NFL schedule release reveals brutal path for these 3 teams in 2025

The NFL released the schedules for all 32 teams on Wednesday, and some have it a little tougher than others this season. 

The NFL does not have a balanced schedule, which is why some teams 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.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Regardless, here are the three teams whose 2025 opponents have the highest combined win percentage from the 2024 season and have a gauntlet of a schedule. 

Despite a dreadful 3-14 season that nearly cost general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll their jobs, the Giants have the hardest schedule in football.

The Giants' opponents for the upcoming season have a combined .574 winning percentage. The NFC East is set to play both the NFC North and AFC West this season, and both divisions harbor three teams that made the playoffs last season.

The beginning of the Giants' schedule is particularly rough, as six of their first eight games are against playoff teams from last season. 

GIANTS DRAFT PICK CAM SKATTEBO MAKES STRONG STATEMENT ABOUT BRUISING PLAYING STYLE

Below is the Giants' schedule:

Caleb Williams’ second year with the Bears will be a challenge, as their opponents had a combined winning percentage of .571.

Every team in the NFC North except for the Bears made the playoffs last season, and the Bears will match up against each of their division foes twice this season. 

In addition to the usual six games against their division rivals, the NFC North is taking on the NFC East and AFC North this season. The NFC East holds the Super Bowl champion Eagles and the Commanders, who were knocked out by Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game. 

The AFC North had two playoff teams last season in the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers, and that doesn’t include the Cincinnati Bengals, who just narrowly missed out on the playoffs.

FOX ANNOUNCES SATURDAY NFL DIVISION RIVAL DOUBLEHEADER WHEN PLAYOFF RACES GET SPICY

Below is the Bears’ schedule:

The Lions, like the Bears, are in the NFC North and most of their opponents overlap, so both teams’ opponents have a combined winning percentage of .571. 

The Lions went an outstanding 15-2 last season, but will face a much taller task in 2025 to have the same record. 

In addition to having a difficult schedule, the team lost both coordinators from last year’s team. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson took the Bears’ head coaching job, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is now the New York Jets’ head coach. 

Below is the Lions' schedule:

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

Clinton-appointed federal judge blocks Trump admin from pulling foreign service workers' bargaining rights

In a move that adds to an ever-growing stack of court interventions that have stymied the president's second-term agenda, a federal judge blocked the Trump administration from targeting foreign service workers' collective bargaining rights amid an ongoing challenge against an executive order.

The American Foreign Service Association, a labor union for foreign service workers, lodged a legal challenge after President Donald Trump issued an executive order earlier this year that, according to a White House fact sheet, aimed to "end collective bargaining with Federal unions in" various government entities "with national security missions."

"Certain Federal unions have declared war on President Trump’s agenda," the release asserted. "Protecting America’s national security is a core constitutional duty, and President Trump refuses to let union obstruction interfere with his efforts to protect Americans and our national interests."

Judge Paul L. Friedman of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia — who was nominated by then-President Bill Clinton decades ago — issued the order granting the plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction.

TRUMP'S NEWEST EXECUTIVE ORDER MOVES TO END COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AT AGENCIES SAFEGUARDING NATIONAL SECURITY

The order signed by Friedman states, in part, that Trump's executive order "is unlawful as applied to the Defendants who are heads of agencies with employees represented by the Plaintiff."

"The effect of the Executive Order was substantial: it removed collective bargaining rights from approximately two-thirds of the federal workforce," Friedman's opinion declared, echoing verbatim a sentence included in an opinion Friedman issued last month in a similar case.

In that case, which was brought by the National Treasury Employees Union, Friedman also targeted Trump's executive order and granted a motion for a preliminary injunction.

JUDGE TEMPORARILY BLOCKS TRUMP ORDER ENDING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING RIGHTS FOR MOST FEDERAL WORKERS

American Foreign Service Association President Tom Yazdgerdi called the ruling "a significant victory—not just for our members, but for the integrity of the Foreign Service and for the accountability and transparency of our member agencies," according to a press release issued by the union.

"President Trump eliminated collective bargaining agreements that risk national security interests. He will always prioritize public safety for the American people," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement the White House provided to Fox News Digital on Thursday.

JUDGE UPHOLDS TRUMP'S AUTHORITY TO DEPORT CRIMINAL MIGRANTS UNDER ALIEN ENEMIES ACT

Fox News Digital also reached out to the Justice Department for comment, but they did not immediately respond.

About Us

Virtus (virtue, valor, excellence, courage, character, and worth)

Vincit (conquers, triumphs, and wins)