We are a week post-NFL schedule release and one thing is clear, things won’t be easy for the defending Super Bowl champions or the NFL’s runner-up in the upcoming season.
One of the biggest talking points of the offseason and leading up to training camp is who has the easiest or not-so-easy schedules across the NFL. There are six teams that fall into the latter category. These teams will face the most opponents who appeared in the NFL playoffs last season.
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No team will have more games and face more playoff teams than the Philadelphia Eagles, who are coming off the franchise’s second Super Bowl victory. Check out the list of these six with the toughest games, on paper, for the upcoming season.
1. Philadelphia Eagles: 11 Games | 10 Teams
Eagles Schedule
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. The Eagles will play 11 games against 10 playoff teams from a year ago. Will the defending champs stand tall after taking on arguably the toughest schedule in the NFL? They have the roster to do it.
2. Detroit Lions: 11 Games | 9 Teams
Detroit Lions 2025 schedule
Baltimore Ravens (Week 3)
Green Bay Packers (Weeks 1 & 13)
Kansas City Chiefs (Week 6)
Los Angeles Rams (Week 15)
Minnesota Vikings (Weeks 9 & 17)
Philadelphia Eagles (Week 11)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Week 7)
Washington Commanders (Week 10)
One of the Eagles’ opponents checks in at No. 2. Detroit’s path to another NFC North title isn’t an easy one with matchups against Baltimore, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and, of course, their NFC North rivals this season. Their toughness will be challenged as they march back towards the NFC playoffs in 2025.
Dallas Cowboys 2025 Schedule
Green Bay Packers (Week 4)
Kansas City Chiefs (Week 13)
Los Angeles Chargers (Week 16)
Minnesota Vikings (Week 15)
Philadelphia Eagles (Weeks 1 & 12)
Washington Commanders (Weeks 7 & 17)
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So you want to be a head coach, Brian Schottenheimer? Well congrats, in your first season you are tasked with surviving one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. The Week 12-17 slate might be the roughest that I have ever seen with five straight games against playoff teams from last year. He might need a little luck in a couple of these matchups to come out still standing at the end of it.
4. Kansas City Chiefs: 10 Games | 8 Teams
Kansas City Chiefs 2025 Schedule
Baltimore Ravens (Week 4)
Denver Broncos (Weeks 11 & 17)
Los Angeles Chargers (Weeks 1 & 15)
Philadelphia Eagles (Week 2)
Washington Commanders (Week 8)
The Chiefs were on the steps of history last year before they were blitzed in the Super Bowl by Philadelphia. This season, they have a chance to match the New England Patriots (2001, 2003-04) and Dallas Cowboys (1992-93, 1995) to win a Super Bowl three times in a span of four years. Matchups against Baltimore, Buffalo, and Philadelphia will let them know where they stand.
5. New York Giants: 10 Games | 8 Teams
New York Giants 2025 schedule wallpaper
Green Bay Packers (Week 11)
Kansas City Chiefs (Week 3)
Los Angeles Chargers (Week 4)
Minnesota Vikings (Week 16)
Philadelphia Eagles (Weeks 6 & 8)
Washington Commanders (Weeks 1 & 15)
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The Giants made some major moves this offseason in hopes of climbing from the doldrums of the NFC East. They watched as rivals Philadelphia and Washington faced off in the NFC title game. The team brought in Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson to compete at QB and drafted Jaxson Dart to be the future, will the additions help Malik Nabers and this team get back in the race?
Chicago Bears Schedule
Baltimore Ravens (Week 8)
Detroit Lions (Weeks 2 & 18)
Green Bay Packers (Weeks 14 & 16)
Minnesota Vikings (Weeks 1 & 11)
Philadelphia Eagles (Week 13)
Pittsburgh Steelers (Week 12)
Washington Commanders (Week 6)
It was a rough year for the Bears, who watched franchise quarterback Caleb Williams get sacked an NFL-high 68 times. With a new head coach and a flurry of additions to the offensive line, Chicago is ready to return to the top of the NFC North in what looks like the league’s toughest division, with three playoff teams from last season. Can new head coach Ben Johnson make a difference right off the bat? I wouldn’t bet against him.
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This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL Schedules: Six teams with the toughest slates this season