Imagine: $10,000 shows up in a wire in your bank account, the same day that your boss grants you a four-month sabbatical from September 2025 to January 2026. If this scenario isn’t incredible enough yet, there’s one strange catch — all funds must be used to purchase tickets to NFL regular season games, along with travel and hotel accommodations. There’s another stipulation, too. You must watch a game for every NFL team and visit all 30 NFL stadiums, while fitting in 32 games in the 18-week NFL regular season schedule. And you have to craft the perfect arrangement of games.
This is an entirely fictional scenario, because no one has actually come to me with that offer. But what better way to dive into the 2025 NFL regular season schedule, released earlier this week, than to plan the ultimate 18-week NFL road (and plane) trip, fitting in trips to see more football than is probably healthy for a human. Compared to NBA or MLB road trips (I’ve read books about both of these endeavors; they’re awesome), these games will be quite significant in shaping the NFL season’s outcome: 32 games out of 272 total regular season matchups comes out to 11.76 percent.
To make the exercise more fun and challenging, I’ve bolstered the requirements for this 32-game schedule:
- 32 games will be attended as part of the road trip
- In this theoretical scenario, I am based in Denver, Colorado
- Multiple games can be on one day, but must have at least one time slot between them to facilitate travel
- One week will be designated as the bye week
- All 32 teams and 30 stadiums are required viewing, plus two international games
- The maximum number of games in one calendar week (seven days) is three games and I cannot watch any team play in more than four games
- Total budget specifically for games is $5,000, with ticket prices calculated as the cheapest seat available by Vivid Seats
- Preference goes to high-profile matchups, divisional rivalries, playoff rematches, revenge games, teams of interest to me and a mix of time slots
And now, it’s time to unveil and break down the perfect 32-game 2025 NFL season itinerary. Just to confirm, I am NOT actually going on this trip. But it’s fun to dream!
Week 1: Chiefs vs Chargers, Friday, Sept. 5 at 8 PM ET in Brazil (N/A); Buccaneers at Falcons, Sunday, Sept. 7 at 1 PM ET ($49 entry price, per VividSeats)
The easy choice would have been to kick off the year with the NFL’s kickoff game, an Eagles-Cowboys showdown on Sept. 4 and the first official regular season game. But I couldn’t ignore the lure of South America and the chance to travel internationally for an AFC West matchup between the division’s two best teams, the Chiefs and Chargers. No prices have been released on Vivid Seats, but the best international game of the year will be worth the cost. I complemented the Friday game with another divisional matchup, this one in the glorious 1 PM ET time slot when all the NFL action is hitting fans for the first time in half a year. Of any division, the NFC South sure looks like a two-horse race, and the Falcons and Buccaneers will bring plenty of offense to this afternoon game.
Week 2: Eagles at Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 14 at 4:25 PM ET ($269), Chargers at Raiders, Monday, Sept. 15 at 10 PM ET ($160)
Three words: Super Bowl rematch. After missing the Eagles in Week 1, I carved out time to see the Super Bowl champs take on the team they vanquished in New Orleans, the Kansas City Chiefs. I predict the game will be closer this time around. I continued on my divisional matchup kick with a battle between Jim Harbaugh and new Raiders coach Pete Carroll, a throwback to the old Pac-12 days, on Monday Night Football.
Week 3: Texans at Jaguars, Sunday, Sept. 21 at 1 PM ET ($45), Lions at Ravens, Monday, Sept. 22 at 8:15 PM ET ($113)
If the Jaguars can make a surprise run at the AFC South crown, this matchup against the reigning division champions would be an excellent chance to prove it. The quarterback matchup of C.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence has real upside, but the real draw is getting to see wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, the second pick of the 2025 Draft, in action on both sides of the ball. A Monday Night Football showdown between two NFL heavyweights, the Lions and Ravens, rounds out the weekend with the best game of the week.
Week 4: Seahawks at Cardinals, Thursday, Sept. 25 at 8:15 PM ET ($46), Vikings vs Steelers, Sunday, Sept. 28 in Ireland, 9:30 AM ET ($799), Bengals at Broncos, Monday, Sept. 29 at 8:15 PM ET ($116)
My first three-game slate is highlighted by the schedule’s second international game, a Vikings-Steelers Super Bowl rematch held in Dublin, Ireland. Both myself and Mandy get something out of this trip — Mandy checks off the top international trip on her bucket list, and I enjoy a matchup between two playoff teams from 2024. Since I’ll be flying into the Denver International Airport anyway after the game, I’ll head west to Empower Field for a terrific Bengals-Broncos clash with real playoff implications. Between the jet lag and action, it would be easy to forget the Thursday Night Football battle of the birds in Arizona, but Kyler Murray against a new-look Seahawks team is an above-average offering for Thursday Night Football and is well worth the time.
