The NFL unveiled the match schedules for all 32 teams on Wednesday, revealing that some teams will face tougher competition than others this season.
It’s worth noting that the NFL does not operate on a balanced schedule. So, regardless of a team’s previous performance, some will confront a more challenging slate while others will have an easier path.
As teams shift with free agency, the draft, and changes in management or coaching staff, trying to gauge schedule strength becomes, well, a bit of an art rather than a science. Teams can transform dramatically from one season to the next.
For instance, three teams this season appear to have particularly daunting schedules, with their opponents boasting high winning rates from the previous year.
New York Giants
After a rough 3-14 season that nearly cost general manager Joe Shane and head coach Brian Daboll their jobs, the Giants now face the toughest schedule in the league. Their opponents next season collectively achieved a .574 win rate. The Giants will battle teams from both the NFC North and AFC West this year, featuring three playoff contenders from those divisions.
The Giants are set to start their season with a hard slate, including six playoff teams from last year in their first eight games.
Here’s how their schedule looks:
- Week 1 – Away vs Washington Commanders
- Week 2 – Away vs Dallas Cowboys
- Week 3 – Home vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 4 – Home vs Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 5 – Away vs New Orleans Saints
- Week 6 – Home vs Philadelphia Eagles
- Week 7 – Away vs Denver Broncos
- Week 8 – Away vs Eagles
- Week 9 – Home vs San Francisco 49ers
- Week 10 – Away vs Chicago Bears
- Week 11 – Home vs Green Bay Packers
- Week 12 – Away vs Detroit Lions
- Week 13 – Away vs New England Patriots
- Week 14 – Bye week
- Week 15 – Home vs Commanders
- Week 16 – Home vs Minnesota Vikings
- Week 17 – Away vs Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 18 – Home vs Dallas Cowboys
Chicago Bears
Caleb Williams will encounter a tough second year with the Bears, as they face opponents with a .571 win rate. Notably, all NFC North teams aside from the Bears made the playoffs last season, which means the Bears will meet their divisional rivals twice this year.
The NFC North is also facing teams from the NFC East and AFC North, including last year’s Super Bowl champs and two other playoff teams from the AFC North.
Here’s the Bears’ schedule:
- Week 1 – Home vs Vikings
- Week 2 – Away vs Lions
- Week 3 – Home vs Cowboys
- Week 4 – Away vs Raiders
- Week 5 – Bye week
- Week 6 – Home vs Commanders
- Week 7 – Home vs Saints
- Week 8 – Away vs Ravens
- Week 9 – Away vs Bengals
- Week 10 – Home vs Giants
- Week 11 – Away vs Vikings
- Week 12 – Home vs Steelers
- Week 13 – Away vs Eagles
- Week 14 – Away vs Packers
- Week 15 – Home vs Browns
- Week 16 – Home vs Packers
- Week 17 – Away vs 49ers
- Week 18 – Home vs Lions
Detroit Lions
The Lions, like the Bears, find themselves in the NFC North, with many overlapping opponents, resulting in a .571 win percentage as well. Despite boasting an impressive 15-2 record last season, the Lions now face a significantly harder path to replicate that success.
Adding to their challenges, the team has lost both of their coordinators from last year. Offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is now the head coach of the Bears, while defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has taken over the Jets.
Here’s how the Lions’ schedule shapes up:
- Week 1 – Away vs Packers
- Week 2 – Home vs Bears
- Week 3 – Away vs Ravens
- Week 4 – Home vs Browns
- Week 5 – Away vs Bengals
- Week 6 – Away vs Chiefs
- Week 7 – Home vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Week 8 – Bye week
- Week 9 – Home vs Vikings
- Week 10 – Home vs Commanders
- Week 11 – Away vs Eagles
- Week 12 – Home vs Giants
- Week 13 – Home vs Packers
- Week 14 – Home vs Cowboys
- Week 15 – Away vs Rams
- Week 16 – Home vs Steelers
- Week 17 – Away vs Vikings
- Week 18 – Away vs Bears
