Bye Week Bliss or Misery? Ranking Teams with the Best and Worst 2025-26 Schedules
- Elizabeth MacBey
- 12 hours ago
- 4 min read
The NFL's 2025-26 schedule is out, and it's a rollercoaster of challenges and advantages for teams across the league. From grueling travel itineraries to perfectly timed bye weeks, let's dive into the most and least favorable schedules this season.
San Francisco 49ers
It pains me to do this as a die-hard Seahawks fan, but when I put my pro football analyst hat on (lol), I do think that the 49ers have the best, and by that, I mean easiest schedule this year. By sheer luck of bye week placement, a relatively soft lineup of opponents, and travel schedule, the 49ers have made it hard to not mess up this schedule. Their team may be in shambles right now and nowhere near ready for another Super Bowl caliber season, but as a Hawks fan, it will just be more ammo to hate on them for messing up the easiest schedule ever! Their year starts with the Seahawks, Saints, Cardinals, and Jags. To close out the season, their last eight games are against teams who did not make the playoffs last year (and yes, my Seahawks are on that list... sigh).
Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs' schedule is a travel agent's dream (or nightmare). Kicking off the season in São Paulo, Brazil, they will rack up major frequent flyer miles, with five prime-time games in their first eight weeks — a league record. Early tests against playoff powerhouses like the Eagles, Ravens, Jaguars, and Bills mean they’ll need to establish momentum quickly. The back half of the schedule offers a mix of winnable games and tough road matchups, including a crucial AFC West battle with the Chargers.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers face a brutal schedule with two challenging stretches — Thursday games on short rest and a series of matchups against top-tier teams. With games against the Cowboys, and Eagles, they’ll need to be at their best. Their midseason stretch is a gauntlet of contenders, putting their playoff hopes on the line.
Philadelphia Eagles
The defending Super Bowl champs aren’t getting a break. They face a gauntlet with 11 games against 2024 playoff teams, including high-stakes matchups against the Chiefs, Rams, Bucs, and Broncos. A late-season road trip stretch and five prime-time games add to their challenge. It’s a true test for a team trying to cement a dynasty.
Cleveland Browns
The Browns' schedule is a mixed bag. With a Week 9 bye, they must stay competitive through a tough first half that features multiple playoff contenders. Their AFC North battles against the Bengals and Ravens will be pivotal, and a brutal December stretch could make or break their season.
New York Giants
After finishing last in the NFC East, the Giants drew the league’s toughest schedule, facing opponents with a combined 2024 win percentage of 54.7%. It’s just hit after hit for these poor Giants fans. With a rough opening month that could derail their season early if they aren’t ready, and unforgiving divisional games against the Cowboys, Eagles, and Commanders that could derail their season early if they aren’t ready, Giants fans may be in for another rough season.
Detroit Lions
The Lions' schedule is deceptively tough, with early-season matchups against top-performing AFC West and NFC North teams. A Week 8 bye offers some relief, but the post-bye stretch includes several playoff hopefuls. For a team on the rise, this season will test their resilience.
Baltimore Ravens
A Week 7 bye doesn’t offer much relief for the Ravens, who must navigate a brutal early stretch against the Chiefs, Eagles, and Bills. If they can survive that, a favorable late-season run might be their ticket to the playoffs.
Chicago Bears
The Bears have a Week 5 bye — not ideal for a team that may need time to find its footing. They face a brutal lineup of playoff-caliber teams early, including divisional rivals. Starting strong is critical.
New York Jets
The Jets face a tough schedule, including matchups against the Bills, Cowboys, and Dolphins. With a Week 9 bye, they’ll need to survive a challenging first half of the season. Their playoff hopes hinge on avoiding a midseason collapse
Top 5 Schedule Release Videos
Schedule release videos have become a spectacle of their own, with teams treating them like Hollywood productions — complete with famous guest stars, clever concepts, and social media hype. Here are this year’s best:
New York Giants
Their "Love Island" parody hilariously captured the chaos and drama of reality TV. The team’s roster was introduced like islanders, complete with dramatic entrances and tongue-in-cheek confessionals. It was a perfect mix of humor and self-awareness.
Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings went viral with their tattoo reveal video, which featured a fan getting a giant Vikings logo tattoo. The twist? It was a temporary tattoo, but the setup had fans thinking it was real — a brilliant bait-and-switch.
Los Angeles Rams
Brenda Song brought star power to the Rams' cinematic release, playing a quirky and dramatic host who guided fans through the team's schedule like a reality show. The mix of Hollywood flair and football was a perfect fit for LA.
Los Angeles Chargers
Known for their creative videos, the Chargers didn’t disappoint with a Minecraft-themed release, packed with pixelated fun, Easter eggs, and nostalgic gaming vibes. It was a love letter to both gaming fans and football.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos leaned into their western roots with a "Mutton Busting" rodeo theme. The players were turned into adorable rodeo competitors, and the playful concept was a hit with fans.
