in 2025

Before getting into our full rankings of every game, I wanted to highlight a few key spots that I'm personally looking forward to this year - starting with the opening slate for the 2025 NFL season.

🏈 Best Week 1 games

1. Ravens at Bills - 104.02
2. Chiefs at Chargers - 76.95
3. Lions at Packers - 75.18
4. 49ers at Seahawks - 63.79
5. Texans at Rams - 60.41
6. Vikings at Bears - 52.95
7. Buccaneers at Falcons - 52.70
8. Cowboys at Eagles - 52.49
9. Dolphins at Colts - 50.40
10. Steelers at Jets - 40.69

📺 Best prime-time games

1. Ravens at Bills (Week 1) - 104.02
2. Eagles at Commanders (Week 16) - 84.62
3. Lions at Chiefs (Week 6) - 84.25
4. Lions at Ravens (Week 3) - 83.13
5. Bengals at Ravens (Week 13) - 80.46
6. 49ers at Rams (Week 5) - 80.11
7. Lions at Eagles (Week 11) - 79.13
8. Commanders at Chiefs (Week 8) - 78.75
9. Packers at Lions (Week 13) - 78.18
10. Chiefs at Chargers (Week 1) - 76.95

🆚 Best rivalry games

1. Eagles at Commanders (Week 16) - 84.62
2. Ravens at Bengals (Week 15) - 84.46
3. Bengals at Ravens (Week 13) - 82.46
4. 49ers at Rams (Week 5) - 80.11
5. Packers at Lions (Week 13) - 78.18
6. Rams at 49ers (Week 10) - 77.11
7. Chiefs at Chargers (Week 1) - 76.95
8. Lions at Packers (Week 1) - 75.18
9. Commanders at Eagles (Week 18) - 75.12
10. Chargers at Chiefs (Week 15) - 71.95

📊 How we calculated SBR Watchability Index

Most NFL watchability rankings focus entirely on narratives or off-field drama to drive excitement. But once that ball is kicked off, the only thing that matters is what happens between the white lines.

That's what separates the SBR Watchability Index from other NFL game rankings: our proprietary formula relies on a combination of advanced metrics and the latest odds from our best NFL betting sites to generate a single number - the SBR Excitement Score (SES) - based on the following factors:

• Absolute and relative team strength
• Big-play potential on offense + defense
• Star power (particularly at QB)
• Playoff implications and history
• "Bad blood bonus" between familiar foes
• Relevant narrative factors (small bonus)

The result is a score that, while not fixed to a 1-100 scale, tends to fall within that range with an average score hovering around 50. Only four games feature a score above 90 entering the year, while 16 fall below a score of 20.

We'll be dropping weekly rankings during the regular season and postseason, and we'll be making regular adjustments to our SBR Watchability Index scores and formula based on new data throughout the season. Check back during the offseason and every week of the NFL season to help set your viewing plans.

📺 NFL Watchability Index: Ranking every game from 1 to 272

Here are our full NFL Watchability Index rankings for all 272 games ahead of the 2025 NFL season. These rankings will be updated regularly throughout the season based on changes in advanced data and betting odds, as well as increased stakes and playoff implications later in the year.

⚖️ Tier 0 - The Scale Breakers (100+)

1. Ravens at Bills (Week 1) - 104.02

📵 Tier 1 - Cancel Other Plans (80-100)

2. Chiefs at Bills (Week 9) - 95.39
3. Eagles at Chiefs (Week 2) - 94.60
4. Ravens at Chiefs (Week 4) - 93.60
5. Eagles at Bills (Week 17) - 85.77
6. Eagles at Commanders (Week 16) - 84.62
7. Ravens at Bengals (Week 15) - 84.46
8. Lions at Chiefs (Week 6) - 84.25
9. Lions at Ravens (Week 3) - 83.13
10. Bengals at Ravens (Week 13) - 82.46
11. Lions at Bengals (Week 5) - 81.08
12. 49ers at Rams (Week 5) - 80.11

