Past performance does not guarantee future results, but the 2026 schedule difficulty rankings—based on the combined 2025 win-loss records of opponents—offer a statistical preview of what lies ahead for each NFL team.
Methodology
The strength of schedule rankings are calculated using the combined winning percentage of each team's 17 opponents from the 2025 season. This method does not account for offseason roster changes, injuries, or other variables that may affect actual game difficulty.
Toughest Schedules
The following teams face the most difficult schedules based on opponents' 2025 records:
- Chicago Bears: 0.550 opponent win percentage
- Miami Dolphins: 0.542
- Arizona Cardinals: 0.538
- Green Bay Packers: 0.538
- Kansas City Chiefs: 0.536
The Bears, as NFC North winners from the previous season, face five first-place teams due to the NFL's 17-game schedule structure.
Easiest Schedules
The following teams face the least difficult schedules:
- Cleveland Browns: 0.429 opponent win percentage
- New Orleans Saints: 0.434
- Cincinnati Bengals: 0.450
- Atlanta Falcons: 0.465
- Indianapolis Colts: 0.465
The Browns, under new head coach Todd Monken, will play the AFC South and NFC South. The Saints hold the second-easiest schedule by this measurement.
Full Rankings
Rank Team Opponents' Combined Win % 1 Chicago Bears .550 2 Miami Dolphins .542 T-3 Arizona Cardinals .538 T-3 Green Bay Packers .538 5 Kansas City Chiefs .536 6 New England Patriots .531 7 Las Vegas Raiders .529 8 Buffalo Bills .528 9 Los Angeles Chargers .522 10 Carolina Panthers .521 11 Minnesota Vikings .519 12 New York Jets .517 13 Los Angeles Rams .516 14 Seattle Seahawks .514 15 Denver Broncos .512 16 Washington Commanders .502 17 New York Giants .498 18 San Francisco 49ers .497 19 Pittsburgh Steelers .495 20 Dallas Cowboys .493 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers .491 22 Jacksonville Jaguars .490 23 Philadelphia Eagles .481 24 Baltimore Ravens .479 25 Tennessee Titans .476 26 Houston Texans .474 27 Detroit Lions .467 T-28 Atlanta Falcons .465 T-28 Indianapolis Colts .465 30 Cincinnati Bengals .450 31 New Orleans Saints .434 32 Cleveland Browns .429Additional Analysis
NFC East Context
Among NFC East first-place teams, the Eagles have the easiest schedule. The New York Giants' 2026 opponents had a combined winning percentage of .498 (17th). The Washington Commanders rank 16th at .502, the Dallas Cowboys 20th at .493, and the Philadelphia Eagles 23rd at .481.
Alternative Measurement
Sharp Football Analysis, using Vegas win total projections, offers a different ranking method. Under this system:
- The Miami Dolphins ranked 31st (toughest) by both methods
- The New Orleans Saints ranked second-easiest by both methods
- The Chicago Bears ranked 27th by Sharp projections versus first by 2025 opponent percentage
- The Arizona Cardinals ranked 32nd by Sharp projections
Travel Considerations
The 2025 schedule data provides context for travel demands:
- The San Francisco 49ers have the most projected travel miles at 38,105, including a 15,738-mile trip to Melbourne, Australia
- The Carolina Panthers have the fewest projected travel miles at 8,740
- The New England Patriots, Los Angeles Chargers, and Miami Dolphins rank in the top 10 for both travel miles and strength of schedule
Historical Notes
Since 1990, at least four teams per season have made the playoffs after missing the previous year.
- The AFC team with the easiest schedule has recorded a winning record for eight straight seasons.
- In seven of the past nine years, at least one team with one of the two easiest schedules has made the playoffs.