NFL Schedule Betting Angles: Short Weeks, Travel, and Trap Games
Grant White
Host · Writer
Kansas City Chiefs - Week 9 at Buffalo Bills
The Kansas City Chiefs' rivalry with the Buffalo Bills is one of the clearest examples of dichotomy in the modern NFL. Buffalo trounces the Chiefs in the regular season, with Kansas City exacting revenge come playoff time. That relationship is unlikely to change in 2025.
The defending AFC Champs may have gifted another regular-season win to the Bills with their upcoming schedule. The Chiefs are set to host the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football in Week 8. Less than a week later, they travel north to battle the Bills at Highmark Stadium.
On top of being a short week with travel, the Chiefs also did themselves no favors with their Week 8 opponent. The Commanders are on the rise and will give KC everything it can handle at home. Following that up with a date in Buffalo could only end in disaster.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Week 17 at Cleveland Browns
I'm sure playing an international game early in the season has its perks, but we can't overlook some of the cascading effects it has on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.
The Steelers head to Ireland for a Week 4 clash versus the Minnesota Vikings, burning through their bye week within the first month of the season. Granted, it seems increasingly unlikely that they will be in the playoff conversation at the end of the season, but Week 17 is a must-fade situation for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh will play its third road game in four weeks in the season's penultimate week. That stretch is interrupted by Christmas. We envision the Steelers letting their guard down and getting trounced by the Cleveland Browns.
Los Angeles Chargers - Week 15 at Kansas City Chiefs
After a resurgent 2024 campaign, the Los Angeles Chargers enter the upcoming season with a much larger target on their back. That bullseye looks even more exposed ahead of a Week 15 tilt versus the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chargers take on the defending Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in Week 14. Then, on a short week, they travel for a dreaded intra-divisional road battle against the Chiefs the following Sunday. Regardless of preparation, the Chargers will be at a significant disadvantage ahead of what could be a deciding game in the AFC West race.
Atlanta Falcons - Week 11 vs. Carolina Panthers
Whoever made the Atlanta Falcons schedule should probably be fired. From Week 6 to Week 13, they run a hellish gauntlet that will inevitably end in disaster. While several weeks are unfortunate scheduling spots, Week 11 sets up as the worst.
Starting in Week 6, the Falcons host the Bills. From there, they travel to San Francisco, head home for a clash against the Dolphins, hit the road to take on the Patriots, and then head to Germany. Week 11, they are back at home for a tilt versus the Carolina Panthers, which undoubtedly sets up as a flat spot for the Falcons.
Curiously, Atlanta then plays its next two on the road, all while using its bye week back in Week 5. None of those games are ideal circumstances, but Week 11 stands out as a must-fade spot.
Dallas Cowboys - Week 6 at Carolina Panthers
The Dallas Cowboys were hoping to build some early momentum this season, but unfortunately, that will be an uphill battle. The Cowboys open up the season against some of the toughest teams in the league and could fall flat on their collective faces in Week 6.
Dallas opens the 2025 campaign with back-to-back divisional games. Subsequently, they are on the road versus the Bears, home to the Packers, and then back on the road to battle the Jets. From there, they travel to take on the Panthers, with the Commanders waiting for them in the preceding week.
The Cowboys will look straight past the Panthers, focusing on their impending intra-divisional tilt against the Commanders. With four of their first six games being played on the road, the Cowboys could be in for a world of hurt in Week 6.
Kansas City Chiefs - Week 9 at Buffalo Bills
The Kansas City Chiefs' rivalry with the Buffalo Bills is one of the clearest examples of dichotomy in the modern NFL. Buffalo trounces the Chiefs in the regular season, with Kansas City exacting revenge come playoff time. That relationship is unlikely to change in 2025.
The defending AFC Champs may have gifted another regular-season win to the Bills with their upcoming schedule. The Chiefs are set to host the Washington Commanders on Monday Night Football in Week 8. Less than a week later, they travel north to battle the Bills at Highmark Stadium.
On top of being a short week with travel, the Chiefs also did themselves no favors with their Week 8 opponent. The Commanders are on the rise and will give KC everything it can handle at home. Following that up with a date in Buffalo could only end in disaster.
Stay ahead of the game and elevate your sports betting experience with SportsGrid.
Pittsburgh Steelers - Week 17 at Cleveland Browns
I'm sure playing an international game early in the season has its perks, but we can't overlook some of the cascading effects it has on the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2025.
The Steelers head to Ireland for a Week 4 clash versus the Minnesota Vikings, burning through their bye week within the first month of the season. Granted, it seems increasingly unlikely that they will be in the playoff conversation at the end of the season, but Week 17 is a must-fade situation for Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh will play its third road game in four weeks in the season's penultimate week. That stretch is interrupted by Christmas. We envision the Steelers letting their guard down and getting trounced by the Cleveland Browns.
