NFC East
NFC North
NFC South
NFC West
NFC playoff team projections
AFC East
AFC North
AFC South
AFC West
AFC playoff team projections

The NFL schedules are here, and now we know when all 32 teams will play their 17 games.

Every team will face three division rivals, six more conference foes, and five interconference challenges. Based on a set rotation of opponents, however, all slates are not created equal.

Looking at the just-released dates and times that will either help or hamper a team's win total, here's an early look at whether every team is set up to deliver or disappoint during the 2025 season.

Early 2025 NFL season predictions

NFC East

1. Philadelphia Eagles (OVER 11.5 wins)

The Eagles have a tough schedule, like the rest of the NFC East, by drawing all the teams in the AFC West and NFC North, which are arguably still the league's two strongest divisions. This total already factors in a drop, from 14 wins to 12, but Philadelphia is well positioned to live up to repeat NFC favorite status.

2. Washington Commanders (OVER 9.5 wins)

The Commanders also have been adjusted from their surprise 12-5 mark from 2024, an improvement of eight games. They have made enough upgrades around Jayden Daniels and the defense to think they can contend for the NFC title again, but reaching a ceiling so quickly puts them back at a high wild-card floor.

3. Dallas Cowboys (UNDER 7.5 wins)

The Cowboys went 7-10 as the third-place NFC East team last season, and it's difficult to expect a bump to above. 500 with a transitional offense under new coach Brian Schottenheimer and some lingering defensive issues.

4. New York Giants (OVER 5.5 wins)

Going under here would suggest the Giants aren't capable of a two-win spike despite a pretty strong offseason of moves, including some kind of better QB play between Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston, and rookie Jaxson Dart.

NFC North

1. Detroit Lions (OVER 10.5 wins)

This division is tough in itself and also draws the entire NFC East and AFC North. On top of the Eagles and Ravens, the Lions also face three more first-place teams in the Buccaneers, Rams, and Chiefs. That will keep them well short of repeating 15-2 after both coordinators left, too, but 11 wins is a safe bet given their established contender status.

2. Chicago Bears (OVER 8.5 wins)

The Bears flopped with some favorable expectations in Caleb Williams' rookie season, leading to Matt Ebeflus' firing and a total freefall. Former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson pumps up the good vibes, which are amplified after a bunch of offseason improvements with Williams most in mind. Going from 5-12 to over .500 isn't a stretch.

3. Minnesota Vikings (OVER 8.5 wins)

The Vikings overachieved to 14-3 last season thanks to Kevin O'Connell and Brian Flores getting the offense and defense to rally around Sam Darnold. Darnold is gone, but the systems are strong enough to sustain another winning season, at the very least.

4. Green Bay Packers (UNDER 9.5 wins)

Given this division went 45-23 as a whole last season, the good schedules led to some inflated records, including the Packers going 11-6 in third place. A two-game regression is reasonable with the Bears having more buzz.

NFC South

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (OVER 9.5 wins)

The Buccaneers got to 10-7 to take a fifth consecutive division title by two games last year. They are looking good to make it six in a row. The rotation gives them the AFC East and NFC West. They can easily repeat the results, with six very winnable games vs. their NFC South foes.

2. Atlanta Falcons (OVER 7.5 wins)

The Falcons have been aggressive making defensive improvements, and six wins looks like a reasonable floor with Michael Penix Jr.'s first full starting season. Here's pushing this up to at least another 8-9 finish.

3. Carolina Panthers (OVER 6.5 wins)

The Panthers should bump up from 5-12 with Dave Canales continuing the positive QB trajectory with Bryce Young, now with rookie first-round wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan. With defense still being the big concern, 7-10 might be more of the ceiling, however.

4. New Orleans Saints (UNDER 6.5 wins)

The Saints have a terrible QB situation in the wake of Derek Carr's injury revelation and subsequent retirement. They also are adjusting to new schemes with a roster in transition for Kellen Moore and Brandon Staley. Thinking they will be two games better than 5-12 is far less likely than two games worse at 3-14.

NFC West

1. San Francisco 49ers (OVER 10.5 wins)

The 49ers fell to 6-11 thanks to their major rash of key offensive injuries and mojo-less defense. Now, they're healthy and have Robert Saleh back to coach up a unit infused with younger talent. They have a favorable combination of facing AFC and NFC South teams out of the division, and they also get a last-place edge in three other games. Assuming a fair bill of health, 11-6 or better is an easy expectation.

2. Los Angeles Rams (OVER 9.5 wins)

The Rams should remain a playoff team by at least matching 10-7 for a repeat division title or wild-card depth. They can also take advantage of the schedule breaks, but their first-place games can make the slightest difference to put them behind the Niners again.

