2025 NFL schedule launch: Predictions, takeaways for 32 groups

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The 2025 NFL schedule was released Wednesday night time.

Will quarterback Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles repeat as Tremendous Bowl champions — and even turn into the primary group in twenty years to repeat as NFC East champs?

They’ll kick off the NFL season Thursday, Sept. 4, after they host the NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys. ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” opener is Sept. 8 and can function the Minnesota Vikings on the Chicago Bears.

Primarily based on energy of schedule, which is set by opponents’ data in 2024, the New York Giants have the hardest schedule of the 2025 season and the San Francisco 49ers have the simplest.

The ultimate regular-season video games for the 2025 season will probably be performed Jan. 4, 2026. The playoffs start Jan. 10 and proceed by means of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.

Here’s a daring prediction for each group following the schedule launch. Click on on the hyperlinks to see the total schedule and extra evaluation from NFL Nation.

Bounce to a division:
NFC East | NFC North | NFC South | NFC West
AFC East | AFC North | AFC South | AFC West

NFC EAST

The Cowboys will finish Kyler Murray‘s dominance at AT&T Stadium. The Cardinals’ quarterback has not misplaced in Arlington, Texas, sporting an 8-0 document as a beginning quarterback. Simply two of these video games have come within the NFL. He gained 5 video games whereas at Allen (Texas) Excessive Faculty, gained a Massive 12 championship recreation for Oklahoma and is 2-0 because the Cardinals’ starter. Solely Dak Prescott and Tony Romo have extra wins at AT&T Stadium. Read more from Todd Archer


The Giants will steal a win on the street within the first two weeks in opposition to a division rival. For many groups, which may not seem to be a lot. However New York went 0-6 within the division final 12 months and must get off to a robust begin. The Giants have gained their season opener simply twice prior to now 13 years, with their solely two playoff seasons coming in years after they gained in Week 1. Read more from Jordan Raanan


The Eagles must struggle out of a small gap initially of the season. The Cowboys, Chiefs and Rams all have one thing to show, with two of them — Kansas Metropolis and Los Angeles — dropping to the Eagles final postseason. Philadelphia will probably be adjusting to a brand new offensive coordinator in Kevin Patullo following the departure of Kellen Moore this offseason, whereas the protection will probably be breaking in a number of new starters. That would equal a loss or two early on. Read more from Tim McManus


Washington will win three of its final 4 video games to clinch a playoff spot. It can mark the primary time because the 1991-92 seasons that the group has made the playoffs in consecutive years. The Commanders will beat the Giants and Cowboys and cut up with the Eagles to observe up a 12-win first season beneath coach Dan Quinn. These wins will assist Washington win double-digit video games in back-to-back years for the primary time since 1989-91. Read more from John Keim


NFC NORTH

Caleb Williams turns into Chicago’s first 4,000-yard passer by crossing the brink in opposition to Inexperienced Bay in Week 16, two video games fewer than it took Jared Goff in his first season with Ben Johnson calling performs. The Bears closed the 2024 season by snapping a 10-game dropping streak with a win at Lambeau Subject and can sweep the Packers for the primary time since 2007. Read more from Courtney Cronin


The Lions will beat the defending champion Eagles on the street in Week 11. Previous to a plethora of key accidents, notably on protection, Detroit was arguably probably the most proficient roster within the league. If the Lions are capable of keep considerably wholesome, they’ll compete — and beat — any group within the league, together with Philadelphia. After going through some powerful opponents early on, Detroit will rise to the problem in opposition to the Eagles. Read more from Eric Woodyard


The Packers will find yourself with greater than the 4 prime-time video games they at the moment have on the schedule. Versatile scheduling will transfer them into not less than yet one more showcase recreation. The Week 16 recreation in opposition to the Bears could possibly be on that Saturday afternoon or Saturday night time. And it is attainable both or each of the ultimate two video games, in opposition to the Ravens and on the Vikings, may turn into an evening recreation. Read more from Rob Demovsky


The Vikings will enter Week 17 needing to win their closing two video games as a way to make the playoffs. That is not due to the high-profile begin to their season, however as a substitute a five-game stretch that can embody 4 street video games between Weeks 12 and 16. Their solely dwelling recreation throughout that interval is in opposition to the Commanders, and three of the street video games — at Inexperienced Bay, Seattle and New York — are outdoor. Read more from Kevin Seifert


NFC SOUTH

The Falcons will sweep their most hated rivals, the Saints, for the primary time since their Tremendous Bowl season in 2016. Atlanta’s 2024 season went off monitor in Week 10, a brutal 20-17 loss in New Orleans that featured three area objectives missed by Younghoe Koo. The Falcons could possibly be higher this season on either side of the ball, whereas the Saints’ quarterback scenario is in flux. Read more from Marc Raimondi


