NFL Schedule Revealed: Cowboys, Seahawks Among Teams With Tough Road to Playoffs

The NFL’s 2026 schedule release has once again sparked discussion surrounding strength of schedule and which contenders may face the most difficult paths to the postseason.

The scedule was officially revealed on Thursday after the league teased select upcoming matchups in recent days. According to an analysis from NFL.com, the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, and a few others enter the season with some of the toughest overall schedules based on opponent winning percentages and projected playoff contenders.

The defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks drew a challenging schedule that includes games against several recent playoff teams and fellow Super Bowl contenders. Dallas also faces one of the NFL’s toughest paths to the playoffs.

Strength of schedule is calculated using opponents’ combined records from the previous year, though many analysts also factor in projected win totals, divisional difficulty, travel demands, and primetime scheduling into preseason evaluations. The projections may also affect the NFL betting landscape.

Teams Facing the Toughest Schedules

According to early analysis, the Cowboys, Seahawks, Chargers, Rams, and Bears are among the teams expected to face the most difficult schedules in 2026.

Dallas faces a difficult slate that includes matchups against the Eagles, Seahawks, Rams, Ravens, and 49ers, while also navigating the always-competitive NFC East. The Cowboys are also scheduled to play an international game against Baltimore in Brazil, adding additional travel complications.

Seattle’s schedule is equally difficult despite entering as defending champions. The Seahawks open the season against the New England Patriots in a Super Bowl rematch before later facing the Chiefs, Eagles, Rams twice, and several other projected playoff contenders.

The Chicago Bears reportedly enter the season with the league’s toughest schedule based on opponent win percentage from 2025. Chicago will face multiple playoff-caliber opponents both within the NFC North and outside the division.

The Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins also rank among the teams facing particularly difficult schedules heading into the season.

Teams With More Favorable Paths

While some contenders face difficult schedules, other teams appear positioned to benefit from softer slates. The Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns are among teams with more favorable schedules entering the season.

Sharp Football Analysis ranked the Detroit Lions with the league’s easiest projected schedule based on Vegas win totals, followed by the Saints, Bengals, Browns, and Jets. Cleveland reportedly has the NFL’s easiest schedule based on 2025 opponent winning percentages.

The Bengals and Lions are also viewed as teams that could benefit from scheduling advantages as they attempt to return to playoff contention.

Schedule Strength Could Impact Playoff Race

Strength of schedule often becomes a major factor in NFL playoff races late in the season, particularly when teams are separated by only one or two wins.

Divisional games, international travel, short-week primetime contests, and late-season road stretches can all significantly affect postseason positioning.

The NFL’s increasing number of standalone games and international matchups has also added another layer of difficulty for teams navigating already demanding schedules. Seattle, Dallas, and the Rams are among teams expected to receive multiple national television appearances throughout the season.

Betting Impact for the 2026 Season

Schedule strength plays a major role in NFL betting markets. Sportsbooks such as FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM frequently adjust season win totals, playoff odds, and division futures based partly on schedule difficulty.

Teams with favorable schedules often attract betting interest in season win total markets, while difficult slates can suppress expectations even for talented rosters. Bettors also closely analyze bye weeks, travel schedules, primetime games, and late-season stretches when evaluating futures wagers.

Here’s a look at the top teams in Super Bowl futures betting for the upcoming season:

• Seattle Seahawks +650
• Kansas City Chiefs +700
• Buffalo Bills +750
• Philadelphia Eagles +850
• Detroit Lions +900
• Baltimore Ravens +1000
• San Francisco 49ers +1100
• Cincinnati Bengals +1400
• Dallas Cowboys +1600
• Los Angeles Chargers +1800