▶️ Tier 2 - Quad Box Locks (60-80)

13. Lions at Commanders (Week 10) - 79.24
14. Lions at Eagles (Week 11) - 79.13
15. Commanders at Chiefs (Week 8) - 78.75
16. Packers at Lions (Week 13) - 78.18
17. Rams at 49ers (Week 10) - 77.11
18. Chiefs at Chargers (Week 1) - 76.95
19. Eagles at Packers (Week 10) - 76.56
20. Lions at Packers (Week 1) - 75.18
21. Commanders at Eagles (Week 18) - 75.12
22. Commanders at Packers (Week 2) - 74.60
23. Ravens at Packers (Week 17) - 74.56
24. Bengals at Bills (Week 14) - 74.26
25. 49ers at Buccaneers (Week 6) - 73.56
26. Lions at Rams (Week 15) - 73.11
27. Eagles at Chargers (Week 14) - 72.83
28. Bengals at Packers (Week 6) - 72.29
29. 49ers at Texans (Week 8) - 72.10
30. Chargers at Chiefs (Week 15) - 71.95
31. Eagles at Buccaneers (Week 4) - 71.95
32. Commanders at Chargers (Week 5) - 71.86
33. Bengals at Dolphins (Week 16) - 71.36
34. Buccaneers at Lions (Week 7) - 70.56
35. Bills at Texans (Week 12) - 70.28
36. Texans at Chiefs (Week 14) - 69.61
37. Rams at Eagles (Week 3) - 69.49
38. Chiefs at Broncos (Week 11) - 68.86
39. Rams at Ravens (Week 6) - 68.49
40. Buccaneers at Texans (Week 2) - 67.54
41. Buccaneers at Rams (Week 12) - 66.88
42. Buccaneers at Bills (Week 11) - 65.74
43. Bengals at Broncos (Week 4) - 65.46
44. Bills at Dolphins (Week 10) - 64.44
45. Bengals at Steelers (Week 11) - 64.36
46. Broncos at Chiefs (Week 17) - 63.86
47. 49ers at Seahawks (Week 1) - 63.79
48. Ravens at Dolphins (Week 9) - 63.64
49. Texans at Chargers (Week 17) - 62.86
50. Broncos at Commanders (Week 13) - 62.77
51. Chargers at Dolphins (Week 6) - 62.75
52. Commanders at Dolphins (Week 11) - 62.67
53. Texans at Ravens (Week 5) - 62.48
54. Broncos at Chargers (Week 3) - 61.85
55. Chiefs at Jaguars (Week 5) - 61.19
56. Ravens at Steelers (Week 18) - 61.13
57. Bears at 49ers (Week 17) - 61.10
58. 49ers at Cardinals (Week 11) - 60.95
59. Buccaneers at Dolphins (Week 17) - 60.70
60. Lions at Vikings (Week 17) - 60.64
61. Chiefs at Cowboys (Week 13) - 60.61
62. Lions at Bears (Week 18) - 60.60
63. Packers at Bears (Week 16) - 60.55
64. Dolphins at Bills (Week 3) - 60.44
65. Texans at Rams (Week 1) - 60.41
66. Steelers at Bengals (Week 7) - 60.36
67. Chargers at Broncos (Week 18) - 60.35

✨ Tier 3 - The Fantasy Zone (40-60)

