3 NFL teams that benefit from easy schedule, and 3 teams that have a tough road ahead

Which teams get the benefit of an easier schedule in 2025?

In the past, we’ve seen teams launch themselves from worst to first with the aid of a last place schedule. The NFL schedules teams based on their record in the previous season, and with the benefit of a last place schedule, a lot of franchises see their fortunes change almost immediately. Just take the Washington Commanders for example. They finished last in the division in 2023, and rode that schedule to a playoff berth in the first year of the Dan Quinn era. However, we’ve seen teams falter with a rough schedule before, never really getting out the gates.

So, which teams are going to benefit the most from their schedule this season, and which teams are going to be looking at a rough 2025?

San Francisco 49ers: BENEFIT

Due to the Niners getting a terrible case of the injury bug last season, they finished at the bottom of the NFC West. However, with that comes a now-healthy and rejuvenated roster along with a last place schedule that the Niners should benefit from. Along with getting to play the AFC South this season, San Francisco also gets to play the New Orleans Saints, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns, all teams that may not factor into any playoff races. On top of that, they do have to face frisky teams like the Jaguars, Falcons and Bears, but all are at home. The NFL did the Niners a big favor with their scheduling, hoping to get San Francisco back on track.

New England Patriots: BENEFIT

It’s a new era under Mike Vrabel for the Pats, but in 2025 they could get it off to a great start. New England has the second easiest strength of schedule in the NFL behind the 49ers if we use projected win totals, and that schedule includes games against the New York Giants, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans. On top of that, they get to play the Jets and the Dolphins twice a year within the division. Getting the Raiders and Falcons at home is also a great draw for them, to balance out having to go on the road to Baltimore and Cincinnati. 2025 could be promising for the Pats.

Carolina Panthers: BENEFIT

The Panthers are a team on the rise potentially under head coach Dave Canales, and in 2025 they get to do it under the radar. With only one primetime game (against San Francisco on Thursday Night Football), Carolina’s schedule is actually really beneficial to them to start the season. Not too many teams that are going to be outright terrible, but some winnable games on the schedule to start. Drawing the AFC East should help them out (outside of Buffalo), but the toughest test will be a backloaded schedule with five of the final eight games of the season coming within the division.

Cleveland Browns: GOOD LUCK

Whew man, the Browns’ schedule is ROUGH. Outside of playing every AFC North team twice, the Browns also get to play the NFC North which looks to have three very good teams, possibly a fourth if everything breaks right in Chicago. On top of that, they draw a revamped 49ers team and Buffalo Bills, with the Bills game being on the road. It’s a brutal schedule for a team with an already bleak outlook on the season.

New York Giants: GOOD LUCK

Allow me to just type out the first nine games of the Giants’ schedule: @ Washington, @ Dallas, home against Kansas City on Sunday night, home against the Los Angeles Chargers, @ New Orleans, home against Philadelphia on Thursday night, @ Denver, @ Philadelphia, at home against San Francisco. That is a BRUTAL opening stretch to the season, and I didn’t even include drawing the Bears, Packers and Lions in consecutive weeks before their bye week. That’s an insane schedule, one that might not see head coach Brian Daboll survive it.

Pittsburgh Steelers: GOOD LUCK

Honestly, the Steelers’ opening to the season isn’t that bad. Drawing the Jets, Seahawks, Patriots and Vikings in Ireland isn’t a crazy stretch, then after their bye they get Cleveland. After the Cleveland game is where it gets grimy, however. Two consecutive primetime games, a Thursday night game against the Bengals and a Sunday Night game against the Packers, followed by the Colts, another primetime game against the Chargers, another game against the Bengals, the Bears, the Bills then the Ravens. That’s a tough stretch of games right before the end of the season, and it doesn’t even include a Monday night game against Miami in week 15. I’m not sure what’s going on with the Steelers given everything in flux at the QB spot, but whoever is there is going to have their work cut out for them.