| NFC NORTH |
| CHICAGO Mon, Sep 8 Minnesota 8:15 PM EDT ABCSun, Sep 14 @ Detroit 1:00 PM EDT FOXSun, Sep 21 Dallas 4:25 PM EDT FOXSun, Sep 28 @ Las Vegas 4:25 PM EDT CBSBye Mon, Oct 13 @ Washington 8:15 PM EDT ABCSun, Oct 19 New Orleans 1:00 PM EDT FOXSun, Oct 26 @ Baltimore 1:00 PM EDT CBSSun, Nov 2 @ Cincinnati 1:00 PM EST CBSSun, Nov 9 NY Giants 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 16 @ Minnesota 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 23 Pittsburgh 1:00 PM EST CBSFri, Nov 28 @ Philadelphia 3:00 PM EST AMZNSun, Dec 7 @ Green Bay 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Dec 14 Cleveland 1:00 PM EST FOXSat, Dec 20 Green Bay Time: TBD FOXSun, Dec 28 @ San Francisco 8:20 PM EST NBCSun, Jan 4 Detroit BEARS SCHEDULE NOTESThe Bears get a bunch of significant standalones – the Monday Night opener at home with the Vikings and another Monday affair at Washington, the Amazon Black Friday Game at Philadelphia, a Week 17 Sunday night game at San Francisco, a Week 16 Saturday game on FOX…But they also have a midseason run of six games in the early Sunday window…They don’t play the Packers until December, by which time they are done with Minnesota…Three of their four AFC North meetings happen in five weeks in the middle of the season. |
| DETROIT Sun, Sep 7 @ Green Bay 4:25 PM EDT CBSSun, Sep 14 Chicago 1:00 PM EDT FOXMon, Sep 22 @ Baltimore 8:15 PM EDT ABCSun, Sep 28 Cleveland 1:00 PM EDT FOXSun, Oct 5 @ Cincinnati 4:25 PM EDT FOXSun, Oct 12 @ Kansas City 8:20 PM EDT NBCMon, Oct 20 Tampa Bay 7:00 PM EDT ABCBye Sun, Nov 2 Minnesota 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 9 @ Washington 4:25 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 16 @ Philadelphia 8:20 PM EST NBCSun, Nov 23 NY Giants 1:00 PM EST FOXThu, Nov 27 Green Bay 1:00 PM EST FOXThu, Dec 4 Dallas 8:15 PM EST AMZNSun, Dec 14 @ LA Rams 4:25 PM EST FOXSun, Dec 21 Pittsburgh 4:25 PM EST CBSThu, Dec 25 @ Minnesota 4:30 PM EST NFLXSun, Jan 4 @ Chicago LIONS SCHEDULE NOTESIt wasn’t that long ago that the Lions might get seven standalone games, most mandated on Thanksgiving, if a five-year period. Now they have seven in one season including games on Thanksgiving AND Christmas…Plus four big games in the Sunday late window – the opener on CBS, then three on FOX…How about a three-game homestand around Thanksgiving, including two on Thursday…Four out of five at home late in the season, but then road finishes at two division rivals…Division games in the first two and last two, with two in 13 games in between. |
| GREEN BAY Sun, Sep 7 Detroit 4:25 PM EDT CBSThu, Sep 11 Washington 8:15 PM EDT AMZNSun, Sep 21 @ Cleveland 1:00 PM EDT FOXSun, Sep 28 @ Dallas 8:20 PM EDT NBCBye Sun, Oct 12 Cincinnati 4:25 PM EDT CBSSun, Oct 19 @ Arizona 4:25 PM EDT FOXSun, Oct 26 @ Pittsburgh 8:20 PM EDT NBCSun, Nov 2 Carolina 1:00 PM EST FOXMon, Nov 10 Philadelphia 8:15 PM EST ABCSun, Nov 16 @ NY Giants 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 23 Minnesota 1:00 PM EST FOXThu, Nov 27 @ Detroit 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Dec 7 Chicago 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Dec 14 @ Denver 4:25 PM EST CBSSat, Dec 20 @ Chicago Time: TBD FOXD27 or D28 Baltimore Sun, Jan 4 @ Minnesota PACKERS SCHEDULE NOTESIf you think Arizona is going to be pretty good, and we do – then the Packers only have two “easy” games (at Cleveland, Carolina) although the other NFC North schedules are comparable…Green Bay only plays in the early Sunday window twice in the first nine games, then three times in four weeks…That, along with the early game on Thanksgiving at Detroit, marks four straight on FOX…Still strange to see an all NFC game as the big CBS doubleheader game in Week 1…Baltimore at Green Bay is one of five games awaiting scheduling in Week 17, but its hard not to imagine it being one of the three that go to Saturday…They open with a divisional rival in Detroit, then don’t play one again until November 23…Five of the last seven are divisionals with both meetings with the Bears in December. |