68. Bengals at Vikings (Week 3) - 59.75
69. Packers at Steelers (Week 8) - 59.69
70. Packers at Cowboys (Week 4) - 59.55
71. Commanders at Cowboys (Week 7) - 59.52
72. Bears at Bengals (Week 9) - 59.21
73. Packers at Broncos (Week 15) - 58.79
74. Texans at Jaguars (Week 3) - 58.20
75. Bears at Lions (Week 2) - 58.10
76. Rams at Seahawks (Week 16) - 58.10
77. Commanders at Vikings (Week 14) - 58.06
78. Broncos at Texans (Week 9) - 57.77
79. Packers at Vikings (Week 18) - 57.58
80. Bears at Commanders (Week 6) - 57.52
81. Seahawks at 49ers (Week 18) - 57.29
82. Chargers at Jaguars (Week 11) - 57.18
83. Dolphins at Steelers (Week 15) - 57.16
84. Ravens at Vikings (Week 10) - 57.02
85. Cardinals at 49ers (Week 3) - 56.95
86. Broncos at Eagles (Week 5) - 56.74
87. Bears at Packers (Week 14) - 56.55
88. Bills at Steelers (Week 13) - 56.43
89. 49ers at Colts (Week 16) - 56.33
90. Texans at Seahawks (Week 7) - 56.30
91. Dolphins at Falcons (Week 8) - 55.83
92. Jaguars at 49ers (Week 4) - 55.69
93. Vikings at Lions (Week 9) - 55.64
94. Chargers at Cowboys (Week 16) - 55.60
95. Eagles at Cowboys (Week 12) - 55.49
96. Bills at Falcons (Week 6) - 55.44
97. Jaguars at Bengals (Week 2) - 54.79
98. Steelers at Ravens (Week 14) - 54.63
99. Cowboys at Commanders (Week 17) - 54.52
100. Rams at Cardinals (Week 14) - 54.27
101. Buccaneers at Seahawks (Week 5) - 54.23
102. Seahawks at Commanders (Week 9) - 54.20
103. Vikings at Packers (Week 12) - 54.08
104. Eagles at Vikings (Week 7) - 54.02
105. Commanders at Falcons (Week 4) - 53.67
106. Bears at Ravens (Week 8) - 53.49
107. Packers at Cardinals (Week 7) - 53.39
108. Falcons at 49ers (Week 7) - 53.26
109. Jaguars at Texans (Week 10) - 53.20
110. Vikings at Chargers (Week 8) - 53.13
111. Seahawks at Rams (Week 11) - 53.10
112. Vikings at Bears (Week 1) - 52.95
113. Steelers at Chargers (Week 10) - 52.74
114. Buccaneers at Falcons (Week 1) - 52.70
115. Rams at Falcons (Week 17) - 52.57
116. Bills at Patriots (Week 15) - 52.50
117. Cowboys at Eagles (Week 1) - 52.49
118. Cowboys at Lions (Week 14) - 52.10
119. Cardinals at Bengals (Week 17) - 52.06
120. Rams at Jaguars (Week 7) - 52.00
121. Bears at Eagles (Week 13) - 51.49
122. Patriots at Dolphins (Week 2) - 51.39
123. Dolphins at Patriots (Week 18) - 50.89
124. Texans at Colts (Week 13) - 50.85
125. Seahawks at Jaguars (Week 6) - 50.76
126. Dolphins at Colts (Week 1) - 50.40
127. Steelers at Lions (Week 16) - 50.25
128. Seahawks at Steelers (Week 2) - 49.81
129. Patriots at Bengals (Week 12) - 49.42
130. Jaguars at Colts (Week 17) - 48.72
131. Falcons at Buccaneers (Week 15) - 48.70
132. Steelers at Bears (Week 12) - 48.04
133. Vikings at Cowboys (Week 15) - 47.95
134. Bears at Vikings (Week 11) - 47.95
135. Cardinals at Rams (Week 18) - 47.77
136. Dolphins at Jets (Week 14) - 47.73
137. Seahawks at Cardinals (Week 4) - 47.72
138. Patriots at Bills (Week 5) - 47.50
139. Cardinals at Texans (Week 15) - 47.47
140. Cowboys at Bears (Week 3) - 47.11
141. Seahawks at Falcons (Week 14) - 47.06
142. Cardinals at Cowboys (Week 9) - 47.04
143. Colts at Jaguars (Week 14) - 46.72
144. Cardinals at Seahawks (Week 10) - 46.72
145. Vikings at Seahawks (Week 13) - 46.63
146. Cardinals at Buccaneers (Week 13) - 46.39
147. Vikings at Steelers (Week 4) - 46.10
148. Colts at Texans (Week 18) - 45.35
149. Dolphins at Panthers (Week 5) - 43.88
150. Jets at Dolphins (Week 4) - 43.73
151. Steelers at Patriots (Week 3) - 43.35
152. Chargers at Raiders (Week 2) - 42.83
153. Patriots at Ravens (Week 16) - 42.70
154. Jaguars at Cardinals (Week 12) - 42.62
155. Colts at Chargers (Week 7) - 41.82
156. Patriots at Buccaneers (Week 10) - 41.76
157. Falcons at Colts (Week 10) - 41.66
158. Falcons at Vikings (Week 2) - 41.10
159. Colts at Chiefs (Week 12) - 40.84
160. Panthers at 49ers (Week 12) - 40.81
161. Steelers at Jets (Week 1) - 40.69
162. Cowboys at Broncos (Week 8) - 40.60
163. Colts at Steelers (Week 9) - 40.36
164. Chiefs at Raiders (Week 18) - 40.34
165. Cardinals at Colts (Week 6) - 40.27
166. Buccaneers at Panthers (Week 16) - 40.25
167. Jaguars at Broncos (Week 16) - 40.18
168. Cowboys at Jets (Week 5) - 40.00