3. Seattle Seahawks (OVER 8.5 wins)

The Seahawks should keep up their defensive momentum with Mike Macdonald, and the combination of Darnold and Klint Kubiak can give them better complementary offense. Getting to 10-7 may not happen with the 49ers flexing again, but 9-8 is reachable to get into wild-card contention again.

4. Arizona Cardinals (UNDER 8.5 wins)

The Cardinals are coming off an 8-9 season but had a shaky offseason of not much improvement or critical change in relation to their division foes. With the same scheme and similar personnel, here's calling for 6-11 or worse.

NFC playoff team projections

Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco 49ers
Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Los Angeles Rams
Washington Commanders
Chicago Bears

AFC East

1. Buffalo Bills (OVER 11.5 wins)

The Bills duplicating 13-4 and winning a sixth consecutive AFC East title is a reasonable outcome given their matchups against the NFC South and AFC North. They might not win the division by five games, but 12-5 seems like a lock.

2. New England Patriots (OVER 8.5 wins)

With Mike Vrabel, the upside with Drake Maye, an upgraded supporting cast, and some key defensive changes, the Patriots are bound to break out and overachieve. Multiple close wins in a manageable schedule should help them jump above .500 and improve by at least five games as this year's Commanders.

3. Miami Dolphins (UNDER 8.5 wins)

The Dolphins faded from the playoffs with an 8-9 record season, and there's not much momentum for them to finish better under Mike McDaniel with more buzz surrounding the Patriots, Bills, and Jets.

4. New York Jets (UNDER 5.5 wins)

The Jets moved on from Aaron Rodgers but are facing a major schematic and personnel transition to Justin Fields under the former Lions coaching combination of Aaron Glenn and Tanner Engstrand. It's difficult to expect any kind of uptick from 5-12.

AFC North

Sam Greene via Imagn Content Services, LLC

1. Baltimore Ravens (OVER 11.5 wins)

The Ravens went 12-5 to take the division, and there's no indication they are a weaker team even with the combined challenges of the AFC East and NFC North. They should repeat as division champions, this time with tighter competition.

2. Cincinnati Bengals (OVER 9.5 wins)

The Bengals won nine games with terrible defense because of Joe Burrow playing at an elite level. If he's healthy and the overhauled defense stands up, Cincinnati could push Baltimore again for the division title with a good shot at 11 wins.

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (UNDER 8.5 wins)

Calling for a Mike Tomlin-coached team to finish .500 has been a losing bet for all 18 previous seasons of his tenure in Pittsburgh. But this year feels different with the quarterback room taking its biggest downgrade to date. The ceiling seems to be 8-9 with the Bengals and Ravens well ahead.

4. Cleveland Browns (UNDER 5.5 wins)

The Browns went 3-14 last season with a shaky QB situation and a complete systemic breakdown with some big personnel concerns. Thinking they will improve by three games is a massive stretch given their mediocre offseason.

AFC South

1. Houston Texans (UNDER 9.5 wins)

The Texans play a combination of AFC West and NFC West outside of the division, so there's not a lot of breaks for them or the rest of the division. The offense should be improved despite some personnel hits, and the defense can become a bigger foundation for DeMeco Ryans. Another 10-7 season (or better) seems likely.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (OVER 7.5 wins)

The Jaguars have some positive vibes, too, with Trevor Lawrence having WR Travis Hunter and new coach Liam Coen to revamp the offense. A four-win bump from 4-13 may not seem reasonable, but this team has too much young talent to keep underachieving.

3. Indianapolis Colts (UNDER 7.5 wins)

The Colts are back to a quarterback mess with Daniel Jones battling Anthony Richardson, and they took some more offensive line hits. The defense is also turning to a new coordinator to help mask some key weaknesses.

4. Tennessee Titans (UNDER 5.5 wins)

The Titans have the promise of Cam Ward, but this feels more like a Caleb Williams rookie season than a Jayden Daniels one, as there's plenty to figure out offensively and defensively. Getting 5-12 might be a coup for Brian Callahan, marking a two-game jump.

AFC West

1. Kansas City Chiefs (OVER 11.5 wins)

The Chiefs will draw the NFC East and AFC South, a mixed bag outside of division that had three playoff teams last season. They can drop three games from 15-2 and still be fine to hit this mark.

2. Los Angeles Chargers (OVER 9.5 wins)

The Chargers should be good to finish 10-7 with some key improvements for Jim Harbaugh, Greg Roman, and Jesse Minter to flip this team from a playoff overachiever to a true AFC title contender behind Kansas City.

3. Denver Broncos (UNDER 9.5 wins)

The Broncos made their surprise spike to 10-7 with some benefits from the 2024 schedule. They can still finish above .500, but a drop to 9-8 would make sense with the tougher slate.

4. Las Vegas Raiders (OVER 6.5 wins)

The Raiders will be more of an overachieving factor with Pete Carroll and Geno Smith. The last-place perks can push them to at least 7-10, a mild but expected three-game bump.