| MINNESOTA Mon, Sep 8 @ Chicago 8:15 PM EDT ABCSun, Sep 14 Atlanta 8:20 PM EDT NBCSun, Sep 21 Cincinnati 1:00 PM EDT CBSSun, Sep 28 Pittsburgh (Dublin) 9:30 AM EDT NFLNSun, Oct 5 Cleveland (London) 9:30 AM EDT NFLNBye Week Sun, Oct 19 Philadelphia 1:00 PM EDT FOXThu, Oct 23 @ LA Chargers 8:15 PM EDT AMZNSun, Nov 2 @ Detroit 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 9 Baltimore 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 16 Chicago 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 23 @ Green Bay 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Nov 30 @ Seattle 4:05 PM EST FOXSun, Dec 7 Washington 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Dec 14 @ Dallas 8:20 PM EST NBCSun, Dec 21 @ NY Giants 1:00 PM EST FOXThu, Dec 25 Detroit 4:30 PM EST NFLXSun, Jan 4 Green Bay VIKINGS SCHEDULE NOTESSeven standalones for Minnesota, with four in the first five weeks thanks to their unique European arrangement…They play the entire AFC North, but none of the four games are true road games since they meet the Steelers in Dublin in Week 4, then hang around and wait for the Browns in London the next week (presumably they are hanging around, we guess they could go home and cross back after a couple of days of home cooking)…Four two-game road trips…After five standalones in the first seven games, then six straight weeks on FOX in the early window or on the West Coast in a non-doubleheader week…But all six of those games are national quality with the three division rivals plus Baltimore, Seattle and Washington. |
| NFC EAST |
| WASHINGTONOC Kliff Kingsbury expects QB JAYDEN DANIELS to be even better in 2025. Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk.com: Quarterback Jayden Daniels had a sensational rookie season for the Commanders, helping the club reach the NFC Championship Game and winning offensive rookie of the year. But as good as he was in his first season, Daniels still has plenty of room for growth in 2025. Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury noted on Wednesday that Daniels is in line to make significant strides in the coming season. “[Y]ou can see the comfort level was there this year,” Kingsbury said in his press conference, via transcript from the team. “I mean, just watching him move around, he’s not thinking as much, he’s playing fast, and letting his natural gifts kind of take over, and that’s what we want to see. “So, I expect him to take a big jump.” Kingsbury sees Daniels as a self-motivated player and as such, didn’t necessarily need the quarterback to work on something specific in the offseason. “He works extremely hard,” Kingsbury said. “I mean, that’s all he kind of thinks about is how he can get better and watches a ton of film, watches a ton of football overall. And so, that organically really takes care of itself in a way when you have a guy who wants to be that great. “He is very highly motivated to be as good as he can be, and that’s always exciting for the organization.” Plus, it helps that Daniels is staying in the same offense with the same play-caller that he had as a rookie. “Yeah, it’s huge,” Kingsbury said of that factor. “[B]eing able to take the ownership of it and understand it inside and out, where now you’re correcting people, you don’t even need the coaches. And he’s kind of getting to that point.” Daniels completed 69 percent of his passes for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions as a rookie. He then completed 66 percent of his throws for 822 yards with five touchdowns and one pick in three postseason games. |
| AFC NORTH |