💸 Tier 4 - Only a Bettor Could Love (20-40)

169. Colts at Rams (Week 4) - 39.64
170. Colts at Seahawks (Week 15) - 39.40
171. Falcons at Panthers (Week 3) - 39.14
172. Bengals at Browns (Week 1) - 39.00
173. Bills at Jets (Week 2) - 38.84
174. Falcons at Patriots (Week 9) - 38.57
175. Falcons at Cardinals (Week 16) - 38.20
176. Cowboys at Panthers (Week 6) - 38.14
177. Bills at Panthers (Week 8) - 37.99
178. Dolphins at Browns (Week 7) - 37.96
179. Broncos at Colts (Week 2) - 37.82
180. Jets at Bengals (Week 8) - 37.77
181. Cowboys at Raiders (Week 11) - 37.67
182. Jets at Bills (Week 18) - 37.34
183. Rams at Panthers (Week 13) - 37.12
184. Falcons at Jets (Week 13) - 37.00
185. Jaguars at Titans (Week 13) - 36.44
186. 49ers at Giants (Week 9) - 36.00
187. Jaguars at Raiders (Week 9) - 35.73
188. Panthers at Jaguars (Week 1) - 35.20
189. Panthers at Falcons (Week 11) - 35.14
190. Patriots at Jets (Week 17) - 34.98
191. Seahawks at Panthers (Week 17) - 34.88
192. Texans at Titans (Week 11) - 34.56
193. Commanders at Giants (Week 15) - 34.41
194. Bears at Raiders (Week 4) - 34.34
195. Jets at Jaguars (Week 15) - 34.06
196. Raiders at Chiefs (Week 7) - 33.84
197. Chiefs at Giants (Week 3) - 33.50
198. Ravens at Browns (Week 11) - 33.27
199. 49ers at Browns (Week 13) - 32.89
200. Cowboys at Giants (Week 18) - 32.83
201. Raiders at Chargers (Week 13) - 32.83
202. Chiefs at Titans (Week 16) - 32.55
203. Raiders at Commanders (Week 3) - 31.75
204. Chargers at Titans (Week 9) - 31.54
205. Panthers at Jets (Week 7) - 31.52
206. Browns at Bengals (Week 18) - 31.50
207. Colts at Titans (Week 3) - 31.46
208. Eagles at Giants (Week 6) - 31.38
209. Panthers at Packers (Week 9) - 31.25
210. Seahawks at Titans (Week 12) - 31.11
211. Jets at Buccaneers (Week 3) - 31.10
212. Jets at Ravens (Week 12) - 31.05
213. Titans at 49ers (Week 15) - 31.04
214. Steelers at Browns (Week 17) - 30.92
215. Raiders at Texans (Week 16) - 30.85
216. 49ers at Saints (Week 2) - 30.75
217. Panthers at Buccaneers (Week 18) - 30.75
218. Titans at Texans (Week 4) - 30.56
219. Chargers at Giants (Week 4) - 30.49
220. Rams at Titans (Week 2) - 30.36
221. Packers at Browns (Week 3) - 30.33
222. Jets at Patriots (Week 11) - 29.98
223. Titans at Jaguars (Week 18) - 29.94
224. Broncos at Raiders (Week 14) - 29.83
225. Raiders at Colts (Week 5) - 29.75
226. Buccaneers at Saints (Week 8) - 29.19
227. Falcons at Saints (Week 12) - 29.08
228. Packers at Giants (Week 11) - 28.44
229. Giants at Commanders (Week 1) - 28.41
230. Panthers at Patriots (Week 4) - 28.12
231. Bills at Browns (Week 16) - 28.07
232. Saints at Dolphins (Week 13) - 27.82
233. Browns at Jets (Week 10) - 27.21
234. Jets at Saints (Week 16) - 26.77
235. Saints at Falcons (Week 18) - 26.58
236. Titans at Colts (Week 8) - 26.46
237. Patriots at Titans (Week 7) - 26.36
238. Giants at Cowboys (Week 2) - 26.33
239. Broncos at Jets (Week 6) - 26.16
240. Raiders at Broncos (Week 10) - 25.83
241. Panthers at Cardinals (Week 2) - 25.75
242. Panthers at Saints (Week 15) - 25.61
243. Browns at Steelers (Week 6) - 24.92
244. Raiders at Eagles (Week 15) - 24.72
245. Browns at Ravens (Week 2) - 24.27
246. Giants at Lions (Week 12) - 24.00
247. Browns at Lions (Week 4) - 23.89
248. Raiders at Patriots (Week 1) - 23.65
249. Giants at Eagles (Week 8) - 22.38
250. Giants at Patriots (Week 13) - 22.31
251. Patriots at Saints (Week 6) - 22.07
252. Vikings at Giants (Week 16) - 21.84
253. Titans at Browns (Week 14) - 21.23
254. Saints at Buccaneers (Week 14) - 21.19
255. Saints at Bills (Week 4) - 20.93
256. Giants at Bears (Week 10) - 20.00