The Panthers will defeat Tampa Bay in Weeks 16 and 18 to win the NFC South with an 8-9 document. OK, so the string of dropping seasons wouldn’t finish at seven. However eight wins could be yet one more than any season since 2017 and look nice in comparison with Carolina’s 5.1 common the previous seven years. Read more from David Newton


The Saints will determine methods to get off on a superb observe, just like final 12 months, and lengthen their NFL-best home-opening win streak to seven video games. However the optimistic momentum will not final lengthy, as a Week 2 recreation in opposition to the 49ers, who’re additionally trying to bounce again from a tough season, and prolonged street journeys will stall their momentum. The primary month will not be straightforward for the Saints with a brand new head coach, an growing older protection and no veteran quarterback to fall again on. Read more from Katherine Terrell


Vast receiver Mike Evans breaks Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer Jerry Rice’s document for many consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with 12. The 2 are at the moment tied, with Evans overcoming a three-game absence final season due to a hamstring harm to get 1,000 yards on the ultimate play of the common season. Read more from Jenna Laine

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10:42

Jon Gruden unboxes the Bucs’ 2025 schedule

Former coach Jon Gruden unveils the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ schedule for the 2025 NFL season.


NFC WEST

The Cardinals will begin the season 4-2, if not 5-1, and take early management of their playoff future. The brand new-look protection will click on early and dwell as much as the hype created by a deep draft and busy free company. Read more from Josh Weinfuss


The Rams will win not less than seven of their final 10 video games after the bye to finish the season. Los Angeles has gone on a run to make the playoffs every of the previous two seasons with an identical stretch, though each had been vital given their 3-6 (2023) and 1-4 (2024) begins to the season. The schedule units up for a robust finish to the season in 2025, particularly with few potential chilly climate video games. Read more from Sarah Barshop


The 49ers open the season 4-0. There was plenty of change in San Francisco over the offseason, but when the Niners can beat the Seahawks on the street in Week 1, they might leap into early playoff conversations. Having a full offseason of relaxation appears to have energized a few of the group’s older stars and lots of of them have been round for the offseason program. They’re additionally extra more likely to be wholesome early within the 12 months, which ought to lend itself to a scorching begin whilst a few of their youthful gamers are getting their ft moist. Read more from Nick Wagoner


The Seahawks will go 4-1 throughout their powerful November stretch. Three of these video games are on the street, with two requiring cross-country flights, and three are in opposition to 2024 playoff groups. Profitable 4 out of 5 could be a powerful feat, however take into account that the stretch begins proper after Seattle’s bye. Coach Mike Macdonald drew reward inside Seahawks headquarters final 12 months for the best way he attacked the bye week, main a turnaround that noticed Seattle win 4 straight after the break. Read more from Brady Henderson


AFC EAST

The Payments will probably be undefeated coming into the bye week. The opening recreation in opposition to the Ravens definitely will probably be a tough one, however 4 of the primary six being dwelling video games may go a great distance. Three early video games in opposition to the AFC East (Jets, Dolphins and Patriots) is sooner than ordinary, however the Payments are 24-6 in opposition to the division since 2020. Read more from Alaina Getzenberg


The Dolphins will end with a profitable document on the street for the primary time since 2020. Beneath Mike McDaniel, Miami owns a 10-16 street document — however have a look at its opponents away from South Florida this season. Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Cleveland and Carolina are winnable video games, as are not less than two of the Dolphins’ division video games on the street. That is the 12 months McDaniel’s group turns issues round away from dwelling. Read more from Marcel Louis-Jacques


The Patriots are nonetheless in playoff rivalry popping out of the early-December bye. This assumes a clear invoice of well being for quarterback Drake Maye, however the total schedule seems to be extra forgiving than final 12 months’s slate. Read more from Mike Reiss


The Jets will shut the season with a flurry and win 5 out of their final six video games, falling in need of the playoffs however sparking hope for 2026. Solely one in all their closing six opponents posted a profitable document in 2024 (Payments). The Jets face 2023 MVP Lamar Jackson in Week 12 and 2024 MVP Josh Allen in Week 18. Between them, they play largely groups in the identical boat as they’re — groups with new coaches and/or comparatively inexperienced quarterbacks. Read more from Rich Cimini


AFC NORTH

The Ravens win three street video games in three weeks for the primary time in group historical past, sweeping their video games at Miami (Week 9), Minnesota (Week 10) and Cleveland (Week 11). The Ravens have by no means been capable of pull off the trifecta of their seven earlier situations of three right away video games. And enjoyable truth: Minnesota is without doubt one of the two locations the place Harbaugh has but to win (Las Vegas is the opposite). The excellent news for Baltimore is Lamar Jackson‘s 34-13 street document (.723) is second to solely Patrick Mahomes (44-12) since he entered the league in 2018. Read more from Jamison Hensley


