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The truth of the NFL schedule is this: It’s not who you play, it’s when you play them. A team that looks tough on paper now could be a shell of itself when injuries hit in October. Maybe even before.
That said, strength of schedule is at least a guide to the challenges each team will face. And it’s the final piece of the puzzle to rank the teams from best to worst before training camp begins.
So now that the entire 2026 schedule is out, here are my final Power Rankings for the offseason.
Super Bowl odds: +40000
They have a real chance to start 0-13 against a brutal schedule heading into their bye week. After that, they’ll have the chance to pick up some wins against the Jets, Saints and Raiders, but at that point they’ll have to ask themselves, “Why?”
Super Bowl odds: +30000
If they went for the top pick, would anyone know? Their last six games, and nine of their last 11, are against teams expected to win nine or more games. After opening against the Raiders, the slate quickly turns ugly.
Super Bowl odds: +15000
It’s hard to find a soft spot in this schedule for the Raiders to put top pick Fernando Mendoza in. Maybe Week 8 against the Jets or Week 12 against the Browns, but those are the only weak games after September for a while.
How soon will Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza start? (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Super Bowl odds: +20000
The Jets’ schedule is relatively easy. They just need to survive Robert Saleh’s revenge mission in the opener and three straight games against the NFC North to get to the easier part starting in Week 5.
Super Bowl odds: +15000
They have the NFL’s easiest schedule based on last year’s record and travel fewer miles than all but one team. In theory, they have plenty of time to find their way – if they can find a quarterback.
Super Bowl odds: +12000
After Robert Saleh (probably) gets revenge on the Jets in Week 1, things get a lot more difficult. On paper, the Titans’ schedule is easy. In reality, it is much more difficult than it seems.
Super Bowl odds: +8000
Once they get past Detroit and Baltimore in the opening weeks, they have a real chance to build on last year with one of the NFL’s easiest schedules based on expected wins. They are also set for a strong finish with no games against 2025 playoff teams in the last four weeks.
Super Bowl odds: +5000
Seven of their last nine games are against teams expected to win 9-11 games. Aaron Rodgers’ 42-year-old body should be in pain pretty well by then.
Super Bowl odds: +6500
It may not be possible to survive their first eight games. They only play three of those on the road, but they are in Philly and Dallas to open the season and then to San Francisco in Week 6. They also play the Seahawks and Rams. They don’t really have a break until they get to Arizona in Week 12.
When will Jayden Daniels return and will he be able to regain his rookie form? (Photo: G Fiume/Getty Images)
Super Bowl odds: +6500
The only real problem with their schedule is that they open against the Ravens, Chiefs and Texans. Those are three tough tests for either a backup quarterback or a still-healing Daniel Jones. However, it will be much easier afterwards.
Super Bowl odds: +5000
The first half of their schedule is easy compared to what awaits them in the second half. Their last nine games include trips to Chicago, Detroit and Baltimore and home games against the Chargers and Rams.
Super Bowl odds: +2500
They have the third-toughest schedule in terms of expected wins for their opponent, and they travel more than all but three NFL teams (27,980 miles). Add five primetime games and they have a grueling road.
Super Bowl odds: +12000
Their road slate is easy, but their home schedule is ugly. Their first six home games are against the Panthers, Ravens, Bears, 49ers, Chiefs and Lions, not counting the “home” game against the Bengals in Madrid. Wow.
Super Bowl odds: +7000
The NFL got the first six games for John Harbaugh, with only a road trip to the Rams looking impossible. They better build up a good cushion, though, because life is going to be tough after their Week 8 bye.
Super Bowl odds: +8000
The good news is that no one is traveling fewer than the 8,740 miles the Panthers will travel this season. The bad news is that they play the third toughest schedule, based on expected wins, along the way.
