The first full Sunday slate falls on September 7, headlined by divisional clashes such as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns. Notably, the schedule features strategic time slots: games air across CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC/ESPN, and Prime Video, ensuring fans have extensive coverage every week. Monday Night Football launches September 8 with the Minnesota Vikings visiting the Chicago Bears.
A distinctive feature of the 2025 schedule is the implementation of flexible scheduling, especially for Sunday and Monday Night Football. According to the league, flex scheduling can be used up to twice between Weeks 5-10 and at the NFL’s discretion from Weeks 11-17 for Sunday nights, while Monday Night Football is eligible for flex moves from Weeks 12-17. This ensures that the primetime slots feature the most compelling matchups as playoff races intensify. For more on flex scheduling, see the official NFL Flexible Scheduling Procedures.
International games continue to be a highlight, with matchups in São Paulo, Dublin, Berlin, Tottenham, and Madrid, reflecting the league’s global ambitions. For example, Week 4 features the Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers meeting in Dublin, while Week 10 includes the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts in Berlin.
The regular season concludes with Weeks 17 and 18, where several game times and dates remain to be determined to maximize competitive balance and viewer interest. In Week 17, select games will be spread across Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with specific times announced closer to the date. Week 18’s final weekend will see two games played on Saturday and the remainder on Sunday, including a primetime Sunday Night Football game, with all scheduling finalized after Week 17.
The schedule also highlights marquee matchups, such as a Thanksgiving triple-header on November 27, featuring the Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs at Dallas Cowboys, and Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens, alongside the growing tradition of NFL games on Christmas Day. For fans looking for up-to-date daily schedules, sites like ESPN’s NFL schedule and the official NFL Network schedule provide comprehensive, real-time information.
As the 2025 season approaches, teams and fans alike are already analyzing strength of schedule, key stretches, and primetime opportunities. With flexible scheduling, international venues, and a packed slate from September through January, the new NFL season is set to deliver high-stakes drama and historic moments each week.