Cincinnati will win two out of three video games within the “Killer B’s” portion of the schedule. The Bengals have traditionally matched up effectively in opposition to quarterback Josh Allen and the Payments. Having a number of additional days of relaxation after which a house matchup in opposition to Baltimore ought to give the Bengals the sting to win not less than two video games within the three-game stint that options two Ravens contests and a street recreation in Buffalo. Read more from Ben Baby


The Browns will lose their first 4 street video games earlier than the bye week. It is a powerful slate that includes the Ravens, Lions, Steelers and a Patriots group that added a bevy of expertise this offseason. Popping out of the bye with a matchup in opposition to the Jets at MetLife Stadium, Cleveland ought to be well-rested and on place to begin its second-half schedule on a robust observe. Read more from Daniel Oyefusi


The Steelers will win their first worldwide regular-season recreation. The Steelers have not performed a global recreation since going through the Vikings in London in 2013, a recreation they misplaced 34-27. The Vikings are rolling with J.J. McCarthy, who although a 2024 first-round decide, is primed to be a first-year starter after recovering from a season-ending knee harm. The Steelers’ protection is notoriously deadly in opposition to rookie quarterbacks, and catching the Vikings early within the season may assist them proceed their reign of terror on younger sign callers. Read more from Brooke Pryor

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5:53

Sacking Sasquatch: Steelers 2025 schedule revealed

Will Herbig and Keaanu Benton journey to rural Pennsylvania on the hunt for Sasquatch and the Steelers’ NFL schedule reveal.


AFC SOUTH

The Texans will probably be preventing to clinch the division in Week 18. Every group within the AFC South has added expertise, whereas the Texans have a first-place schedule. So, it isn’t assured the Texans will run away with the division like they did in 2024. There is a first rate probability their divisional competitors improves sufficient to push the Texans to the brink. Read more from DJ Bien-Aime


Search for the Colts to return out of September with a 3-1 document. That may be an enormous shift for a group that too usually has sophisticated its late-season panorama with poor begins. Indianapolis has not managed to register a profitable document by means of 4 video games since 2020, which can also be the final time it made the postseason. Read more from Stephen Holder


The Jaguars will head into their Chiefs matchup 4-0. After beating the Panthers within the season opener, they go on the street to upset a Bengals group has struggled at the beginning of the final two seasons (2-5 document in September video games). The house matchup in opposition to Houston would be the first time the groups have performed since linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair ended Trevor Lawrence‘s 2024 season with a questionable hit and the Jaguars ought to be able to roll in a revenge recreation. They’ll then exit to San Francisco and upset the 49ers, who let 17 free brokers (together with key starters) stroll this offseason. Read more from Michael DiRocco


The Titans will win each of their back-to-back journeys to the West Coast in October. The primary win will are available a conflict of No.1 picks when Cam Ward leads the Titans over Kyler Murray‘s Cardinals. The second will probably be over the Raiders in Las Vegas. That can put the Titans at 3-3 heading into their match up with New England in Week 7. Read more from Turron Davenport


AFC WEST

The Broncos protection will pressure not less than three turnovers within the season opener. Tennessee is anticipated to begin rookie quarterback Cam Ward, who was chosen with the No. 1 decide of the 2025 draft, and his first regular-season begin will probably be a rocky one. He’ll debut in opposition to a Denver protection which sports activities the league’s reigning defensive participant of the 12 months in Pat Surtain II, led the NFL in sacks in 2024 and made additions in free company and early within the draft. Read more from Jeff Legwold


The Broncos will sweep the two-game season collection from the Chiefs for the primary time since 2014. Denver has been all of the Chiefs may deal with within the 4 video games between the groups since Sean Payton was employed as Broncos coach. The Chiefs managed a two-game cut up by blocking a area objective on the final play of their Week 10 recreation in Kansas Metropolis. Denver broke a 16-game dropping streak to the Chiefs in 2023 and routed the Chiefs 38-0 in Week 18 final season, albeit in opposition to an opponent that rested Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Chris Jones and different starters for the playoffs. Read more from Adam Teicher


Coach Pete Carroll has talked about getting the ball rolling early, and that is what his group will do. The Raiders will go into the bye week with a 4-3 document. Las Vegas might need issues taking down the Chargers and Commanders in back-to-back weeks. Nevertheless it would not be shocking the Raiders win three in a row earlier than going through the Chiefs at Arrowhead in Week 7. Read more from Ryan McFadden


The Chargers will not win double-digit video games. Of the Chargers’ 11 wins final season, simply three came visiting groups with a profitable document, with two wins over the Broncos and one over Cincinnati. L.A. benefited mightily from the NFL’s fifth-easiest schedule in 2024 and beat up on a few of the league’s worst groups in Harbaugh’s first season. With a a lot tougher schedule and the Chargers roster not a lot improved from final season, it will likely be an uphill battle for this group to hit double-digit wins in 2025. Read more from Kris Rhim



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