Which NFL Team Has the Toughest Schedule in 2025?

As the 2025 NFL season approaches, fans and analysts are already combing through the regular season schedules to figure out which teams are in for a brutal year. While every team faces challenges, some have it significantly harder than others. Whether it's long road trips, matchups against top-tier quarterbacks, or sheer strength of opponent, some NFL teams are staring down a gauntlet in 2025. So, which NFL team has the toughest schedule in 2025?

Let’s break it down based on strength of schedule, travel demands, and key matchups that could make or break the season.

How NFL Strength of Schedule Is Calculated

The most common method to determine a team's schedule difficulty is by calculating the combined winning percentage of their opponents from the previous season. However, in today’s NFL Streams, that only tells part of the story. Offseason trades, draft picks, coaching changes, and injury recoveries can significantly change a team’s outlook from one year to the next. So for this analysis, we also consider other key factors:

Total games against playoff teams
Back-to-back road games or long travel weeks
Primetime matchups and short weeks
Quarterback and defensive rankings of opponents

The Leading Contender: New England Patriots

Heading into the 2025 season, the New England Patriots appear to have drawn the short end of the scheduling stick. Based on opponent win percentages from 2024, New England faces the highest cumulative strength of schedule in the league. But there’s more:

They face all four teams from the AFC West, including the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos.
Their NFC crossover is with the NFC East, where the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys are expected to be playoff contenders again.
They also have a brutal road stretch with three away games in four weeks, including two against top-10 defenses from last season.
Throw in two primetime games on short weeks, and you’re looking at a recipe for exhaustion.

Honorable Mentions: Steelers, Giants, and Chargers

While the Patriots might have the toughest road, they’re not alone. The Pittsburgh Steelers face a similarly daunting path, with six games against 2024 playoff teams and a late-season West Coast trip that could disrupt momentum. The New York Giants, despite an easier start, face a punishing second half that includes matchups with the 49ers, Eagles, and Bengals — all in cold-weather conditions.

The Los Angeles Chargers, meanwhile, must contend with one of the highest-ranked groups of opposing quarterbacks in the league. Facing Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Josh Allen in the same season is no joke, and their secondary will need to be sharp from Week 1.

Factors That Could Impact These Predictions

NFL schedules are released months before a single snap is taken, and a lot can change. Injuries, unexpected rookie performances, or midseason trades can tilt the balance. Still, based on current rosters and matchups, some teams are clearly facing an uphill battle.

The Patriots, in particular, will need a breakout season from their young offense and a near-flawless game plan from their coaching staff to navigate what might be the league’s most unforgiving schedule.

Final Verdict: Patriots Take the Crown for Now

So, which NFL team has the toughest schedule in 2025? As of now, all signs point to the New England Patriots. Their combination of elite-level opponents, tricky travel, and inconvenient timing makes their path to the playoffs an uphill battle from the start. If they manage to stay competitive or sneak into the postseason, it’ll be a testament to their resilience and preparation.