| PITTSBURGHTerry Bradshaw is not enamored with the idea of QB AARON RODGERS joining the Steelers. Jack McKessy of USA TODAY: If Pittsburgh Steelers fans are frustrated with the current state of their team’s quarterback situation, they are not alone. Former Steelers quarterback and Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw slammed his former team on 103.7 The Buzz’s “Morning Mayhem” show on Tuesday. Bradshaw criticized the team for mishandling the development of quarterback Kenny Pickett in previous years and lambasted their current pursuit of veteran Aaron Rodgers. “I liked Kenny Pickett,” Bradshaw said of the Steelers’ 2022 first-round pick, whom the team traded after two seasons. “When they got him to Pittsburgh, they didn’t protect him, they didn’t get him an offensive line. They wanted to run the football, but they didn’t have an offensive line that could protect and they didn’t have weapons. He had no wide receivers to speak of. “Then they throw a kid in there for two years and you’ve got an offense that doesn’t fit and doesn’t work, and they can’t run because their offensive line’s not even good enough for a run blocking team. Now, they’re saying Kenny Pickett is a failure. He wasn’t a failure, the Steelers were a failure.” In 2024, after trading away Pickett, Pittsburgh relied on two veteran starters: former Bears first-rounder Justin Fields and Super Bowl 48 champion Russell Wilson. Both left for New York in free agency – Fields signed with the Jets; Wilson, with the Giants. Pickett is now with his third team, the Cleveland Browns, after the Philadelphia Eagles traded him earlier this offseason. The former Pitt product holds a 15-10 career record as a starter with a career completion rate of 62.4%, 4,765 passing yards and 15 touchdowns to 14 interceptions. Bradshaw’s criticism didn’t end at the team’s past fiascos. Bradshaw also tackled Pittsburgh’s current, months-long courtship of Rodgers, who is still a free agent, even as the Steelers began OTAs on Tuesday. “That’s a joke. That to me is just a joke,” Bradshaw said. “What are you gonna do? Bring him in for one year, are you kidding me? That guy needs to stay in California. Go somewhere and chew on bark and whisper to the gods out there.” Team owner Art Rooney II recently told reporters multiple times that he and the team will wait “a little while longer” on Rodgers to make a decision. In the meantime, the Steelers have three other quarterbacks on their roster: Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, both of whom signed with the team this offseason, and Will Howard, Pittsburgh’s 2025 NFL Draft sixth-round pick. Rudolph has the most starting experience between the three (18 games) and played five seasons with the Steelers prior to joining the Tennessee Titans last year. He re-signed with Pittsburgh on a two-year, $8 million deal in March. In 2024, Rodgers had a completion rate of 63% with 3,897 passing yards, 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. New York let Rodgers know the team planned to go in a different direction in February before releasing him in March. Time will tell whether the Steelers (or Rodgers) will heed Bradshaw’s words or if they’re destined for another year of regular-season success before an early playoff exit. Pittsburgh has made the playoffs in four of the last five seasons but has not won a postseason game since 2016. |
| AFC EAST |
| NEW ENGLANDWR STEFON DIGGS is “dating” Cardi B – and their latest “date” was on a boat with a lot of other women. NFL.com: New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said Wednesday that the team is aware of a recent viral video of wide receiver Stefon Diggs in which he is holding what appears to be a pink substance while on a boat with a number of women. It is unclear what the substance is or when the video was shot. “It’s something that we’re aware of,” Vrabel told reporters at the beginning of his media availability, per the team’s official transcript. “Obviously, we want to make great decisions on and off the field. We’re hoping that with our time here