Updated: June 12, 2025
As the anticipation for the 2025 NFL regular season builds, fans and teams alike eagerly awaited the final piece of the puzzle – the release of the schedule. With the unveiling of the complete schedule, teams can now strategize and analyze the when, where, and how of their upcoming matchups. Every detail matters, from the timing of tough opponents to lengthy road trips that can create added adversity. Let's delve into the key winners and losers of the 2025 NFL schedule, examining how it sets the stage for the teams' performances and challenges ahead.
Washington Commanders: Rising to the Limelight
The Washington Commanders emerge as one of the standout winners in the 2025 NFL schedule, embodying a story of resurgence and newfound prominence in the league. Coming off a successful 2024 season led by the impressive rookie Jayden Daniels, the Commanders are poised for continued success. With a total of eight standalone games in the upcoming season, Washington shares the spotlight for the most standalone games with powerhouse teams like the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs.
One of the strategic advantages for the Commanders lies in their soft opening to the 2025 season. During the first month of competition, Washington will face only one team, the Green Bay Packers in Week 2, that had a winning record last season. This favorable start sets the stage for Daniels and the team to hit the ground running, capitalizing on early momentum to spark another successful campaign.
Dallas Cowboys: Facing a Late-Season Gauntlet
Conversely, the Dallas Cowboys find themselves navigating a challenging late-season gauntlet that tests their mettle and resilience. Under the leadership of new head coach Brian Schottenheimer, the Cowboys are gearing up to endure a formidable stretch from Week 12 to Week 17 that stands unparalleled in NFL history. During this period, Dallas will face a relentless lineup of opponents, including the Eagles, Chiefs, Lions (on the road), Vikings, Chargers, and Commanders (on the road).
This demanding run comprises six consecutive matchups against teams that achieved 11 or more wins in the previous season, with four games pitting the Cowboys against opponents boasting 14 or more victories in 2024. The unprecedented nature of this challenging schedule places immense pressure on Dallas to start the season on a strong note, as the road ahead only promises escalating difficulty and fierce competition.
San Francisco 49ers: Seizing Opportunity in a Favorable Schedule
The San Francisco 49ers, recovering from a season marred by injuries in 2024, find themselves in a promising position with the release of the 2025 NFL schedule. As they strive to leave the setbacks of the previous year behind, the 49ers are presented with a schedule that plays to their advantage. Ranked with the fourth-easiest schedule in the NFL based on their opponents' combined over/under win total, San Francisco eyes a path to redemption and renewed success.
With only three playoff teams from 2024 on their schedule – the Los Angeles Rams (twice), Houston Texans, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers – the 49ers have a chance to capitalize on matchups that offer strategic opportunities for victories. Moreover, a well-situated bye week arriving in Week 14 provides vital rest and preparation before diving into the final stretch of the regular season, with three of the last four games taking place at home.
Philadelphia Eagles: Defending Champions Amidst Adversity
For the defending champions, the Philadelphia Eagles face a unique challenge in their bid to sustain success in the 2025 season. The schedule makers have not been lenient towards the Eagles, who will navigate a season devoid of back-to-back home games, a rarity in the context of title defense campaigns. Even after hosting the New York Giants in Week 8 and enjoying a bye in Week 9, the Eagles are immediately thrust into an away game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 10.
This scheduling anomaly marks Philadelphia as the first defending Super Bowl champion in NFL history not to play consecutive home games in the subsequent regular season. The absence of extended home stretches adds an unprecedented layer of complexity to the Eagles' mission to repeat as champions, demanding adaptability, resilience, and unwavering focus throughout the season.
Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings: Diverging Trajectories in Travel and International Contests
While certain teams, such as the Cincinnati Bengals and Minnesota Vikings, face distinct challenges and advantages in the 2025 NFL schedule, their trajectories diverge in notable ways. For the Cincinnati Bengals, a franchise on the cusp of playoff success in the previous season, the upcoming schedule offers a favorable travel arrangement. Traveling the fewest miles of any NFL team in the upcoming season, with a total of 8,753 miles, the Bengals enjoy a logistical advantage that could play a pivotal role in their performance and aspirations.
In stark contrast, the Minnesota Vikings encounter an early season test of fortitude with back-to-back international games scheduled in two different countries. Venturing to Dublin, Ireland for a showdown against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4, followed by a journey to London to face the Cleveland Browns, the Vikings become the first team to grapple with the challenge of playing two international games in two distinct countries in consecutive weeks. This unique scheduling twist adds a layer of complexity to the Vikings' season, requiring adaptability and strategic planning as they prepare to confront international competitors in unfamiliar environments.
As the 2025 NFL regular season beckons, each team's schedule represents not just a series of games, but a narrative of challenges, opportunities, and determination. The intricate web of matchups, travel arrangements, and strategic advantages sets the stage for a season filled with compelling storylines and unpredictable twists, as teams vie for supremacy, redemption, and the ultimate prize in the world of professional football.
