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The truth of the NFL schedule is this: It’s not about who you play, it’s about when you play them. A team that now looks tough on paper could be a shell of itself when injuries hit in October. Maybe even before.
That said, the strength of the schedule is at least a guide to the challenges each team will face. And it’s the final piece of the puzzle to rank teams from best to worst before training camp begins.
So, now that the full 2026 schedule is out, here are my final offseason Power Rankings.
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 a chance to rack 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 collapsed over the first election, would anyone know? Their last six games, and nine of their last 11, are against teams projected to win nine or more games. After opening against the Raiders, the score gets ugly quickly.
Super Bowl Odds: +15000
It’s hard to find a weak spot in this schedule for the Raiders to land top pick Fernando Mendoza. 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 the Raiders start rookie Fernando Mendoza? (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +20000
The Jets’ schedule is relatively simple. They just have to survive Robert Saleh’s quest for revenge in the opener and three straight games against the NFC North to get to the easier part that begins in Week 5.
Super Bowl Odds: +15000
They have the easiest schedule in the NFL 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 his revenge on the Jets in Week 1, things get a lot tougher. On paper, the Titans’ schedule is simple. 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’ll 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 good 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 that are expected to win between 9 and 11 games. 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers’ body should hurt quite a bit by then.
Super Bowl Odds: +6500
It may not be possible to survive their first eight games. They only play three of them on the road, but they are in Philadelphia and Dallas to open the season and then travel to San Francisco in Week 6. They also play the Seahawks and the Rams. They don’t really get a break until they get to Arizona in Week 12.
When will Jayden Daniels return and be able to regain his rookie form? (Photo by 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 a backup quarterback or a still-recovering Daniel Jones. However, after that it becomes much easier.
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 in five primetime games and you have a grueling road ahead.
Super Bowl Odds: +12000
Your travel itinerary is easy, but your home itinerary is ugly. Their first six home games are against the Panthers, Ravens, Bears, 49ers, Chiefs and Lions, and that doesn’t count the “home” game against the Bengals in Madrid. Wow.
Super Bowl Odds: +7000
The NFL set up the first six games for John Harbaugh, and only a trip to the Rams seemed impossible. They better build a good cushion, though, because life gets tough after their Week 8 bye.
Super Bowl Odds: +8000
The good news is that no one travels less than the 8,740 miles the Panthers will travel this season. The bad news is that they play the third-toughest schedule, based on projected wins, along the way.
Will Bryce Young get an extension after the Panthers recently exercised their fifth-year option? (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +5000
If they can hold on in the division, they will be 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 opening will be easy for them against the Cardinals and Raiders. But the next eight weeks are as ugly as they come, starting with a four-game stretch that includes trips to Buffalo, Seattle and Kansas City, with a home game against the Broncos in between. Oh.
Super Bowl Odds: +1800
They have the easiest schedule in the NFL based on projected wins, but the NFL found a way to make it difficult. They will be able to open the Bills’ new stadium in Week 2. Then, three of their final four games will be against division opponents on the road.
Super Bowl Odds: +1600
Their schedule is full of weaknesses, so they shouldn’t have a prolonged losing streak at any point. 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 that might be impossible.
Super Bowl Odds: +1500
The good news is that the schedule is loaded, so they could survive the first five weeks if Patrick Mahomes is rusty. The bad news is that he is loaded, so things won’t be easy when Mahomes returns to form.
Will Patrick Mahomes return for Week 1? (Tammy Ljungblad/The Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Super Bowl Odds: +2200
Joe Burrow is back. They reinforced their terrible defense. And on top of that, they get one of the easiest schedules in the NFL. 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 have many offensive powerhouses on the road. Most of their toughest tests (Bengals, Cowboys, Bills) come at home and early.
Super Bowl Odds: +2500
They put together the toughest schedule in the NFL, although it’s a little easier if you base it on expected wins in 2026 instead of the record in 2025. They also have seven primetime or standalone games, so everyone will be watching.
Super Bowl Odds: +3000
They have one home game in the first six weeks (against the Patriots) and two international games. However, if they can survive that, they’ll have a pretty smooth ride the rest of the way.
Super Bowl Odds: +1600
They have basically the same brutal schedule as the Bills, just with more home games towards the end. So why were they left behind? Because the Patriots aren’t used to a roster like that. And their coach has been a little… um… distracted.
Super Bowl Odds: +1000
It’s bad enough that their schedule includes the AFC West and NFC North, but they have to play New England, Green Bay and Denver in December. The positive 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 that high was controversial. Then I looked at their schedule and I’m not sure I ranked them high enough. They won’t be evaluated until Week 7 at home against the Bengals.
Super Bowl Odds: +1600
Eliminate three games against NFC West teams and your schedule is buttery smooth. Plus, they have their two toughest games at home (Rams, Seahawks), and by the time they travel to San Francisco, the frequently traveling 49ers should be exhausted.
Super Bowl Odds: +950
They have basically the same tough schedule as the Rams, just with about 12,000 fewer air miles. But honestly, the battle between these two NFC West rivals will be decided by what happens when they play those two games over the final three weeks.
Super Bowl Odds: +800
My colleague, Eric Williams, doesn’t share my optimistic view of the Rams. I’m still optimistic, but I became apprehensive when I looked at his 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 caps a brutal last two months.
Super Bowl Odds: +2000
His first six games are just terrible. But assuming they survive that, there’s a really weak middle point in the schedule that could put them in a real race from Weeks 7 to 15. That should be enough for the class of the AFC and a team that is motivated by the knowledge that they should have been in the Super Bowl last year.
