With the recent release of the NFL schedule on Wednesday night, fans and analysts alike are gearing up for the upcoming season by evaluating each team's strength of schedule for 2025. New York Giants fans, however, may want to brace themselves for some tough news. Giants head coach Brian Daboll finds himself under significant pressure, as his team faces the most challenging strength of schedule in the league for the upcoming season.
After a disappointing 3-14 record last season, the Giants are poised for another uphill battle in 2025. Their strength of schedule, which stands at a daunting .574, ranks as the highest in the NFL. The Giants' home games are particularly challenging, with six of their eight matchups against teams that made the playoffs last year, including the Eagles, Commanders, Packers, Vikings, Chiefs, and Chargers. Additionally, they will host the 49ers and Cowboys, both of whom also had playoff appearances just two years ago.
The Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears share the second-most difficult schedules, both rated at .571. Among these two, the Lions may have the tougher path, as they will face an astonishing 12 games against teams that concluded the 2024 season with winning records. This is the highest in the NFL, and they will also compete in 11 games against playoff teams from the previous year, tying them with the Eagles for the most challenging matchups.
The Philadelphia Eagles also have a formidable schedule, particularly on the road. They will play six away games against teams outside the NFC East, with all of these contests pitting them against playoff teams from the previous year, including the Chiefs, Bills, Packers, Vikings, Chargers, and Bucs. Overall, the Eagles' strength of schedule ranks fourth in the league at .561.
On the other end of the spectrum, the San Francisco 49ers boast the easiest strength of schedule at .415. They are one of just two teams, along with the New Orleans Saints, to have a strength of schedule below .425. Despite a tumultuous 2024 season marred by injuries, resulting in a 6-11 record, the 49ers will benefit from a last-place schedule that could make them a competitive threat if they can maintain their health. They will only face four playoff teams from last season, which ties them with the Saints for the fewest in the NFL.
The addition of a 17th game has significantly affected the strength of schedule calculations, as it now requires strong teams to navigate more challenging matchups. Previously, every team faced a balanced schedule based on their division standings. Now, a first-place team must contend with five first-place opponents, making it less likely for division winners to enjoy an easy schedule.
Among the teams playing a first-place schedule in 2025, the Buffalo Bills have the easiest, which is noteworthy given the historical success of teams in this situation since the transition to a 17-game format in 2021. The Bills previously enjoyed the easiest schedule in 2021, finishing with an 11-6 record. In comparison, the Cowboys and Jaguars also capitalized on favorable schedules in subsequent seasons.
For those looking for potential playoff surprises, keep an eye on the New England Patriots, who boast the easiest strength of schedule in the AFC. Historically, the team with the easiest schedule in the AFC has recorded a winning record for seven consecutive seasons. Under new head coach Mike Vrabel, the Patriots aim to improve from a dismal 4-13 record to at least 9-8.
The trend shows that teams benefiting from an easier strength of schedule often improve significantly. For instance, the Houston Texans transformed their 3-13-1 record in 2022 to a surprising playoff berth at 10-7 in 2023, and the Los Angeles Chargers followed suit last year by finishing 11-6 after having the AFC's easiest schedule.
While the strength of schedule provides a general gauge of a team's upcoming challenges, it is essential to note that it is not an exact science. Factors like injuries and trades can shift team dynamics throughout the season. Nevertheless, analyzing strength of schedule gives fans valuable insights into what their favorite teams may face in the upcoming season.
Here’s a look at the 2025 strength of schedule rankings for each team, based on the combined 2024 record of all 17 opponents:
1. Giants: 166-123 (.574)T-2. Bears: 165-124 (.571)T-2. Lions: 165-124 (.571)4. Eagles: 162-127 (.561)T-5. Cowboys: 161-128 (.557)T-5. Packers: 161-128 (.557)T-5. Vikings: 161-128 (.557)8. Commanders: 159-130 (.550)9. Ravens: 154-135 (.533)10. Steelers: 152-137 (.526)T-11. Chiefs: 151-138 (.522)T-11. Chargers: 151-138 (.522)T-12. Browns: 150-139 (.519)T-12. Bengals: 147-142 (.509)T-12. Broncos: 146-143 (.505)T-16. Raiders: 145-144 (.502)T-16. Rams: 142-147 (.491)T-16. Texans: 139-150 (.481)T-16. Buccaneers: 139-150 (.481)20. Falcons: 138-151 (.478)T-21. Dolphins: 137-152 (.474)T-21. Seahawks: 137-152 (.474)T-23. Bills: 135-154 (.467)T-23. Jaguars: 135-154 (.467)25. Colts: 134-155 (.464)26. Jets: 133-156 (.460)T-27. Cardinals: 132-157 (.457)T-27. Panthers: 132-157 (.457)29. Titans: 130-159 (.450)30. Patriots: 124-165 (.429)31. Saints: 121-168 (.419)32. 49ers: 120-169 (.415)As the 2025 NFL season approaches, fans will be eagerly watching how these strength of schedule rankings influence their teams' performances and playoff aspirations.
