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Strength of schedule rankings for all 32 NFL teams
TL;DR
The NFL will release the complete 2026 schedule on May 14. Strength of schedule rankings are determined using win totals from oddsmakers, reflecting offseason changes.
Key points
- 2026 NFL schedule release date is May 14
- Strength of schedule rankings use win totals from oddsmakers
- Rankings account for offseason changes
- Schedule will be unveiled on ESPN and NFL Network
- Teams will share their schedules on social media
Mentioned in this story
ESPNNFL NetworkWarren Sharp
Sharp Football AnalysisNFL
The release of the 2026 NFL schedule is almost upon us.
The NFL confirmed last week that the complete 2026 NFL schedule will be released on Thursday, May 14.
Schedules will be unveiled on ESPN and NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET, but each team will also drop its slate on social media.
In order to determine the strength of schedule rankings, Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis uses win totals from oddsmakers.
This is a much more effective method than using 2025 win totals because those don’t take into account offseason changes teams make.
That’s important because, as we know, NFL teams can make drastic changes and leaps forward or backward after just one offseason.
Coming in with the easiest strength of schedule for this coming campaign is the Detroit Lions, who are followed by the New Orleans Saints, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and New York Jets to round out the top five.
The five teams with the toughest schedules are the Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams.
Here’s a look at the full rankings, from No. 1 (easiest) to No. 32 (hardest).
NFL strength of schedule rankings
Q&A
When will the 2026 NFL schedule be released?
The complete 2026 NFL schedule will be released on Thursday, May 14.
How is the strength of schedule ranked for NFL teams?
Strength of schedule rankings are determined using win totals from oddsmakers, which account for offseason changes.
Where can I watch the NFL schedule release?
The NFL schedule release can be watched on ESPN and NFL Network at 8 p.m. ET.
What is the significance of using win totals from oddsmakers for rankings?
Using win totals from oddsmakers provides a more accurate reflection of team strength by considering offseason changes.
