Every May, the NFL rolls out the red carpet for its schedule release like it’s the Super Bowl of logistics. And honestly, for diehards, it kind of is. But let’s be real — by the time the league makes its big primetime announcement, most of us already have a decent idea of what’s coming thanks to all the leaks flying around like confetti.

TV networks tease their matchups early, reporters drop nuggets, and suddenly your group chat has a spreadsheet going with color codes and flex-watch predictions. It’s all part of the yearly chaos, and the NFL loves it that way.

The NFL Leaks on Purpose (And It Works)

The NFL doesn’t just drop a full slate out of the blue. Over a three‑day span—this year, May 12‑14—each TV partner gets to announce a few choice matchups. Think of it as free promo disguised as “breaking news.” NBC kicked things off Monday on TODAY, then Fox, Amazon, ESPN, and even Netflix take turns feeding us appetizers before Wednesday night’s main course on NFL Network.

You’ve got beat writers chasing tips and some stadium crew member accidentally snapping a pic of a game graphic in the background — boom, it’s online five minutes later. The challenge for fans is figuring out which ones are real and which ones are just bad Photoshop jobs someone threw together at 2 a.m.

Official Leaks

Kickoff in South Philly

Cowboys at Eagles, Sept. 4 (NBC, 8:20 p.m. ET)

The Eagles are getting the spotlight to kick off the season with a Thursday night showdown against the Cowboys, and it’s hard to draw up a better way to open the year. Philly’s coming off a Super Bowl win and still looks stacked on both sides of the ball. Jalen Hurts is still under center, they’ve got Saquon Barkley in the backfield now, and that defense has more than enough juice to make life miserable for just about anyone.

Dallas, meanwhile, is trying to bounce back after a rough 7-10 season where Dak Prescott missed nearly half the year. He’s healthy now, and they’ve added George Pickens to take some pressure off CeeDee Lamb. This opener isn’t just a rivalry game — it’s a tone-setter. Two teams with real expectations, in one of the league’s biggest matchups, right out of the gate. No fluff, no warm-up. Just fireworks to kick things off.

Black Friday Goes Green

Bears at Eagles, Nov. 28 (Amazon, 3 p.m. ET)

Caleb Williams going up against that Philly front seven the day after Thanksgiving? That’s about as real as it gets for a second-year QB.

Last year, the Bears’ rookie showed flashes — he threw for over 3,500 yards and 20 touchdowns — but he also took a beating, getting sacked 68 times. The Bears clearly got the message. This offseason, they went all-in to protect their guy: signed multiple new offensive linemen, brought in targets like Luther Burden III and Colston Loveland, and hired Ben Johnson as head coach to build a system around Caleb’s skill set.

Now he gets a national spotlight against one of the most physical, aggressive defensive lines in football. It’s not exactly a soft landing. But it’s also a chance for the Bears to show everyone they’re not messing around anymore.

Week 16 Saturday Double Dip

Eagles‑Commanders and Packers‑Bears, Dec. 20 (FOX)

Last year, Daniels was electric. He didn’t just win Offensive Rookie of the Year, he put the Commanders back on the national map with a run all the way to the NFC Championship. Now in Year 2, they’ve doubled down on helping him keep that momentum: Tunsil shores up the blind side, and Deebo Samuel gives him a versatile YAC threat to pair with Terry McLaurin. It’s clear Washington is trying to cash in while their QB is still on a rookie deal, and the league seems to believe in the hype—putting them in this late-season spotlight against a team that’s trying to get back there.

The Packers, meanwhile, are still carving out their identity post-Rodgers. Last season was up and down, but there were flashes—especially from the young receivers. They used this offseason to quietly build around that foundation, grabbing a few underrated pieces on both sides of the ball and adding WR Matthew Golden in the draft to help stretch the field. With playoff spots often coming down to the wire, a Week 16 game against the Bears could carry major implications. 

Twelve Drummers Drumming… and Three Christmas Games

Netflix grabs the midday doubleheader while Amazon keeps the nightcap, and we already know what we’re getting in that prime-time slot: Broncos at Chiefs. A classic AFC West matchup, but one with a little extra juice this year.

The Chiefs are still the Chiefs — 15-2 last season, Mahomes doing Mahomes things, and a roster that reloaded with smart moves instead of flashy ones. They brought back Hollywood Brown, extended Nick Bolton, and made sure their offensive line and secondary didn’t fall off. That Super Bowl loss to Philly stung, but nobody’s writing them off.

Then there’s Denver. They finally made it back to the playoffs last year behind Bo Nix’s breakout rookie season — nearly 3,800 yards, 29 touchdowns, and more poise than anyone expected. They didn’t just sneak in, either. Their defense was top-three in scoring and led the league in sacks. This offseason, they added more help on offense with Evan Engram and Trent Sherfield, and loaded up on defense again with Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga.

So yeah, it’s more than just a rivalry game. It’s a measuring stick. Can the Broncos hang with the team that’s owned the AFC West for years? Or is Mahomes about to remind everyone why Kansas City still runs this division? Either way, it’s a pretty great excuse to ignore your family for three hours on Christmas night.

Eagles-Packers, Week 10 Monday Night Football (ESPN)

One of the big reveals from ESPN came Tuesday morning with the announcement that the Eagles will host the Packers in Week 10 on Monday Night Football. Set for November 10, it’s a prime-time rematch of last year’s NFC Wild Card clash where Philly handled Green Bay in a physical, playoff-setting tone. This year, it’ll come right as the second half of the season kicks into gear — and could be a sneaky playoff preview again.

Jalen Hurts and that loaded Philly roster will get the home crowd under the lights, while Jordan Love leads a Packers squad that’s trying to build consistency and prove they belong with the NFC’s elite. For ESPN, they've got to love having two legacy franchises, two playoff-caliber teams, and a game that feels like it’ll matter in late December. 

