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2026 NFL Schedule Released: Here's Who Faces the Toughest Path
The 2026 NFL schedule presents a difficult path for the Chicago Bears with the toughest strength of schedule, while the Cleveland Browns have the easiest path to the playoffs.
π Last Updated: 2026-05-15 5:35pm EDT
The 2026 NFL schedule is officially here, and the landscape is clear: some teams drew brutal slates while others caught a major break.
The Chicago Bears Drew the Short Straw
The Bears face the hardest road in 2026. Their opponents compiled a combined winning percentage of .550 during the 2025 seasonβthe toughest strength of schedule in the league by a significant margin.
The Cleveland Browns Caught a Gift
The Browns will have the easiest path to the playoffs. Their 2026 opponents posted a combined winning percentage of just .429, giving Cleveland a legitimate advantage in the playoff race.
Complete 2026 NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings
- Chicago Bears - 0.550 (toughest road)
- Miami Dolphins - 0.542
- Green Bay Packers - 0.538
- Arizona Cardinals - 0.538
- Kansas City Chiefs - 0.536
- New England Patriots - 0.531
- Las Vegas Raiders - 0.529
- Buffalo Bills - 0.528
- Los Angeles Chargers - 0.522
- Carolina Panthers - 0.521
- Minnesota Vikings - 0.519
- New York Jets - 0.517
- Los Angeles Rams - 0.516
- Seattle Seahawks - 0.514
- Denver Broncos - 0.512
- Washington Commanders - 0.502
- New York Giants - 0.498
- San Francisco 49ers - 0.497
- Pittsburgh Steelers - 0.495
- Dallas Cowboys - 0.493
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 0.491
- Jacksonville Jaguars - 0.490
- Philadelphia Eagles - 0.481
- Baltimore Ravens - 0.479
- Tennessee Titans - 0.476
- Houston Texans - 0.474
- Detroit Lions - 0.467
- Atlanta Falcons - 0.465
- Indianapolis Colts - 0.465
- Cincinnati Bengals - 0.450
- New Orleans Saints - 0.434
- Cleveland Browns - 0.429 (easiest path)
