2026 NFL schedule release: Who has easiest, hardest lineups?
The 2026 NFL schedule will be released Thursday night (8 ET, ESPN and ESPN App). Matchups have already been established, so we know theCleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals seem to have an easy slate, while the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears might face a gauntlet.
When putting together an 18-week, 272-game lineup that will begin Wednesday, Sept. 9, the league's schedule makers consider multiple factors to ensure competitive balance, including bye weeks, travel and potential scheduling conflicts. They also use a rotation system to make sure each team plays every other team at least once every four years. Thousands of possible slates are created before settling on the final version.
The Super Bowl championSeattle Seahawks will open the season Sept. 9 against an unannounced opponent. Since 2004, 21 defending champs have played in the opener, and they have gone 16-5, including the Philadelphia Eagles' 24-20 win against the Dallas Cowboys to start the 2025 season, according to ESPN Research.
Along with each team's depth chart, here's a list of 2026 opponents for each NFL club.After tonight's release, ESPN will have all 32 teams' schedules and analysis.
Which team has the hardest schedule in 2026?
With a combined opponent winning percentage of .550 during the 2025 season, the Chicago Bears have the strongest schedule in 2026.
Which team has the weakest schedule in 2026?
With a combined opponent winning percentage of .429 during the 2025 season, the Cleveland Browns have the weakest schedule in 2026.
What determines a team's strength of schedule?
A team's strength of schedule is primarily determined by the combined winning percentage of its opponents from the previous season.
Ranking every NFL team's 2026 strength of schedule
Based on their win-loss opponents' win percentage from the 2025 season:
1.Cleveland Browns 0.429 (easiest)
2.New Orleans Saints 0.434
3.Cincinnati Bengals 0.450
4.Atlanta Falcons 0.465
5.Indianapolis Colts 0.465
6.Detroit Lions 0.467
7.Houston Texans 0.474
8.Tennessee Titans 0.476
9.Baltimore Ravens 0.479
10.Philadelphia Eagles 0.481
11.Jacksonville Jaguars 0.490
12.Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0.491
13.Dallas Cowboys 0.493
14.Pittsburgh Steelers 0.495
15.San Francisco 49ers 0.497
16.New York Giants 0.498
17.Washington Commanders 0.502
18.Denver Broncos 0.512
19.Seattle Seahawks 0.514
20.Los Angeles Rams 0.516
21.New York Jets 0.517
22.Minnesota Vikings 0.519
23.Carolina Panthers 0.521
24.Los Angeles Chargers 0.522
25.Buffalo Bills 0.528
26.Las Vegas Raiders 0.529
27.New England Patriots 0.531
28.Kansas City Chiefs 0.536
29.Green Bay Packers 0.538
30.Arizona Cardinals 0.538
31.Miami Dolphins 0.542
32.Chicago Bears 0.550 (hardest)
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