International Slate

The NFL is taking its biggest swing yet with international expansion, rolling out a record seven regular-season games outside the U.S. this year. These games take the NFL across five different countries, and while the league likes to frame it as global expansion, some of these matchups are really just about giving international fans a chance to see NFL action live — even if the games themselves aren’t always bangers. Here’s a look at each one and why it matters (or doesn’t) in its own way:

• Week 1 – Sao Paulo, Brazil:
  Chargers vs. TBD at Corinthians Arena (Friday, September 5)
  This will be the second-ever NFL regular-season game in Brazil, and the Chargers are locked in as the home team. The opponent hasn’t been officially announced yet, though reports point to Kansas City. Either way, Brazil gets a flashy Friday night opener with major AFC implications and another test run for football in South America’s largest city. With YouTube as the exclusive broadcaster, the NFL is pushing hard into both digital and international lanes.

• Week 4 – Dublin, Ireland: Vikings vs. Steelers at Croke Park (Sunday, September 28)
  This marks the NFL’s first regular-season game in Ireland. Croke Park is one of the country’s most iconic stadiums, typically home to Gaelic football and hurling. Pittsburgh’s deep-rooted Irish-American fan base and Minnesota’s international-friendly brand make this a smart pairing to debut in Dublin.

• Week 5 – London, UK: Vikings vs. Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Sunday, October 5)
  Minnesota stays in Europe for back-to-back weeks, while Cleveland gets its first London appearance since 2017. London has been the centerpiece of the league’s global plan for years, and this game brings in two franchises with passionate but very different fan bases.

• Week 6 – London, UK: Jets vs. Broncos at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (Sunday, October 12)
  The Jets bring their big-market buzz to London, and Denver’s coming off a promising playoff season, but let’s be honest — this one doesn’t scream fireworks. It’s New York’s first London appearance since 2021 and Bo Nix’s international debut, but with both teams still figuring things out, this could be one of those slower-paced matchups that fits nicely in the early-morning time slot. Not every game has to be a shootout — sometimes you just need something to sip your coffee to.

• Week 10 – Berlin, Germany: Colts vs. Falcons at Olympiastadion (Sunday, November 9)
  The league is going back to Germany, and this time the game features two of the youngest and most controversial quarterback picks in recent memory with Anthony Richardson and Michael Penix Jr.. Germany has quickly become a huge NFL market, and Berlin is next up in the rotation.

• Week 11 – London, UK: Jaguars vs. Rams at Wembley Stadium (Sunday, November 16)
  Jacksonville’s annual UK trip continues — they’re basically the league’s adopted London franchise at this point. LA’s inclusion gives the game more national appeal and keeps the Wembley fixture fresh. This marks the Rams’ first London trip since 2019.

• Week 12 – Madrid, Spain: Dolphins vs. Commanders at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium (Sunday, November 23)
  This will be the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Spain, and the league is pulling no punches. Miami is one of the flashiest offenses in the league, and pairing them with rising-star Jayden Daniels makes this a must-watch game. Playing at the home of Real Madrid also adds a layer to the spectacle.

More to Come

Everything else — like Thanksgiving opponents, the Peacock holiday game, and those final CBS and Netflix reveals — is set to land Tuesday or Wednesday before the full schedule release. Most of it will be international games getting announced by NFL Network on Tuesday morning, but a few domestic matchups should sneak in too. 

As those games roll out, I’ll be updating this piece live to keep everything in one place, so check back throughout the day to stay up to speed.

The Rumor Mill

São Paulo Showdown

According to reports, the Chargers Week 1 matchup in Brazil will be against a familiar foe — the Chiefs — with the game streaming exclusively on YouTube. This one hasn’t been officially confirmed by the NFL just yet, but Front Office Sports reported the details and the league hasn’t exactly denied it. And let’s be honest — Mahomes vs. Herbert in a standalone international game feels like exactly the kind of splash the NFL would go for.

The game would mark the league’s second trip to São Paulo after last year’s debut in Brazil, and the Chargers are going to be the "home" team, though we all know Arrowhead fans travel well — especially when L.A. can’t even fill its own stadium.

Mahomes has dominated the Chargers in their head-to-head history, but these matchups are almost always closer than they should be. Throw in the Week 1 unpredictability and the whole YouTube-exclusive angle, and you’ve got a matchup that’s weird, high-stakes, and kind of awesome in a very NFL-in-2025 kind of way.

Everybody's Favorite QB Matchup: Bills-Chiefs

Week 9 could bring us a huge AFC showdown between the Chiefs and Bills in prime time, if the rumblings out of Buffalo turn out to be true. A few local reporters have said Highmark Stadium staff is already prepping for a Sunday night broadcast setup, which makes this feel like more than just internet gossip. It hasn’t been confirmed yet, but all signs point to Mahomes heading to Buffalo under the lights, which would be a major midseason highlight if it sticks.

None of this is gospel yet — but anything tied to logistics (stadium crews, network travel, or evet scheduling) is bound to have some leaks somewhere.

What Happens Next

• Tuesday, May 13: ESPN reveals one game; NFL Network drops the full international slate. We’ll update those details here in real time.

• Wednesday, May 14 (morning): CBS and Netflix each spill at least one matchup.

• Wednesday, 8 p.m. ET: The full 272‑game schedule hits.

For team content crews, this is the Super Bowl of social strategy. Over the last few years, schedule release videos have gone from quick graphics to full-blown productions that go viral across every platform. Whether it’s a perfectly timed parody, a clever animation, or a willingness to take shots at their rivals, these videos are now one of the most anticipated pieces of NFL offseason content. Teams know fans are refreshing Twitter not just to see who they're playing — but to see how they're going to find out.