on the field today, that when we don’t have a script and we’re on the call periods, that we’re making great decisions. The message will be the same for all our players, that we’re trying to make great decisions. Any conversations that I’ve had with Stefon will remain between him, I and the club.” Diggs signed a three-year contract worth a maximum of $69 million with the Patriots in March. He is currently recovering from a torn ACL that ended his lone season with the Houston Texans in late October after eight games. Diggs was not present for Wednesday’s voluntary organized team activities session but has been seen at the facility during other portions of the Patriots’ offseason program as he works his way back from his injury. Vrabel was asked if he’s spoken with Diggs since the video went viral on Tuesday. “I talk to our players every single day,” Vrabel said. “The ones that are here and the ones that aren’t.” NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported the league had no comment on the video. The Patriots’ four remaining OTA sessions are scheduled for Friday, June 2-3 and June 5. New England’s mandatory minicamp runs June 9-11. |
| NEW YORK JETS Sun, Sep 7 Pittsburgh 1:00 PM EDT CBSSun, Sep 14 Buffalo 1:00 PM EDT CBSSun, Sep 21 @ Tampa Bay 1:00 PM EDT FOXMon, Sep 29 @ Miami 7:15 PM EDT ESPNSun, Oct 5 Dallas 1:00 PM EDT FOXSun, Oct 12 Denver (London) 9:30 AM EDT NFLNSun, Oct 19 Carolina 1:00 PM EDT FOXSun, Oct 26 @ Cincinnati 1:00 PM EDT CBSBye Sun, Nov 9 Cleveland 1:00 PM EST CBSThu, Nov 13 @ New England 8:15 PM EST AMZNSun, Nov 23 @ Baltimore 1:00 PM EST CBSSun, Nov 30 Atlanta 1:00 PM EST FOXSun, Dec 7 Miami 1:00 PM EST CBSSun, Dec 14 @ Jacksonville 1:00 PM EST CBSSun, Dec 21 @ New Orleans 1:00 PM EST CBSSun, Dec 28 New England 1:00 PM EST CBSSun, Jan 4 @ Buffalo 1:00 PM EST JETS SCHEDULE NOTESThe Jets get two road primetime games against division opponents not named Buffalo and a London “home” game with Denver for three standalones…With no West Coast road opponents the other 14 games are all in the early window on Sunday, 9 on CBS and four on FOX…Three two-game road runs that look like geographically compatible baseball road trips – Florida, Northeast, Southeast…Three of the last four on the road…Like New England and Miami, if the Jets improve a bit there are some winnable games on the schedule. |
| THIS AND THAT |
BETTING FAVORITESCody Benjamin of CBSSports.com lists the top 10 teams to hoist Lombardi in February as the oddsmakers see it. Are we surprised to see the Bengals on the list: The Eagles (+650) are the reigning champions, and have reached two of the last three Super Bowls. The Buffalo Bills (+750) have the reigning MVP in quarterback Josh Allen. The Baltimore Ravens (+750) have made the playoffs in six of the last seven years. The Kansas City Chiefs (+800) have made five of the last six Super Bowls, winning three of them under the direction of coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The Detroit Lions (+1000) have improved their win total in three straight seasons. The Los Angeles Rams (+1800) last won a Super Bowl in 2021 under their current coach-quarterback tandem of Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford. The Washington Commanders (+2000) reached the NFC title game in 2024. The Cincinnati Bengals (+2000) made back-to-back AFC title games from 2021-2022. The Green Bay Packers (+2100) have made the playoffs in five of the last six years. The Los Angeles Chargers (+2500) returned to the postseason under Jim Harbaugh in 2024. Where are the Buccaneers, perhaps the NFL team most likely to win a division? The current odds, slightly different from Benjamin’s have Tampa Bay as the 15th favorite at +2800. Other teams not in the top 10 that you might wonder about are the Texans at +2500 and the Vikings and Broncos at +2700. The Cowboys are behind the Buccaneers in 16th, but the odds jump to +3700. |
