The 2025 NFL season, the 106th in league history, runs from September 4, 2025, to January 4, 2026. This year, the first game is a classic NFC East matchup. Jalen Hurts and the defending Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles host Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. This game kicks off on September 4th at 8:20 PM EST. Continue reading to see the entire 2025 NFL schedule grid as well as some key notes on the strength of schedule.
2025 NFL Schedule Grid
As always, the playoffs start in January and end in Super Bowl LX on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The schedule features 272 games across 18 weeks, with each of the 32 teams playing 17 games and receiving one bye week. Below is a detailed breakdown based on available information, focusing on key games, international matchups, holiday schedules, and structural elements.
Key Features of the 2025 NFL Schedule
Season Structure: Each team plays 17 games: six against divisional opponents (home and away), four against another division in their conference (rotating three-year cycle), four against a division in the other conference (rotating four-year cycle), two intraconference games based on prior standings, and one interconference game based on standings.
Flexible Scheduling: The NFL continues its flexible scheduling for Thursday, Sunday, and Monday Night Football. Thursday Night Football games can be flexed between Weeks 13–17 with a 21-day notice (down from 28 days). Monday Night Football games can be flexed between Weeks 12–17 with 12 days’ notice. Cross-flexing between CBS and Fox for Sunday afternoon games is also expanded.
2025 International Games: The NFL will host eight international games, the most ever, across five cities:
São Paulo, Brazil (Week 1, Sep. 5): Chiefs vs. Chargers (streamed free on YouTube).
Dublin, Ireland (Week 4, Sep. 28): Steelers vs. Vikings at Croke Park, Ireland’s first regular-season NFL game.
London, UK (three games): Week 5, Oct. 5: Vikings vs. Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Week 6, Oct. 12: Broncos vs. Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Week 7, Oct. 19: Rams vs. Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.
Berlin, Germany (Week 10, Nov. 9): Colts vs. Falcons at Olympiastadion.
Madrid, Spain (Week 11, Nov. 16): Dolphins vs. Commanders at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Additional game (TBD): Jacksonville Jaguars will host a game in London, opponent and date unspecified.
2025 Holiday Games:
Thanksgiving (Nov. 27): Tripleheader featuring Lions vs. Packers, Cowboys vs. Chiefs, and Bengals vs. Ravens.
Black Friday (Nov. 28): Bears vs. Eagles on Prime Video.
Christmas Day (Dec. 25): Tripleheader on Netflix (Cowboys vs. Commanders, Lions vs. Vikings) and Amazon Prime (Broncos vs. Chiefs).
Strength of Schedule for the 2025 NFL Season
Below is a ranking of all 32 NFL teams’ 2025 strength of schedule (SOS), from hardest (1) to easiest (32), based on the combined 2024 win percentage of their opponents. The rankings use the 2024 opponent win percentage for consistency, as it’s the most widely reported SOS metric.
New York Giants
SOS: .574 (166-123)
Chicago Bears (Tied)
SOS: .571 (165-124)
Detroit Lions (Tied)
SOS: .571 (165-124)
Philadelphia Eagles
SOS: .561 (162-126)
Dallas Cowboys (Tied)
SOS: .557 (161-128)
Green Bay Packers (Tied)
SOS: .557 (161-128)
Minnesota Vikings (Tied)
SOS: .557 (161-128)
Washington Commanders
SOS: .550 (159-130)
Baltimore Ravens
SOS: .533 (154-135)
Pittsburgh Steelers
SOS: .526 (152-137)
Kansas City Chiefs (Tied)
SOS: .522 (151-138)
Los Angeles Chargers (Tied)
SOS: .522 (151-138)
Cleveland Browns
SOS: .519 (150-139)
Cincinnati Bengals
SOS: .509 (147-142)
Denver Broncos
SOS: .505 (146-143)
Las Vegas Raiders
SOS: .502 (145-144)
Los Angeles Rams
SOS: .498 (144-145)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Tied)
SOS: .481 (139-150)
Houston Texans (Tied)
SOS: .481 (139-150)
Indianapolis Colts
SOS: .478 (138-151)
Miami Dolphins (Tied)
SOS: .474 (137-152)
Seattle Seahawks (Tied)
SOS: .474 (137-152)
Buffalo Bills (Tied)
SOS: .467 (135-154)
Jacksonville Jaguars (Tied)
SOS: .467 (135-154)
New York Jets
SOS: .464 (134-155)
Atlanta Falcons
SOS: .460 (133-156)
Arizona Cardinals (Tied)
SOS: .457 (132-157)
Carolina Panthers (Tied)
SOS: .457 (132-157)
Tennessee Titans
SOS: .450 (130-159)
New England Patriots
SOS: .443 (128-161)
New Orleans Saints
SOS: .422 (122-167)
San Francisco 49ers
SOS: .415 (120-169)
Toughest 2025 NFL Schedules
The Giants face the toughest road due to a high number of playoff and .500+ opponents, compounded by a brutal NFC East and NFC North/AFC West draws. Meanwhile, the Bears and Lions are close behind. The Lions’ road-heavy schedule against strong teams stands out.
Easiest 2025 NFL Schedules
The 49ers benefit from a last-place schedule and weak NFC South/AFC South opponents. Notably, they face just four playoff teams. Finally, the Saints, Patriots, and Falcons also have favorable slates with minimal playoff matchups.
Playoff Implications: Historically, teams with the easiest schedules (top two) have made the playoffs in six of the last eight years. Conversely, teams with the six toughest schedules in 2024 (including the 49ers, the Bears, and the Giants) missed the playoffs. Overall, this might suggest a tough road for the Giants, Bears, and Lions.
Notes on Methodology
2024 Win Percentage: Calculated by summing the 2024 records of each team’s 17 opponents. Ties are counted as half a win. Keep in mind, this is the standard SOS metric. However, it doesn’t account for 2025 roster changes.
Trending Now
