The air is electric. For millions of fans worldwide, the release of the NFL 2025 season schedule is more than just an announcement—it's the official starting gun for the next year of football obsession. This annual event transforms an off-season of speculation into a tangible, week-by-week road map to Super Bowl LX.
The anticipation surrounding the 2025 season is particularly high. After a thrilling 2024 campaign, every fan is eager to see when their favorite team will face their toughest rivals, when the marquee primetime games will light up the evenings, and how the schedule will challenge the reigning Super Bowl champion.
This comprehensive guide is your ultimate resource for navigating the complete NFL 2025 season schedule. We’ll break down the full weekly slate, highlight the absolute must-watch NFL games 2025, confirm the season's start and end dates, and show you exactly how to access the full weekly NFL schedule online so you don't miss a single snap of the action.
What Is the Complete NFL 2025 Season Schedule?
The NFL structure for the 2025 season follows the now-established 17-game format, spread across 18 weeks of action. This means each of the 32 teams will play 17 regular-season games and have one crucial bye week for rest and regrouping.
The full schedule, which was officially released in May 2025, details all 272 regular-season matchups from the season opener through Week 18. Fans can now go through a complete weekly NFL schedule 2025, analyzing not just the Sunday afternoon slate, but also the high-stakes, nationally televised primetime slots.
Primetime Power
The biggest matchups are often reserved for these exclusive time slots:
Thursday Night Football (TNF): Broadcast on Amazon Prime Video and various networks, these games kick off the week's action.
Sunday Night Football (SNF): The premier weekly game on NBC, often featuring the most compelling matchup with the potential for flexible scheduling late in the season.
Monday Night Football (MNF): A long-standing tradition on ESPN/ABC, closing out the football week.
In the 2025 season, the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the AFC's perennial powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs are among the teams expected to have the most primetime appearances, a testament to their on-field success and massive fan appeal.
Which Are the Must-Watch Games of the 2025 Season?
The NFL 2025 season schedule is packed with matchups that promise to be instant classics. These are the games that will shape the playoff picture and dominate water cooler discussions.
Top Rivalry and Marquee Matchups
Season Opener: Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles (Week 1, Thursday, September 4): The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles host their NFC East archrival Cowboys. A high-stakes division battle to kick off the entire season is a must-see.
Super Bowl Rematch: Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs (Week 2, Sunday, September 14): A rematch of Super Bowl LIX. Patrick Mahomes vs. Jalen Hurts on a Sunday afternoon, two of the league's top teams battling for early supremacy.
AFC Championship Preview: Baltimore Ravens at Buffalo Bills (Week 1, Sunday, September 7): A colossal AFC showdown right out of the gate. Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen lead their respective clubs in a potential playoff preview.
NFC North Showdown (Thanksgiving): Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions: The annual Thanksgiving tradition in Detroit. With the NFC North being one of the league's most competitive divisions, this holiday clash often has huge implications.
Chiefs vs. Bengals: While the specific date is TBD, any meeting between these two AFC rivals, featuring Mahomes and Joe Burrow, has become the league's newest marquee QB rivalry, consistently delivering high-scoring thrillers.
International Showcase
The 2025 season is the most globally ambitious slate in NFL history, featuring seven international games in five different countries. Football is going global!
Brazil Kickoff (Week 1): The season’s first Sunday is followed by a Friday night game in São Paulo, Brazil (Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers), marking the first-ever regular-season NFL game in South America.
Dublin Debut (Week 4): The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland, a historic first regular-season NFL game in the country.
London Games (Weeks 5, 6, 7): Three games return to the UK, including matchups at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium. Teams designated to play in London include the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
Germany (Week 10): The Berlin Premiere will see the Atlanta Falcons face the Indianapolis Colts at the Olympic Stadium.
Madrid Debut (Week 11): The Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins will take place in Madrid, Spain, another historic first for the league.
Star-Powered Debuts and Quarterback Battles
Keep an eye out for games featuring highly touted rookie quarterbacks from the 2025 NFL Draft, such as the battles involving the Chicago Bears (potentially with their rookie QB) or the New York Jets with newly acquired veteran Justin Fields. Any divisional game—like Packers vs. Bears or Ravens vs. Steelers—is always a top draw, regardless of record.
How Many Weeks Are in the 2025 NFL Regular Season?
The 2025 NFL regular season is officially played over 18 weeks.
This format was adopted in 2021, marking an expansion from the previous 17-week, 16-game schedule that had been the standard for decades. This change gives fans an extra week of regular-season action and gives each team an additional game.
| Format Detail | Count |
| Total Weeks in Season | 18 |
| Games Played per Team | 17 |
| Bye Weeks per Team | 1 |
| Total Regular Season Games | 272 |
The switch to 17 games with one bye week maintains the integrity of the NFL season while adding another high-value game to the calendar. The 17th game is scheduled based on divisional standings from the previous season, ensuring competitive cross-conference matchups (e.g., the AFC East's first-place team plays the NFC East's first-place team in that 17th game rotation).
Following the conclusion of Week 18, the NFL playoffs begin with the Wild Card round, eventually leading to the AFC and NFC Championship Games and, finally, Super Bowl LX.
When Does the NFL 2025 Season Start and End?
The definitive dates for the NFL season start and end dates 2025 are set, guiding the entire football calendar.
