Every spring, a team of NFL executives pieces together an 18-week, 272-game schedule for the upcoming NFL season. The schedule makers consider multiple factors to ensure competitive balance, including bye weeks, travel and potential scheduling conflicts. They also use a rotation system to make sure each team plays one another at least once every four years.<\/p>\n
The schedule makers create thousands of possible slates before settling on the final version.<\/p>\n
With Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season fast approaching, let’s take a look at each of the 32 teams’ schedules and examine the strength of schedule for every team.<\/p>\n
Editor’s Picks<\/p>\n
2 Related<\/p>\n
Who makes the NFL schedule?<\/p>\n
A team led by NFL executive vice president of media distribution Hans Schroeder, NFL vice president of broadcasting planning Michael North, and NFL vice president of broadcast operations Onnie Bose create the NFL schedule.<\/p>\n
What must each team’s schedule include?<\/p>\n
All 32 teams’ 17-game schedule must have:<\/p>\n
\u25aa\ufe0e Six games against divisional opponents (two games per team, one at home and one on the road)<\/p>\n
\u25aa\ufe0e Four games against teams from a division within its conference (two games at home and two on the road)<\/p>\n
\u25aa\ufe0e Four games against teams from a division in the other conference (two games at home and two on the road)<\/p>\n
\u25aa\ufe0e Two games against teams from the two remaining divisions in its own conference (one game at home and one on the road)<\/p>\n
\u25aa\ufe0e A game against a nonconference opponent from a division that the team is not scheduled to play<\/p>\n
What determines a team’s strength of schedule?<\/p>\n
A team’s strength of schedule is primarily determined by the combined winning percentage of its opponents from the previous season.<\/p>\n
Which team has the strongest schedule in 2025?<\/p>\n
With a combined opponent winning percentage of .574 (166-123) during the 2024 season, the New York Giants<\/a> have the strongest schedule in 2025.<\/p>\n Which team has the weakest schedule in 2025?<\/p>\n With a combined opponent winning percentage of .415 (120-169) during the 2024 season, the San Francisco 49ers<\/a> have the weakest schedule in 2025.<\/p>\n Ranking every team’s 2025 strength of schedule<\/p>\n 1. New York Giants, .574<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 166-123<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes 10 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 2. Detroit Lions<\/a>, .571<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 165-124<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes 11 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 3. Chicago Bears<\/a>, .571<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 165-124<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes 10 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 4. Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>, .561<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 162-127<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes 11 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 5. Dallas Cowboys<\/a>, .557<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 161-128<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes 10 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 6. Minnesota Vikings<\/a>, .557<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 161-128<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes nine 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 7. Green Bay Packers<\/a>, .557<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 161-128<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes nine 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 8. Washington Commanders<\/a>, .550<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 159-130<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes eight 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 9. Baltimore Ravens<\/a>, .533<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 154-135<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes nine 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 10. Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a>, .526<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 152-137<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes seven 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 11. Kansas City Chiefs<\/a>, .522<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 151-138<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes 10 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 12. Los Angeles Chargers<\/a>, .522<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 151-138<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes nine 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 13. Cleveland Browns<\/a>, .519<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 150-139<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes eight 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 14. Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>, .509<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 147-142<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes nine 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 15. Denver Broncos<\/a>, .505<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 146-143<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes eight 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 16. Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>, .502<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 145-144<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes nine 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 17. Los Angeles Rams<\/a>, .491<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 142-147<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes five 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 18. Houston Texans<\/a>, .481<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 139-150<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes seven 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/a>, .481<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 139-150<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes five 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 20. Atlanta Falcons<\/a>, .478<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 138-151<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes six 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 21. Miami Dolphins<\/a>, .474<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 137-152<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes seven 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 22. Seattle Seahawks<\/a>, .474<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 137-152<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes seven 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 23. Buffalo Bills<\/a>, .467<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 135-154<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes six 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 24. Jacksonville Jaguars<\/a>, .467<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 135-154<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes six 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 25. Indianapolis Colts<\/a>, .464<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 134-155<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes seven 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 26. New York Jets<\/a>, .460<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 133-156<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes six 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 27. Arizona Cardinals<\/a>, .457<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 132-157<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes five 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 28. Carolina Panthers<\/a>, .457<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 132-157<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes five 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 29. Tennessee Titans<\/a>, .450<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 130-159<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes six 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 30. New England Patriots<\/a>, .429<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 124-165<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes five 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 31. New Orleans Saints<\/a>, .419<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 121-168<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes four 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n 32. San Francisco 49ers, .415<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Opponents’ combined 2024 record: 120-169<\/p>\n \u25aa\ufe0e Schedule includes four 2024 playoff teams<\/p>\n Check out the ESPN NFL hub page<\/a> for the latest news<\/a>, analysis<\/a>, in-depth features<\/a>, schedules<\/a> and more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Every spring, a team of NFL executives pieces together an 18-week, 272-game schedule for the upcoming NFL season.…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":51110,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[559],"tags":[64,63,593,85],"class_list":["post-51109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nfl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-nfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51109","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=51109"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/51109\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/51110"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=51109"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=51109"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=51109"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}