The strength of schedule for NFL teams is absolutely a valid thing to look at, as when you compare the easiest and hardest schedules for a given season, the difference is flat-out insane. The 2026 season, which begins in about two weeks, is going to feature many teams with cake-walk slates.
Other teams, though, will have quite the tough test ahead of them. We did take a look at the schedules much earlier in the offseason, but it's time to take another look and refresh people ahead of the regular season.
Let's look at the teams with the toughest schedules in the NFL. Strength of schedule is typically calculated using the opponent win percentage from the previous season, so the 2026 strength of schedule was calculated using winning percentages from 2025.
Listing teams that have the toughest schedules in the NFL for the 2026 season
10. Carolina Panthers, .521 (8-9 in 2025)
With the 10th-toughest schedule in the league in 2026 and an 8-9 record the year prior, the Carolina Panthers might be a perfect regression candidate. The team doesn't really excel at much of anything and has an extremely limited quarterback in Bryce Young, who threw for at least 200 yards in just four games last year, despite playing the 'best' football of his career.
9. Los Angeles Chargers, .522 (11-6 in 2025)
Losing Jesse Minter but hiring Mike McDaniel are two moves that may end up canceling each other out. On paper, the Los Angeles Chargers are a good team, but there isn't a ton of truly great talent, and with the team leaving a lot of meat on the bone along the offensive line this offseason, the Chargers don't feel appreciably better than they were in 2025, and having one of the toughest schedules in the league could lead to less wins.
8. Buffalo Bills, .528 (12-5 in 2025)
Buffalo has always been a top team in the league since Josh Allen's first breakout season way back in 2020. Despite having the 8th-toughest schedule in the NFL, the Bills are a team that other teams circle on their schedule as being one of those games.
Sure, the tough schedule is surely going to have the Bills struggling here and there, but winning double-digit games feels like a guarantee at this point.
7. Las Vegas Raiders, .529 (3-14 in 2025)
The Las Vegas Raiders are in a rebuild and probably aren't really thinking about winning a ton of games this year. Having a schedule that flirts with being one of the five toughest could have Las Vegas hovering around three wins, which was their 2025 total.
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