Week 5: 49ers at Rams, Thursday, Oct. 2 at 6:15 PM ET ($97), Cowboys at Jets, Sunday, Oct. 5 at 1 PM ET ($113)
One of my more challenging requirements is hitting all 30 NFL stadiums, and for this week, I am knocking out the two stadiums that host multiple teams: SoFi Stadium in the Los Angeles market and MetLife Stadium in the New York City market. On Thursday Night Football, the Niners will be eager to prove that last season’s catastrophe is behind them, while the 2024 NFC West winners, the Rams, will have a tough test and early indicator of their standing in the NFC playoff picture. The east coast matchup between the Jets and Cowboys pits two of the most publicized franchises in the league against each other as both teams look to challenge for a playoff spot.
Week 6: 49ers at Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct. 12 at 1 PM ET ($82)
I’m back to one game for my birthday week, but it’s a good one. This battle of prolific offenses boasts an abundance of star power, from Baker Mayfield’s high-powered aerial attack in Tampa Bay to the 49ers’ All-Pro duo of running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle. While the 49ers and Bucs both have the pieces for bounce-back defensive seasons, I’m looking forward to hearing the cannons fire at Raymond James Stadium throughout the afternoon.
Week 7: Patriots at Titans, Sunday, Oct. 19 at 1 PM ET ($47), Buccaneers at Lions, Monday, Oct. 20 at 7 PM ET ($227)
Patriots coach Mike Vrabel is a New England icon for his role on the Patriots’ Super Bowl winning teams in the 2000s, but he made a name for himself in the head coaching ranks in a relatively successful tenure with Tennessee (including a playoff win over the Patriots in Tom Brady’s last New England game). The quarterback matchup between No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward and 2023 No. 3 pick Drake Maye makes the action on the field just as inviting. I’ll also travel north to Detroit for an underrated Monday Night Football matchup between the Lions and Bucs. Tampa Bay surprised the Lions with a win in their game last season, but Detroit handily won their playoff matchup the previous postseason.
Week 8: BYE
No football for me this week! Time to catch up on relaxation, rest up for the second half slate and maybe catch a bit of NFL Primetime highlights on Sunday evening.
Week 9: Chiefs at Bills, Sunday, Nov. 2 at 4:25 PM ET ($194)
Right back into the fire with one of the most highly anticipated games of the year. This rematch of the AFC Championship Game will go a long way in determining the AFC’s top seed and home-field advantage in the playoffs. If Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are both healthy, this could also be the best quarterback matchup I see all season long.
Week 10: Bills at Dolphins, Sunday, Nov. 9 at 1 PM ET ($91), Eagles at Packers, Monday, Nov. 10 at 8:15 PM ET ($228)
I’d expect a shocking difference in temperatures here between Miami and Green Bay. The early Sunday game will demonstrate if the Dolphins are a legitimate challenger for the AFC East crown, while the Eagles-Packers playoff rematch pits two postseason regulars against each other on a chilly primetime stage.
Week 11: Bears at Vikings, Sunday, Nov. 16 at 1 PM ET ($107), Lions at Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 16 at 8:20 PM ET ($188)
The NFC North was football’s best division last year, so I’m taking as many of these matchups as I can muster. The Bears should be much improved with new head coach Ben Johnson and an influx of offensive and defensive talent, while the Vikings’ playoff hopes hinge on quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s performance in his first season as Minnesota’s starter. I’ll have to take a plane ride from Minneapolis to Philadelphia to catch the second game, but the Lions-Eagles matchup is the best NFC game of the season and will make the hassle worthwhile. Detroit and Philadelphia seemed like they were on a crash course for the NFC Championship last season, and this year’s regular-season contest will factor into the race for the top seed in the conference.
Week 12: Bills at Texans, Thursday, Nov. 20 at 8:20 PM ET ($142), Falcons at Saints, Sunday, Nov. 23 at 4:25 PM ET ($39), Panthers at 49ers, Monday, Nov. 24 at 8:15 PM ET ($73)
The AFC East and AFC South winners clash in a terrific Thursday Night Football matchup to start my three-game week, and if last year’s matchup was any indication, these teams are made for primetime TV. For the Sunday game, I had to get the rudderless Saints in somewhere, and New Orleans’ rivalry game against the Falcons is, by far, the most compelling game on its schedule. The Christian McCaffrey Bowl on Monday Night Football is a sleeper pick as a game with potential wild card implications.
