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The 2025 NFL schedule was released in full on May 14, revealing when and where all 272 regular-season games will be played for the upcoming season. As usual, none of the 32 teams' slates were created equal.
There already was a fair indication of schedule strength based on how good or bad each team's combined opponents were last season, but when and where each game is played can matter quite a bit, too.
Here's breaking down who got favorable and unfavorable draws from the league in 2025.
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NFL schedule release winners & losers 2025
Winners: San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers start with a pair of road games (at Seahawks, at Saints), but it's part of manageable first month that can get them to 4-0 ahead of their first (and toughest) test at the Rams in Week 5. After that, beyond the Rams rematch at home, the Buccaneers and Texans are their only 2024 playoff opponents.
Outside of the division, the 49ers can take advantage of games vs. the Saints, Jaguars, Giants, Browns, Panthers, Titans, and Colts. They are on the fast track to 11 wins, their silver lining for suffering 11 losses during an injury-riddled 2024 season.
MORE: Best and worst prime-time games in 2025
Losers: Dallas Cowboys
Starting in Philadelphia for the Week 1 season opener puts them in a hole early. The first half has more traps in Week 4 (at Packers) and Week 7 (vs. Commanders). From Week 8 on, they see the Broncos, Eagles (again), Chiefs (Thanksgiving), Lions, Vikings, Chargers, and Commanders (again).
The promotion of Brian Schottenheimer to head coach and the relatively "meh" offseason from Jerry Jones, led by the volatile George Pickens trade, doesn't inspire for a playoff turnaround. Neither does this schedule, fifth toughest in terms of combined 2024 winning percentage (.557) of opponents.
MORE: Best NFL playoff futures bets for 2025
Winners: New England Patriots
The Patriots have the third-easiest strength of schedule, only two small notches higher than the 49ers' breezy situation. New England gets a favorable first month to begin the Mike Vrabel coaching era. The Raiders, Dolphins, Steelers, and Panthers create a real path to 4-0 before facing the Bills.
After that Week 5 game, the Saints, Titans, Browns, and Falcons follow in the next four. There's also a later matchup with Giants, extending the pair of division breaks with the other weak New York team, the Jets.
MORE: Best games on the 2025 NFL schedule for all 32 teams
Losers: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers' schedule is deceptive with the Jets, Seahawks, and Patriots to start, given the sandwich games are on the road. But then it gets peppered with difficult matchups, including the Vikings in Week 4 before a dreaded early Week 5 bye.
It gets rough quickly after Week 6, with the Bengals (twice), Packers, Chargers, Bills, Ravens (twice), and Lions adding up to eight of the final 13 games. Mike Tomlin's record streak of 18 non-losing seasons is in serious jeopardy given his worst QB situation of the era.
MORE: Best QB matchups on 2025 NFL schedule
Winners: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers have some early bumps, including a prime-time date at Houston in Week 2 and a home game vs. the Eagles in Week 4, but they do get to work on the weak NFC South for six games, which includes four division contests in the final six. They also get the Jets, Cardinals, and Seahawks to offset games against the Lions, Bills, and Rams.
In relation to the rest of the NFC South, who all have it a little easier as lesser teams, the Bucs are well positioned to take their sixth consecutive division title.
MORE: Early win total, playoff predictions
Losers: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings and the rest of the NFC North got a short straw with the 1-2 gut punch of the NFC East and AFC North on top of their own brutal division, meaning they face eight fellow playoff teams in those 14 games. The Vikings also get the Chargers and a total of 11 winning teams from last season, which also includes the Bengals and Seahawks.
After an unfavorable early Week 6 bye, the Vikings go against the Eagles, Chargers, Lions, and Ravens for four consecutive games. Ending the season with the Lions and Packers isn't fun either, even at home.
MORE: Full schedule of bye weeks for all 32 NFL teams
Winners: Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals got an opening break with the Browns and Jaguars back-to-back. They do need to face the three NFC North 2024 playoff teams (Vikings, Packers, Lions) in the first six, but getting those out of the way is key. The pair with the Steelers and Browns don't seem so concerning, given they have Joe Burrow and those teams don't have real QB answers.
The two Ravens games come close together in Weeks 13 and 15, around a tough trip to Buffalo, but the Bengals can close well for the playoffs with the Dolphins, Cardinals, and Browns.
MORE: Teams with most/least prime-time matchups
Losers: Denver Broncos
The Broncos and their AFC West brethren already play in a division with three playoff teams from last season. They should get hot again with the Titans and Colts as their first two games, but it gets difficult in a hurry with the Chargers (Week 3), Bengals (Week 4), and Eagles (Week 5). They must also go to Houston in Week 9 and to Washington in Week 13, the latter on a Sunday night.
Denver doesn't see Kansas City for the first time until Week 11 and doesn't have its bye until Week 12. The Packers, Chiefs, and Chargers account for three of the final four opponents. The Broncos' lack of breaks will counter with all went their way last season.
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