NFL schedule release: 49ers, Saints, Patriots have easiest dockets in 2025

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The NFL released the 2025 schedule for all 32 teams on Wednesday night, and some teams have a lighter schedule than others.

The league does not have a balanced schedule, which is why some squads will see tougher or easier schedules regardless of how they did last season.

Trying to predict the strength of a schedule is an inexact science because teams do change a lot from season to season, whether that would be in free agency, the NFL Draft or changes to the front office and coaching staff.

However, the Washington Commanders entered last season with the second-easiest strength of schedule and had a strong 12-5 season, with an NFC Championship game appearance.

Here are the three teams whose 2025 opponents have the lowest combined win percentage from the 2024 season.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers had a down year last season, going 6-11 after previously representing the NFC in Super Bowl LVIII. The team’s schedule this year might be the first step in returning to the playoffs.

San Francisco’s 2025 opponents had a combined win percentage of .415 in 2024.

The 49ers only play four games against teams that made the playoffs last season, with two of those games coming against their division rival, the Los Angeles Rams.

The following is the 49ers’ schedule:

Week 1 – away vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 2 – away vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 3 – home vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 4 – home vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 5 – away vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 6 – away vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 7 – home vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 8 – away vs. Houston Texans
Week 9 – away vs. New York Giants
Week 10 – home vs. os Angeles Rams
Week 11 – away vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 12 – home vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 13 – away vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 14 – BYE
Week 15 – home vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 16 – away vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 17 – home vs. Chicago Bears
Week 18 – home vs. Seattle Seahawks

New Orleans Saints

The Saints have the second-easiest schedule, with their opponents’ combined win percentage from last season at .419.

New Orleans is coming off a 5-12 season, and with the recent surprise retirement of quarterback Derek Carr, the team might need an easier schedule to sneak into the playoffs this year.

NFL SCHEDULE RELEASE REVEALS BRUTAL PATH FOR THESE 3 TEAMS IN 2025

Below is the Saints’ schedule:

Week 1 – home vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 2 – home vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 3 – away vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 4 – away vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 5 – home vs. New York Giants
Week 6 – home vs. New England Patriots
Week 7 – away vs. Chicago Bears
Week 8 – home vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 9 – away vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 10 – away vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 11 – BYE
Week 12 – home vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 13 – away vs. Miami Dolphins
Week 14 – away vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 15 – home vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 16 – home vs. New York Jets
Week 17 – away vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 18 – away vs. Atlanta Falcons

New England Patriots

The Patriots went 4-13 last season, and need every bit of help to return to the playoffs in head coach Mike Vrabel’s first season with the team.

New England’s 2025 opponents had a .429 combined winning percentage in 2024. The AFC East is set to play the NFC South and AFC North this season, which had a combined three playoff teams last season.