NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: Best and Worst

The NFL Strength of Schedule for 2026: Best and Worst highlights the best and worst schedules. Using records from the 2025 season, we find three teams each in the AFC East (Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, and the New England Patriots) and the AFC West ?Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, and the Las Vegas Raiders) ranked among the top-10 worst (toughest) schedules for 2026. The AFC West is even tougher when considering the Denver Broncos have the 15th most difficult schedule.

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: Best and Worst

Crossover Division Opponents in 2026

• AFC EAST vs. NFC NORTH
• AFC NORTH vs. NFC SOUTH
• AFC SOUTH vs. NFC EAST
• AFC WEST vs. NFC WEST

The process the NFL uses for determining opponents is clearly outlined and is calculated so that teams are guaranteed to play each team in the league at least every four years. The rotation in the schedule for inter-divisional opponents dramatically impacts the NFL Strength of Schedule for 2026. The best and worst strengths of schedules based on 2025 records find that the toughest schedules are largely attributed to facing a tougher schedule in crossover games.  The divisions with the toughest strength of schedules in the AFC are the AFC East and the AFC West. They are matched up with the divisions in the NFC that have the greatest strength of schedules, the NFC East and NFC South.

Using a strength of schedule analysis that is based on previous season wins does have its flaws, of course. The first flaw is that teams adjust to building their rosters from the previous season in different ways. Adding to the roster through the draft and in free agency is not an exact science, and the impact of additions certainly can and does impact the trajectory of team success. Another factor that impacts is how key losses from the previous year will impact each team.

Injuries to key players as well as losses that impact a team’s depth can significantly impact a previous season’s record. The injury to Tyreek Hill in 2025, for instance, definitely impacted the Dolphins’ fortunes. With Hill on the field all season, Miami would have likely earned at least 2-3 wins with Hill and would have been a playoff contender.

Another factor often overlooked is that a closer look at last season’s record could have been greatly impacted by its relatively easier strength of schedule. Case in point is the New England Patriots with 14 wins in 2025. The AFC East drew the NFC South last season, so the Patriots had six games against a trio of teams who finished 8-9 (Buccaneers, Falcons, and Panthers) and the Saints(6-9)

Divisional Looks at Strength of Schedule, Based on 2025 Records

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: AFC EAST

The Dolphins received the second-toughest schedule, with two factors primarily at play.  The first is they of course have two games with the Bills(12-5) and New England Patriots(14-3). The second factor going against Miami is that their four opponents from the NFC East all were above .500: Chicago(11-6), Green Bay(9-7-1), and the Lions and Vikings at 9-8.

Each team’s strength of schedule for the upcoming season ahead of Thursday’s schedule release: pic.twitter.com/81g7PQJ6ee

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 12, 2026

NFL Strength of Schedule of 2026: AFC NORTH

The four teams in the AFC North benefit from tilts against the NFC South, where three teams tied for the division lead at 8-9 (Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta), and the fourth, New Orleans, was 6-11.

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: AFC SOUTH

The AFC South teams have easier schedules stemming from their matchups against the NFC East teams. The Philadelphia Eagles were the lone team with a winning record at 11-6, and the Cowboys (7), Commanders (5), and Giants (4) combined for just sixteen wins in 2025.

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: AFC WEST

The AFC West teams have a difficult schedule based on their crossover matchups with the NFC West. Even though Arizona had just three wins in 2025, Seattle (14) and the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers each had 12 wins last season. The only reason the Denver Broncos are the lone NFC West team with a strength of schedule outside the top 10 is that they, of course, don’t play against themselves.

NFL Offseason Key Dates To Know

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: NFC EAST

Simply put, the reason these four teams have mid-range schedule difficulties is due to their crossover opponents from the AFC South. Jacksonville (13) and Houston (12) produced significant wins last season, but then there were the Colts (nine$ and Titans (three) with win totals that brought the difficulty level down.

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: NFC NORTH

This is perhaps a puzzling matter when considering the strength of the schedule. NFC North teams, after all, face the AFC East in crossover games. To have three teams in the top 11 might seem odd. However, digging under the surface reveals a clearer picture. The Bears play a first-place schedule, including games against division winners Philadelphia, Seattle, Jacksonville, and the New England Patriots. The Packers didn’t catch a break either, with tough games against Carolina, the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams, and the Houston Texans.

Here’s every team’s 2026 NFL strength of schedule based on current projected win totals.

This is a much better way to view strength of schedule because it actually takes offseason moves and roster changes into account.

The #Lions have the “easiest” schedule, while the… pic.twitter.com/T4St8a7nGh

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 12, 2026

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: NFC SOUTH

When the division champion, Carolina, earns just eight wins, it stands to reason the strength of schedule here is going to be weaker. Factor in the Panthers now play a first-place schedule and earned games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, Seattle Seahawks, and Denver Broncos.

NFL Strength of Schedule 2026: NFC WEST

Poor Arizona, which had three playoff teams in its own division, coupled with the NFC West, matched up with the AFC West. All four teams would have had a tougher strength of schedule had Kansas City had its customary stellar season.

Main Image: Eric Canha-Imagn Images