Winners and losers of 2025 NFL schedule release: Giants wish they could change their schedule 

On Wednesday, the NFL released its 2025 schedule. It's fair to wonder if the New York Giants wish they could swap schedules with the San Francisco 49ers.

Along with the Giants and 49ers, here are three other winners and losers from Wednesday's schedule release: 

Winner: San Francisco 49ers 

Injuries to running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (ACL/MCL) derailed the 49ers' championship aspirations last season. 

The 49ers went 6-11, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 season. Perhaps the schedule makers felt they should take it easy on them after the disappointing season. 

Per John Breech of CBS Sports, 49ers opponents had a combined 120-169 record in 2024, giving them the easiest schedule in the NFL. 

If San Francisco can take advantage of its easy schedule and 2023 Offensive Player of the Year McCaffrey can stay healthy, they could become a Super Bowl contender again in 2025. 

Loser: New York Giants

The Giants went 3-14 last season, missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year. 

Although they took Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart with pick No. 25 in the 2025 NFL Draft, Giants head coach Brian Daboll has said Russell Wilson is the starter. Wilson, who finished 22nd in the league in QBR (51.3) in 11 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers last season, may not ignite New York's passing attack. 

A demanding schedule could compound New York's problems. According to Breech, Giants opponents had a combined 166-123 record in 2024, giving them the hardest schedule in the NFL. In three of their first four games, they face teams that made the playoffs last season (the Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers).

Don't be stunned if New York gets off to a slow start and the seats of Daboll and Giants general manager Joe Schoen get a little warmer. 

Winner: New England Patriots 

The Patriots were dreadful last season, going 4-13. However, they could be on the upswing this upcoming season. 

QB Drake Maye looked promising during his rookie season in 2024, tossing 15 touchdown passes in 13 games. He could reach the next level under new head coach Mike Vrabel, who won the 2021 Coach of the Year award when he was with the Tennessee Titans. 

A manageable schedule could benefit the Patriots. They face just four teams that made the playoffs last season (Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Baltimore Ravens). Plus, three of their first four games are at home. 

Loser: Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys went 7-10 during the 2024 season, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2020. This offseason, they replaced Mike McCarthy with rookie head coach Brian Schottenheimer.

Despite that, the schedule makers didn't give the Cowboys a pass. According to Breech, their opponents had a combined 161-128 record in 2024, tying their schedule for the fifth-most difficult in the NFL.   

In Week 1, Dallas plays the Philadelphia Eagles, the defending Super Bowl champions, on the road, which could be an early loss. Per Nick Shook of NFL.com, reigning Super Bowl champions are 20-5 in Week 1 since the 2000 season.     

Winner: Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen 

Allen won the 2024 MVP after posting the league's second-highest QBR (77.3) and tying for seventh in TD passes (28) in 17 starts. The Bills' favorable schedule may allow him to produce similar results in 2025.

In a story published Wednesday, ESPN's Alaina Getzenberg reported the Bills travel the second-fewest miles of any team in the NFL (10,546). More importantly, they don't face top passing defenses early in the season. 

In Week 1, the Bills host the Baltimore Ravens in a rematch of their 2024 AFC divisional-round matchup (Buffalo won that game 27-25.) Baltimore, of course, allowed the league's second-most passing yards (244.1) in the regular season in 2024. 

Loser: Tennessee Titans QB Cam Ward

Ward — the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft — could get his welcome to the NFL moment in Weeks 1 and 2. 

In a Week 1 road matchup, the Titans play the Denver Broncos, who led the league in sacks (63) last season. The following week, they host the Los Angeles Rams, who boast a deep defense that features EDGE Jared Verse, the 2024 Defensive Rookie of the Year.

At rookie minicamp, Ward told the media, "I want to be one of the great ones." However, practice patience for the Miami product. He may not look like a franchise QB in his first two games.

Winner: Los Angeles Rams

The Rams lost to the Eagles 28-22 in the 2024 NFC divisional round. Their schedule puts them in a position to win the NFC West for a second straight year and make another deep playoff run. 

The combined 2024 record of Rams opponents was 142-147, via Breech, tying their schedule for the 16th-most difficult in the NFL. Two of their first four games are at home and against teams that didn't make the playoffs in 2024 (Titans, Indianapolis Colts). 

The Rams face the Buccaneers in Week 12 and the Detroit Lions in Week 15, both of which were playoff teams last season. However, they host both of those games. 

Loser: Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs aim to rebound from their 40-22 loss to the Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. A tough stretch at the beginning of the season could make that challenging. 

In six of its first nine games, KC faces six teams that made the playoffs last season. This stretch includes a Super Bowl rematch against the Eagles at home in Week 2 and a road game against the Bills in Week 9. 

The Chiefs went 15-2 in 2024, winning 11 games by one possession. Can they bank on that luck again in 2025? They may need it.