Welcome to the Friday edition of the Pick Six newsletter! Since Mother’s Day approaches, we’ve compiled a special edition today. Not only will we assess each team’s strength of schedule, but we’ll also rank the newest quarterback-receiver/tight end combinations in the NFL. Additionally, we will make predictions for teams likely to play on Thanksgiving.
1. 2025 Strength of Schedule: Good luck, Giants!
The NFL schedule release is just around the corner, and we’re preparing a look at the teams with the most challenging schedules for the upcoming 2025 season. Bad news for Giants fans: based on the 2024 standings, their team is set to face the toughest challenges this coming year.
The Giants’ home games will pose especially tough competition, featuring six playoff teams from last season (Eagles, Commanders, Packers, Vikings, Chiefs, Chargers).
10 Most Difficult Schedules (combined opponent records from 2024):
- Giants: 166-123 (.574)
T-2. Bears: 165-124 (.571)
T-2. Lions: 165-124 (.571) - Eagles: 162-127 (.561)
T-5. Cowboys: 161-128 (.557)
T-5. Packers: 161-128 (.557)
T-5. Vikings: 161-128 (.557)
T-8. Commanders: 159-130 (.550) - Ravens: 154-135 (.533)
- Steelers: 152-137 (.526)
The Lions face the hardest schedule, with 12 teams from 2024 achieving winning records and 11 playoff teams, among the most in the NFL.
2. Holiday Game Predictions for Thanksgiving
The NFL schedule release is a highlight of the offseason, and here are my predictions for Thanksgiving matchups:
- Home team: Lions Time: 12:30 PM ET Possible opponents: Bears, Packers, Vikings.
- Predicted opponent: Vikings or Steelers
- Home team: Cowboys Time: 4:30 PM ET Possible opponents: Giants, Eagles, Commanders, Packers.
- Predicted opponent: Commanders or Chiefs
The final Thanksgiving game will feature a playoff team from the previous season.
3. Ranking New QB-WR/TE Tandems
Post-NFL Draft, several teams are pacing themselves with revamped rosters for the 2025 season. Here are the top new tandems:
- Packers: QB Jordan Love and WR Matthew Golden
- Buccaneers: QB Baker Mayfield and WR Emeka Egbuka
- Bears: QB Caleb Williams with TE Colston Loveland and WR Luther Burden
Garrett Podell had more rankings, which can be found here.
4. Players That Impacted Tom Brady
Tom Brady discussed the players he disliked facing during his NFL career on the “Impaulsive” podcast, naming Ray Lewis, Ndamukong Suh, JJ Watt, and Haloti Ngata as the hardest hitters.
5. NFL Offseason Grades for NFC North Teams
Here’s how the NFC North teams fared this offseason:
- Bears: A
- Vikings: A-
- Packers: B+
- Lions: B
These teams have made significant changes and impressive acquisitions to bolster their lineups this offseason.