🌼 Tier 5 - Touch Some Grass (0-20)

257. Browns at Bears (Week 15) - 19.90
258. Saints at Seahawks (Week 3) - 19.82
259. Cardinals at Saints (Week 1) - 19.69
260. Saints at Panthers (Week 10) - 19.61
261. Saints at Rams (Week 9) - 19.06
262. Titans at Cardinals (Week 5) - 18.98
263. Titans at Raiders (Week 6) - 18.91
264. Saints at Bears (Week 7) - 18.76
265. Browns at Patriots (Week 8) - 18.20
266. Titans at Broncos (Week 1) - 17.54
267. Giants at Saints (Week 5) - 17.10
268. Browns at Raiders (Week 12) - 16.75
269. Vikings at Browns (Week 5) - 16.74
270. Giants at Raiders (Week 17) - 15.86
271. Saints at Titans (Week 17) - 15.15
272. Giants at Broncos (Week 7) - 13.49

Disagree with our rankings? Let us know @SBRReview or reach out to me directly @CJacksonCowart.

🔮 2025 NFL season previews & predictions

Following the NFL schedule release, we broke down the odds for every game and asked AI to predict every game (and more). Below are our team-by-team schedules, odds, and predictions for Week 1 through Week 18.

• NFL Week 1 odds and schedule
• NFL International schedule and odds
• NFL Thanksgiving schedule and odds
• NFL Christmas schedule and odds
• NFL Week 18 odds and schedule
• Best revenge games for the 2025-26 season

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