Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs stands on the field
The Kansas City Chiefs own one of the hardest remaining schedules in the NFL(Image: Photo by Justin Edmonds/Getty Images)
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The calendar has turned to November and NFL conference and division standings are beginning to take shape.
This time of year always serves as a crucial juncture for NFL teams to decide if they are going all-in on the current season or already shifting their focus to next year, whether it be due to a poor record, bad injury luck, or both.
With the trade deadline – which falls on Nov. 10 at 4 pm ET – looming, each team’s Week 9 result could go a long way in deciding how they view the rest of the season.
Ahead of the pivotal slate of games, here are the 10 NFL teams with the hardest schedules throughout the rest of the regular season.
Malik Willis #2 of the Miami Dolphins looks on
2 of 11Multiple NFL playoff contenders are set to embark on challenging runs of games over the final 10 weeks of the 2026 regular season. Using TeamRankings’ Future Strength of Schedule (SOS) rankings and ratings, we compiled the 10 NFL teams with the hardest remaining regular schedules going into Week 9 . The Miami Dolphins come in as the team with the 10th-hardest remaining regular season schedule, according to TeamRankings. Entering Week 9 with a 1-6 record, Miami isn’t expected to make any sort of playoff push and instead will be honing its focus on securing a high NFL Draft pick, with the franchise’s eyes clearly set on 2027 and beyond.(Image: Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
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New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye warms up
The Patriots successfully bounced back from a slow start to the season to sit at 5-3 and in second place in the AFC East entering Week 9. With playoff hopefuls like the Packers, Lions, Bills, Vikings, Chiefs, and Broncos still to play against this season, New England comes in with the 9th-hardest remaining schedule in the NFL.(Image: Photo by Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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Quarterback Jared Goff (16) of the Detroit Lions looks up
The Lions handed the previously undefeated Vikings their first loss of the season in Week 8 to improve to a 5-2 record. Down the stretch, Detroit still must play four games against NFC North rivals, including two tilts with the red-hot Bears. Given the strength of their division, the Lions currently own the 8th-toughest remaining schedule.(Image: Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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