Computer Rankings Reveal 5 Easiest NFL Schedules For The 2026 Season — Super Bowl Contender Comes In At No. 1
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The NFL still has not released the full 2026 regular-season schedule, but early projections already give fans an idea of which teams may have an easier path this season. League officials now expect the schedule to come out later this month after a small delay from the usual second week of May.
NFL vice president Mike North recently addressed the timeline and downplayed concerns about the wait. “Most fans know full well that the schedule comes out in mid-May now,” North said. “That’s what we’ve done the last five or six years. That’s sort of our target. Is there any magic to May 12, 13, 14? No. Is there any real downside to May 19, 20, or 21? No. I don’t think it’s coming out in June, but that second week in May has been our target the last few years, but I don’t know that it’s impossible to think about that third week in May.”
While teams wait for the official announcement, analysts have already started studying possible matchups. Sharp Football Analysis used Vegas win totals to rank the projected strength of schedule for every NFL team in 2026. The early numbers point toward several franchises getting a favorable road ahead.
Lions Lead Teams With Easiest Projected Path
Sharp Football Analysis ranked the Detroit Lions with the easiest projected schedule in the NFL for 2026. The rankings rely on projected win totals from oddsmakers across the league.
“With odds released for all 32 NFL teams, we are now able to calculate NFL Strength of Schedule using projected win totals from Vegas oddsmakers,” Sharp Football Analysis wrote.
The Detroit Lions enter the season after a disappointing finish in 2025. The team showed promise during the year but did not end the season the way many fans hoped. A softer schedule in 2026 could help Detroit recover quickly.
Then comes the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are still rebuilding, and an easier schedule could help them stay competitive longer this NFL season.
The Cincinnati Bengals came in third. Cincinnati still has playoff expectations, and a lighter schedule could improve its chances in a tough AFC race.
Cleveland Browns ranked fourth. Cleveland is still trying to find consistency, and fewer tough games could help the team build confidence early in the season.
The New York Jets come in the fifth place. The Jets have faced pressure for years to turn talent into wins, and an easier schedule may help them stay in the playoff race.
The NFL plans to release the official 2026 schedule later this month. Until then, fans and analysts will keep debating which teams may benefit the most from the projected games.