Week 13: Chiefs at Cowboys, Thursday, Nov. 27 at 4:30 PM ET ($95), Giants at Patriots, Monday, Dec. 1 at 8:15 PM ET ($111)
A Thanksgiving football game was a no-brainer, and the Ravens-Bengals primetime matchup offered both a terrific divisional rivalry between playoff contenders and the chance to eat Thanksgiving at home in Maryland. But the allure of the Cowboys playing on Thanksgiving was too great, even if the Chiefs, AFC winners in the past three seasons, are the opponent. Speaking of David-Goliath matchups, the Super Bowl XLII rematch between the Giants and the Patriots, my other game of Week 13, is an intriguing contest between two teams that picked in the top five of last month’s draft that have some wild card potential.
Week 14: Titans at Browns, Sunday, Dec. 7 at 1 PM ET ($27)
27 bucks for an NFL game is a tremendous deal, and I could see this ticket price skyrocketing. The scenario I’m envisioning: 2025 No. 1 pick Cam Ward comes into Cleveland and takes on fifth-round pick Shedeur Sanders, who has risen from the ashes to claim the Browns’ starting job and is out to prove he is the best rookie quarterback. Tennessee and Cleveland won’t be competing for a Super Bowl spot, but I’ve talked myself into circling this one on my calendar already.
Week 15: Ravens at Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 14 at 1 PM ET ($112)
After missing the first Ravens-Bengals matchup on Thanksgiving due to Cowboys-related obligations, I wasn’t about to let this one slip me by. I’m expecting MVP-level performances out of both Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, a competitive game with AFC North implications and a thrilling ending, a staple of this rivalry.
Week 16: Rams at Seahawks, Thursday, Dec. 18 at 6:15 PM ET ($121), Packers at Bears, Saturday, Dec. 20 at time TBD ($220), 49ers at Colts, Monday, Dec. 22 at 8:15 PM ET ($84)
December gets a three-game week as well, allowing me to see six playoff contenders in action. The Packers-Bears rivalry, the oldest in football, is the juiciest matchup of the week, with Caleb Williams looking to prove that he can topple the most hated team in the city of Chicago. On Thursday, Rams-Seahawks could turn out to be a matchup that decides the division. San Francisco’s road trip to Indianapolis is appealing from the standpoint that it is an indoor game in December and features running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor at the forefront.
Week 17: Cowboys at Commanders, Thursday, Dec. 25 at 1 PM ET ($57), Seahawks at Panthers, Saturday/Sunday ($28)
I spurred Maryland for Thanksgiving, but this schedule allows me to slide down the chimney on Christmas morning, drop off some gifts and holiday cheer and head to PG County for what I consider to be the best and fiercest rivalry in the NFC. This will also be my first time seeing reigning Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels in action, with a retooled Cowboys team heading into Landover for the holiday. And for 57 dollars, this ticket is more than a mere stocking stuffer. Somehow, my other game of the week is at an even better price — $28 for the Sam Darnold classic between the Seahawks and Panthers. I could see both teams picking in the top 10 of the draft, but both have wild card upside and could make life interesting for their fanbases in the final week of 2025.
Week 18: Ravens at Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 4 at time TBD ($275)
I end my 32-game odyssey with the definitive best rivalry in football: the Baltimore Ravens taking on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Week 18 games can be hit-or-miss because they can be blowouts in which a team is resting up for the playoffs (Broncos 38, Chiefs 0 last year) or de-facto playoff games themselves (Lions vs Vikings for the NFC North in 2024). Pittsburgh could be well out of playoff contention at this point, but Baltimore-Pittsburgh matchups are always gritty and have the potential to cause a serious shakeup in the playoff seeding. Plus, the Steelers may be in contention to extend head coach Mike Tomlin’s streak of non losing seasons to 19.
Breaking It All Down: This 32-game slate would be nothing short of fantastic. If this came to fruition, I’d see NFL football played on three continents, witness the game’s best rivalries and take a seat in each NFL stadium. If I claimed the cheapest seat on Vivid Seats as of this week, the 31 games (the Brazil game hasn’t come out yet) would cost me $4,355. The Eagles-Chiefs Super Bowl rematch, Chiefs-Cowboys Thanksgiving game and Chiefs-Bills clash stand out to me as must-watch games, though I’m thrilled with the entertainment value of each team’s home game. With this schedule, I would see the Chiefs, 49ers and Cowboys four times each and the Eagles, Ravens, Bills, Lions, Seahawks and Buccaneers three times. Ideally, I’d have enough in the tank and in the bank to make one last trip — a February trek west to Santa Clara for Super Bowl LX.
Riker's Block 