The countdown to the 2026 regular season is on now that the NFL schedule is officially released.
The Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals have the three easiest schedules based off the winning percentage of their opponents from last season. While the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins and Arizona Cardinals have the toughest road ahead.
Divisions might not be able to be won in September and October, but seasons can end prematurely because of those early slates. USA TODAY Sports listed teams who could be in trouble after the 2026 regular season schedule release.
Who’s on the other end of the spectrum and might benefit from their regular-season schedule? Here are three teams who have favorable paths:
Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles will begin the regular the season with the 10th easiest strength of schedule based off opponent’s winning percentage from 2025.
The Eagles host the Washington Commanders to begin the year and then have two straight road games versus Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears. It’s conceivable the Eagles fly out to a 3-0 start before they host the Los Angeles Rams in a Week 4 showdown.
Of Philadelphia’s first nine games, four are against divisional opponents, three of which are at home. Then the Eagles have an ideal bye in the middle of the season in Week 10.
The Eagles do have a tough three-week stretch against the Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Houston Texans from Weeks 14-17, but all the games are at home, plus they’ll host Houston on a short week on Thursday night.
The Eagles got off to an 8-2 start last year. Their schedule this year gives them a path for another hot start and they’ll have home field advantage for most of their toughest opponents.
Baltimore Ravens
Remember the Ravens’ 1-5 start last year? The Ravens don’t play a 2025 playoff team until they travel to Buffalo in Week 8.
The Ravens have an intriguing road game versus the Indianapolis Colts to start the year and then host the New Orleans Saints in Week 2 before traveling to Rio De Janeiro to take on the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3.
November might be the Ravens’ most difficult month as they have five games – at Buffalo Bills, vs. Jacksonville Jaguars, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, at Carolina Panthers and at Houston Texans – versus teams that made the playoffs last season.
Baltimore does have a late Week 13 bye, but they’ll receive much-needed rest before they close the regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and all three AFC North rivals, including the Pittsburgh Steelers twice.
If the Ravens handle business before their Week 13 bye, they could separate themselves from the division in December.
Detroit Lions
Can the Lions roar back into the playoffs?
Detroit’s schedule is favorable: The Lions own the sixth easiest strength of schedule based off their opponent’s winning percentage from last season.
Of the Lions’ first five games, four are against teams who finished below .500 in 2025, including a Week 1 home opener versus the New Orleans Saints and a Week 3 home tilt against the New York Jets.
After the Lions’ Week 6 bye, they have two straight home contests against the division rival Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings before they travel to Miami to take on the rebuilding Dolphins in Week 9.
The Lions have a difficult Week 10 game versus the New England Patriots in Munich, Germany, but then have the benefit of two consecutive home games versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Chicago Bears, the latter coming on a short week on Thanksgiving.
The fate of the Lions’ regular season could be decided in the final four weeks of the regular season where they have road games against all three NFC North rivals.
Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL teams who could benefit after 2026 schedule release