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The truth about the NFL schedule is this: It’s not who you play, but when you play them. A team that looks solid on paper today could be a shell of its former self when injuries strike in October. Maybe even sooner.
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 Power Rankings of the offseason.
Super Bowl odds: +40,000
They have a real chance to start 0-13 against a brutal schedule before they get to their bye week. After that, they’ll have a chance to pile up a few wins against the Jets, Saints, and Raiders, but at this point they’ll have to ask themselves, “Why?”
Super Bowl odds: +30,000
If they were looking for the first 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 the opener against the Raiders, the roster gets ugly fast.
Super Bowl Odds: +15,000
It’s hard to find a weak spot in this schedule for the Raiders to put top pick Fernando Mendoza there. 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 sign rookie Fernando Mendoza? (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)
Super Bowl odds: +20,000
The Jets’ schedule is relatively straightforward. They just need to survive Robert Saleh’s quest for revenge in Game 1 and three straight games against the NFC North to advance to the easier part that begins in Week 5.
Super Bowl Odds: +15,000
They have the easiest schedule in the NFL based on last year’s record and run 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 easiest schedules in the NFL based on expected wins. They’re also poised to finish strong with no games against 2025 playoff teams in the final four weeks.
Super Bowl odds: +5000
Seven of their last nine games are against teams expected to win 9-11 games. The 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers’ body should be pretty sore then.
Super Bowl odds: +6500
Surviving their first eight games may not be possible. They only play three on the road, but they’re at Philadelphia and Dallas to open the season, then at San Francisco in Week 6. They also play the Seahawks and Rams. They don’t really get a break until they get to Arizona in Week 12.
When will Jayden Daniels return and can he 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. These are three difficult tests for a backup quarterback or for a still-recovering Daniel Jones. However, it gets a lot easier after that.
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 opponent wins, and they travel more than all but three NFL teams (27,980 miles). Add in five primetime games and it’s a grueling road.
Super Bowl odds: +12000
Their road schedule is easy, but their home schedule is lousy. 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 has started John Harbaugh’s first six games, with only a road trip to the Rams looking impossible. They better build up a nice cushion, 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 they’re playing the third-toughest schedule, based on projected wins, along the way.
Will Bryce Young get 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 during that time is to New York to play the Jets.
Super Bowl odds: +1600
The opening will seem 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. Ouch.
Super Bowl odds: +1800
They have the easiest schedule in the NFL, based on projected wins, but the NFL has found a way to make things difficult. They can 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 weak spots, so they shouldn’t go on a long 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. They will cross 58 time zones. Surviving this might be impossible.
Super Bowl odds: +1500
The good news is that the schedule is tough, so they could survive the first five weeks if Patrick Mahomes is rusty. The bad news is that it’s delayed, so things won’t be easy when Mahomes might return to form.
Will Patrick Mahomes be back for 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 enjoy one of the easiest schedules in the NFL. They will only face two 2025 playoff teams in the final 14 weeks.
Super Bowl odds: +1800
The good news for the NFL’s best defense is that it doesn’t play a lot of power offenses on the road. Most of their toughest tests (Bengals, Cowboys, Bills) come at home and early.
Super Bowl odds: +2500
They’ve drawn 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 2025. They also have seven games in prime time or stand-alone, so the whole world will watch them.
Super Bowl odds: +3000
They play one home game in the first six weeks (against the Patriots) and two international games. If they can survive this, their journey will go pretty well until the end.
Super Bowl odds: +1600
They basically have the same brutal schedule as the Bills, only more home games towards the end. So why did they stay behind? Because the Patriots are not used to such a roster. And their coach was a little… uh… 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 bright side is that they will be very tested going into the playoffs.
Can Joe Brady put the Bills back in 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 saw their schedule and I’m not sure I ranked them high enough. They will only be tested in Week 7 at home against the Bengals.
Super Bowl odds: +1600
Take out three games against NFC West teams and their schedule is smooth as butter. Plus, they play 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 basically have the same busy schedule as the Rams, only 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 these two games over the final three weeks.
Super Bowl odds: +800
My colleague, Eric Williams, doesn’t share my rosy view of the Rams. I remain optimistic, but I was disgusted when I looked at their calendar. They’ll travel 34,847 miles this season, which can’t be good for 38-year-old Matthew Stafford’s fullback. And facing the Seahawks twice in the last three games caps off a brutal last two months.
Super Bowl odds: +2000
Their first six games are just terrible. But assuming they survive this, there’s a really sweet middle of 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 motivated by the knowledge that they should have been in the Super Bowl last year.
