After three months of waiting, the NFL schedule release is finally here. The schedule will be released on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET, with games leaking out all week.
2026 NFL Strength of Schedule: Top 10 Easiest Schedules
With the NFL schedule set to be released in just three days, here's a breakdown of each team's strength of schedule based on their opponents' combined winning percentage from last season.
Here are the 10 teams with the least difficult schedules in 2026:
- Browns: 125-165 (.429)
- Saints: 125-163-1 (.434)
- Bengals: 130-159 (.450)
- Colts (T-4): 134-154-1 (.465)
- Falcons (T-4): 134-154-1 (.465)
- Lions: 134-153-2 (.467)
- Texans: 136-151-2 (.474)
- Titans: 137-151-1 (.476)
- Ravens: 138-150-1 (.479)
- Eagles: 138-149-2 (.481)
For once, things are looking up for the Browns. In seven of the past nine years, at least one team playing one of the two easiest schedules made the playoffs, so that should be good news for either the Browns or the Saints.
In each of the past three years, the team with the easiest strength of schedule in the AFC had a new coach. Not only did they finish with a winning record, but they also made the playoffs: the Texans with DeMeco Ryans in 2023, the Chargers with Jim Harbaugh in 2024, and the Patriots with Mike Vrabel in 2025.
This might be the year to bet on the Browns.
Predicting Every Holiday Game on the Schedule
Let's check out predictions for the biggest Thanksgiving games of the season.
Lions Thanksgiving Game
Time: 1 p.m. ET game (CBS)
Possible opponents: Bears, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Buccaneers, Giants, Patriots, Jets, Titans
Breakdown: The Lions faced a divisional opponent for three straight seasons on Thanksgiving, and it won't be surprising at all if the NFL sticks with that. After playing the Bears in 2024 and the Packers in 2025, it seems like it might be Minnesota's turn in the rotation.
Predicted opponent: Vikings or Patriots
Cowboys Thanksgiving Game
Time: 4:30 p.m. ET game (Fox)
Possible opponents: Giants, Eagles, Commanders, Cardinals, 49ers, Buccaneers, Jaguars, Titans, Ravens
Breakdown: The NFL put two-time NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs in this spot last year, and the game set a regular-season record by drawing 57.23 million viewers. The Cowboys have another two-time MVP on the schedule this year in Lamar Jackson.
Predicted opponent: Giants or Eagles
The most difficult schedules will be examined later this week.