2025 NFL Schedule Release: Biggest Brands Take Center Stage 

The NFL dropped its full 2025 schedule this week—and as always, it’s more than just dates and matchups. From international history to primetime saturation to a Christmas Day tripleheader, this season’s calendar is packed with storylines. And as expected, ticket prices are already reacting. 

Here’s what we’re seeing in the early days after the release, and what it all means for fans looking to get in the door. 

Chiefs Take the Primetime Crown 

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to dominate not just the field, but the spotlight. With 7 primetime games, they top all teams in marquee matchups—and that doesn’t even include their Week 2 home opener vs. the Philadelphia Eagles, a Super Bowl rematch and one of the most anticipated games of the season. The Dallas Cowboys follow with 6 primetime games in their season.  

For fans, this is not just about TV schedules—it is about ticket prices. Primetime games consistently command higher average ticket prices (ATP), especially for brands like the Chiefs and Cowboys. Early data already shows stronger demand and higher pricing for night games, particularly in big markets and rivalry matchups. 

Vikings Make International History 

The NFL continues its global expansion in 2025, but this year it’s the Minnesota Vikings rewriting the record books. 

They’ll become the first team in league history to play back-to-back international games, facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland on September 28 and the Cleveland Browns in London on October 5. 

This rare scheduling twist not only adds fatigue and travel complexity for the Vikings—it’s also creating spikes in international ticket demand, especially among European fans eager to see star-studded rosters in person. 

With the NFL committed to global growth, games like these will likely become pricing hot spots as the league’s overseas presence grows. 

Thanksgiving Feast 

The NFL and Thanksgiving have long been intertwined within American culture, but the NFL is stepping up their game in 2025 with three incredible games. 

Detroit will host the Packers in a key divisional battle to start things off, while Dallas will host the Chiefs in what could be viewed as the battle for the title of “America’s Team” in the afternoon. The nightcap is an AFC North battle between the Bengals and Ravens, finishing off what should be an epic day of games. 

While Detroit and Dallas have been hosting Thanksgiving games since 1934 and 1966, respectively, the 2025 slate could draw some of the highest priced holiday games in recent memory. 

Christmas Tripleheader 

For the first time since 2022, the NFL will stage a Christmas Day tripleheader, with three games on December 25. Among them are Cowboys vs. Commanders (1 p.m. ET, Netflix), Lions vs. Vikings (4:30 p.m. ET, Netflix) and Chiefs vs. Broncos (8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime). 

Christmas Day has long been dominated by the NBA from a sports standpoint, but in recent years the NFL has pushed their way into the conversation. With three key divisional matchups on tap for the Christmas slate for the first time, it will be interesting to see how ticket prices move as the holiday approaches.  

Early Ticket Trends: Familiar Faces on Top 

Just like last year, ticket prices are reacting fast. Early average ticket price data shows a few key patterns: 

• Kansas City again sits near the top, driven by marquee home games vs. the Eagles, Lions and the Ravens, as well as the storylines that include a potential final season for future hall of famer Travis Kelce. 

• Dallas, Green Bay, and Chicago remain consistent top five markets, with loyal fanbases and strong opponent slates. 

• Detroit continues to rise, reflecting their growth from dark horse to a serious NFC contender. 

While ATP will fluctuate as we get closer to kickoff, the early pricing confirms one thing: fan excitement hasn’t slowed down. 

Final Takeaway 

The 2025 NFL schedule doesn’t just tell us when games are played, it reveals how the league is positioning its biggest brands to dominate the sports calendar. 

This approach is high-reward—but also high-risk. The NFL is betting that brand strength, star power, and rivalries will not only drive ratings, but also justify premium ticket prices, especially for holiday and primetime games. 

It’s a smart strategy when teams like the Chiefs, Cowboys, Eagles, and Bills are competitive. If early ATP data is any indicator, fans are all-in—for now. The league’s biggest brands are doing the heavy lifting, and holiday matchups are quickly becoming the most valuable real estate on the NFL calendar. 

This season, the NFL isn’t just aiming for attention—it is claiming ownership of the moments that matter most.