Key Dates for the 2025-2026 Season
| Event | Date | Location/Details |
| NFL Regular Season Start | Thursday, September 4, 2025 | NFL Kickoff Game: Cowboys at Eagles (NBC) |
| Regular Season Finale (Week 18) | Sunday, January 4, 2026 | All 16 games are divisional matchups |
| Playoffs Begin | Saturday, January 10, 2026 | Wild Card Weekend |
| Super Bowl LX | Sunday, February 8, 2026 | Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara, California |
The season kicks off in traditional style with the NFL Kickoff Game on the Thursday night following Labor Day. For 2025, that honor goes to the defending Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles, who host the Dallas Cowboys.
The season’s final week, Week 18 (January 3-4, 2026), is unique because all matchups are intra-division games, often creating high-stakes scenarios where playoff spots, division titles, and seeding are on the line on the final Sunday of the regular season.
How Can Fans Access the Full Weekly NFL 2025 Schedule?
Whether you're a casual viewer or a dedicated fantasy football player, having quick, reliable access to the complete weekly NFL schedule 2025 is essential.
Official and Reliable Sources
The best way to stay current is by utilizing the league's official channels and major sports media partners:
NFL.com & NFL App: The official source. You can view the schedule by week, by team, or in a printable format. The official app is excellent for mobile users and push notifications.
Major Sports Networks:
ESPN (including the ESPN App and ESPN+ for streaming).
CBS Sports (and Paramount+ for streaming Sunday AFC games).
FOX Sports (broadcasting Sunday NFC games).
NBC Sports (Peacock for Sunday Night Football).
Streaming Services: Amazon Prime Video for Thursday Night Football and Netflix for two marquee Christmas Day games.
Yahoo Sports/Google: Search engines and their sports divisions are fast ways to check specific matchups, kickoff times, and scores.
Tools for the Dedicated Fan
Downloadable/Printable Schedules: Most official team websites and NFL.com offer PDF versions that are perfect for printing and hanging up in your home office or man cave.
Calendar Sync: Nearly every team offers a "Calendar Sync" feature that allows you to automatically add the entire schedule to your Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook. This updates automatically with flex scheduling changes.
Fantasy Football Apps: Platforms like the ESPN Fantasy App or NFL Fantasy App provide real-time updates and notifications for your favorite teams, making it easy to track game times against your league schedule.
Quick Facts Box: 2025 NFL Season
| Detail | Information |
| Season Start Date | Thursday, September 4, 2025 |
| Regular Season End Date | Sunday, January 4, 2026 |
| Number of Games per Team | 17 |
| Total Weeks in Season | 18 |
| Super Bowl LX Date | February 8, 2026 |
| Key Primetime Slots | TNF (Amazon), SNF (NBC/Peacock), MNF (ESPN/ABC) |
| Number of International Games | 7 (in 5 countries: Brazil, Ireland, UK, Germany, Spain) |
FAQ Section
How many teams are in the NFL in 2025?
There are 32 teams in the NFL in 2025, divided into two conferences (AFC and NFC), each with four divisions (North, East, South, West) of four teams each.
How are NFL schedules decided each year?
The NFL uses a rotating formula to ensure competitive balance and variety. The scheduling formula includes:
6 Games against divisional opponents (home and away).
4 Games against all four teams from one rotating division in the team's own conference.
4 Games against all four teams from one rotating division in the other conference.
2 Games against the two teams in the same conference who finished in the same standing (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th) in the two remaining divisions.
1 Game (the 17th game) against an interconference opponent from a rotating division who also finished in the same standing the previous season.
What are flex scheduling rules for Sunday Night Football?
Flexible scheduling allows the NFL to swap out a less compelling matchup for a more significant, high-stakes game for Sunday Night Football to ensure maximum viewership.
In the 2025 season, flex scheduling for SNF may be used twice between Weeks 5 and 10, and as needed from Weeks 11 through 17.
Teams must be given 12 days' notice before a game is flexed.
For the first time, Monday Night Football and Thursday Night Football also have limited flex scheduling eligibility in the final weeks of the season (Weeks 12-17 for MNF, Weeks 13-17 for TNF).
Conclusion
The NFL 2025 season schedule is a thrilling blueprint for the journey to Super Bowl LX. With an 18-week regular season beginning on Thursday, September 4, 2025, and concluding on Sunday, January 4, 2026, fans have 272 games of gridiron action to look forward to.
From the season-opening divisional battle to the expanded slate of international games in Brazil, Ireland, Spain, and more, the schedule promises drama, rivalry, and world-class athleticism. Don't wait—bookmark a link to the complete weekly NFL schedule 2025 on NFL.com or sync it to your calendar today. The countdown to kickoff is officially on, and the road to Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX on February 8, 2026, is set to be one of the most exciting journeys in football history.
GridironGuru77
on September 30, 2025The Week 1 opener with Cowboys vs. Eagles is an ABSOLUTE barn burner to start the season. The NFL knows exactly what they're doing with that rivalry game. I'm counting the days!
GlobalGameFan
on September 30, 2025Brazil in Week 1 on a Friday night is huge. It gives the international slate the marquee status it deserves. I wonder if they'll ever play in Mexico City again soon? That atmosphere is incredible.