2026 NFL Schedule Release: Which teams have the easiest schedules?

Luckily for these teams, they likely won't have to deal with a whole lot of top-tier competition in 2026, as their schedules are projected to be among the easiest in the NFL, but with how much parity this league has, there's really no guarantee one way or another.

What's also important to mention here is that NFL schedules aren't totally random - there's a formula at play here, so while it may seem unfair that this or that team has a hard or easy schedule, it's all backed up by the method that the league uses to choose the opponents year after year.

Using data from the chart below, let's dive into the teams that have the easiest schedules for 2026, using 2025 regular season records as the reference point.

These teams have the easiest schedules on deck for the 2026 NFL Season

1. Cleveland Browns (Easiest) - .429

Luckily for the Cleveland Browns, they're projected to have the easiest schedule in the league for 2026, as their opponents won less trhan 43 percent of their combined games in 2025. The Browns, however, are angling to being one of of the worst teams in the NFL, and it's primarily due to the lack of a franchise quarterback. The defense does appear to be playoff-caliber, and if Deshaun Watson can win the job and at least be competent, Cleveland could be frisky.

2. New Orleans Saints - .434

A team that has a young-ish, encouraging quarterback and had won four of five games to end the 2025 season, the New Orleans Saints have the second-easiest schedule in the NFL and will indeed shock the world and win the NFC South, as Tyler Shough does appear to have that edge to him, and the defense was sneaky-good last year.

3. Cincinnati Bengals - .450

Given how much the Cincinnati Bengals overhauled the defense, and given how good the offense usually is, this team is primed to be among the best in the NFL in 2026, unless catastrophic injuries plague them. With the second-easiest schedule in the AFC, the Bengals are in a great spot to get back to the postseason.

4. Indianapolis Colts - .465

The Indianapolis Colts were 7-1 at one point in 2025, so if this team can get Daniel Jones back and healthy for the start of 2026, the team could at least be competent, but given how 'eh' of a quarterback Jones has been, it might be too big an ask for Indy to race out to that kind of start. Given their easier schedule, a 10-win season can't be out of the picture.

5. Atlanta Falcons - .465

Signing Tua Tagovailoa this offseason, the Atlanta Falcons have enough weapons to be a playoff team, and if Tagovailoa can win the job and at least be average, watch out...

6. Detroit Lions - .467

One of my favorite 'bounce back' teams for 2026, the Detroit Lions were 7-4 at one point in 2025 and have one of the five best rosters in the league. The Lions simply have to stay healthier and not be a bottom-10 defense. That's really it.

7. Houston Texans - .474

Shoring up the offensive line and adding David Montgomery in free agency, the Houston Texans truly don't have a notable weakness and could take advantage of one of the easiest schedules in the league, but the ceiling of CJ Stroud has come into question these past two seasons.

8. Tennessee Titans - .476

Another team I believe can breakout in 2026, the Tennessee Titans bought a ton of talent in free agency and also have a young quarterback in Cam Ward who made a ton of high-level throws down the stretch last season.

9. Baltimore Ravens - .479

The Baltimore Ravens endured mounting injuries in 2025, and the team just could not rebound and ran out of time. A slightly better stroke of injury luck should be plenty for Baltimore to take advantage of an easier schedule and slide into the playoffs.

10. Philadelphia Eagles - .481

The 'every other year' Philadelphia Eagles have the 10th-easiest schedule in the NFL and should be able to stack at least 10 wins, but we've seen this team sputter here and there, so Philly is one of the more unknown squads in the league this season.