Will Bryce Young earn an extension after the Panthers recently picked up his fifth-year option? (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Super Bowl odds: +5000
If they can hang on in the division, they are set for a fantastic finish. Three of their last four games are at home. One is against the commanders. And their only road trip in that stretch is to New York to play the Jets.
Super Bowl odds: +1600
The opener will feel easy for them against the Cardinals and Raiders. But the next eight weeks are as ugly as they get, starting with a four-game stretch that includes trips to Buffalo, Seattle and Kansas City, with a home game against the Broncos in between. Practice
Super Bowl odds: +1800
They have the NFL’s easiest schedule based on expected wins, but the NFL found a way to make it difficult. They get to open the Bills’ new stadium in Week 2. Then three of their last four games are against divisional opponents on the road.
Super Bowl odds: +1600
Their schedule is full of soft spots, so they shouldn’t be on an extended losing streak anytime soon. And down the stretch, most of their tough games (Bills, Texans and Lions) are at home.
Super Bowl odds: +1700
Here’s a fun fact: The 49ers will set an NFL record this season by traveling more than 38,000 miles, including trips to Melbourne, Australia and Mexico City. They will cross 58 time zones. Surviving it may be impossible.
Super Bowl odds: +1500
The good news is that the schedule is backloaded so they can survive the first five weeks if Patrick Mahomes is rusty. The bad news is that it’s backloaded, so things won’t be easy when Mahomes might be back in shape.
Will Patrick Mahomes be back in Week 1? (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Super Bowl odds: +2200
Joe Burrow is back. They strengthened their terrible defense. And on top of that, they get one of the NFL’s easiest schedules. They only play two 2025 playoff teams over the last 14 weeks.
Super Bowl odds: +1800
The good news for the NFL’s best defense is that they don’t play a lot of offensive powerhouses on the road. Most of their toughest tests (Bengals, Cowboys, Bills) come at home and early.
Super Bowl odds: +2500
They drew the NFL’s toughest schedule, although it’s a little easier if you base it on projected wins in 2026 instead of the record from 2025. They also have seven prime-time, or one-off games, so the whole world will be watching.
Super Bowl odds: +3000
They have one home game in the first six weeks (against the Patriots) and two road games. If they can survive that, though, they’ll have a pretty smooth ride the rest of the way.
Super Bowl odds: +1600
They have pretty much the same brutal schedule as the Bills, just more home games toward the end. So why did they fall behind them? Because the Patriots aren’t used to a slate like that. And their coach has been a bit … um … distracted.
Super Bowl odds: +1000
It’s bad enough that their schedule includes the AFC West and NFC North, but they’ll be playing in New England, Green Bay and Denver in December. The bright side is that they will be very battle tested for the playoffs.
Can Joe Brady get the Bills back into title contention in his first year as head coach? (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)
Super Bowl odds: +950
I was told that ranking them so high was controversial. Then I saw their schedule and I’m not sure I ranked them high enough. They won’t be tested until Week 7 at home against the Bengals.
Super Bowl odds: +1600
Take three games against NFC West teams and their schedule is smooth as butter. They also get their two toughest games at home (Rams, Seahawks), and by the time they travel to San Francisco, the often-traveling 49ers should be exhausted.
Super Bowl odds: +950
They have much the same tough schedule as the Rams, only with about 12,000 fewer air miles. But honestly, the matchup between these two NFC West rivals will be decided by what happens when they play the two games over the last three weeks.
Super Bowl odds: +800
My colleague, Eric Williams, does not share my rosy view of the Rams. I remain bullish, but I got sensitive when I looked at their schedule. They will travel 34,847 miles this season, which can’t be good for Matthew Stafford’s 38-year-old running back. And facing the Seahawks twice in the last three games is a brutal final two months.
Super Bowl odds: +2000
Their first six games are just awful. But assuming they survive that, there’s a really soft middle of the schedule that could put them on a real run from Weeks 7 to 15. That should be enough for the class of the AFC, and a team motivated by the knowledge they should have been in the Super Bowl last year.
