The schedule for the 2026 NFL season has been released, and we can now identify the winners and losers from the fixture announcement.
Sharp Football Analysis have created a table using a variety of metrics and factors, ranking which teams have the easiest fixtures and which teams have the most challenging schedule. They call it the 'Strength of Schedule Tool.'
So, without further ado, here's how they've ranked every NFL team's schedule in terms of difficulty, starting with the easiest and ending with the hardest.
Every NFL team's 2026 schedule ranked from easiest to hardest (32-11)
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10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bucky Irving RB Tampa Bay Buccaneers celebrates big play Week 3, 2024
The Bucs are looking to add to their two titles this year, but will have to overcome a difficult schedule if they are to see success. They begin their campaign at the Cincinnati Bengals in week 1.
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They tend to start campaigns well, winning five consecutive season openers, a record tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the longest active streak in the NFL.
9 New York Giants
New York Giants DE Kayvon Thibodeaux celebrates with teammates
Four-time Super Bowl Champions New York Giants come into the season with a new coach in John Harbaugh. He will have an early opportunity to get fans onside in a thrilling match-up against the Cowboys at MetLife Stadium. They have four of their first six games at home, so a great chance to get a strong start to the season.
8 Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders
The Commanders are hoping to end a 35-year Super Bowl drought this season. They begin with two away games before a blockbuster home tie against the defending champions, the Seattle Seahawks. They have quarterback Jayden Daniels back after he suffered a dislocated elbow in week 9 last year.
7 Houston Texans
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) is sacked by Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) in the first quarter at NRG Stadium.
The Texans are attempting to get past the divisional round of the play-offs, having failed to do so in the previous three seasons. They are confident of doing so, having one of the best rosters they've had in their history. Starting off with three of their first four games at home, they have a great opportunity to get a good start before the tougher away trips commence.
6 Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Bears won the NFC North for the first time since 2018 last season in what was a successful campaign. It also saw them grab their first play-off win in 15 years.
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This season, they have a challenging schedule being placed in seven standalone windows, including three straight weeks appearing on 'Thursday Night Football', 'Monday Night Football', and 'Sunday Night Football'.
Quarterback Caleb Williams will have a pivotal role to play if they are to replicate last season's success.
5 Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles Rams
The Rams begin their 2026 campaign in Melbourne, Australia, facing the 49ers in the first ever NFL game Down Under. They won two road play-off games last season and the NFL expects them to be headline makers this season, placing them in six primetime games.
They face the challenge of a game in Australia and a tough conclusion to the campaign with games against the Packers, Chiefs, and Seahawks after their week 11 bye.
4 Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys are looking to end their two-year omission from the play-offs this season, but face a very difficult schedule.
They have six nighttime primetime games during the season and also face a trip to play the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro in the third week. Two of their final three games are at home, giving them a good chance to pick up results at the end of the season if they are in need of victories to secure the play-offs.
3 Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers-2
The Panthers have never won the Super Bowl and will need to battle against a very difficult schedule if they are to have any chance of winning this season.
They feature on 'Sunday Night Football' for the first time in a decade in week 4 when they face the Detroit Lions. They have a challenging conclusion with games against defending champions, the Seahawks and rivals Atlanta Falcons.
2 Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) drops back with the ball against the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium
New Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley has his work cut out in his debut season with a very testing schedule to overcome. They face a huge couple of months in November and December, coming up against six play-off teams from last season.
This will be a season-defining spell which will either make them or break them. The Dolphins have a rather young squad which could struggle with such a challenging spell of games.
1 Arizona Cardinals
Marvin Harrison Jr. Arizona Cardinals WR
The Cardinals face the daunting task of five of their opening nine games being against play-off teams, most notably two games against rivals the Seahawks. To add to the challenge, six of their first nine will be on the road.
New coach Mike LaFleur is being thrown straight in at the deep end with no time to settle into his new role. It is possible their season is over by week nine once the stretch of challenging games has passed.