Football fans are just hours away from finding out the full NFL schedule for 2023, but some teams already have a tougher 17-game slate than others.
The NFL schedule is formatted in a way that let teams know their 2023 opponents when the 2022 regular season ended. On top of usual divisional rivalries and other rotation aspects featured in the annual schedule, there is one factor that generally hurts contenders while exciting fans.
Results from the prior season have an impact on the next season’s schedule. Three games on each team’s schedule are based solely on where it placed within its division, giving contenders tougher, more exciting matchups and division dwellers some easier ones.
With all of those factors in mind and the full 2023 schedule coming Thursday night, let’s look at the teams with the hardest and easiest slates this season.
Which team has the hardest schedule in 2023?
The Philadelphia Eagles’ road back to the Super Bowl will feature some stiff competition.
The reigning NFC champions have the toughest schedule for 2023 based on their opponents’ record from the 2022 season.
New England Patriots
Six of their games come against their NFC East foes – all of whom finished .500 or above. They will also play the full NFC West and AFC East. For the cherry on top, the Eagles’ remaining games are against three division winners from 2022 in the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Kansas City Chiefs.
Which team has the easiest schedule in 2023?
By contrast, the Atlanta Falcons are in prime position to rebound in 2023.
The team is scheduled to play just four games against teams that made the playoffs last season, and two of them are against a Bucs squad that lost Tom Brady this offseason.
Atlanta will play each of its NFC South foes twice, the full NFC North and the full AFC South. Its other three matchups are against the Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets.
NFL strength of schedule 2023
Here is the full ranking of 2023 strength of schedule based on opponents’ win percentage from 2022:
1. Philadelphia Eagles: .566
2. Miami Dolphins: .554
T-3. New England Patriots: .549
T-3. Dallas Cowboys: .549
T-3. New York Giants: .549
6. New York Jets: .545
7. Buffalo Bills: .542
8. Washington Commanders: .535
9. Los Angeles Rams: .533
10. Las Vegas Raiders: .524
11. Arizona Cardinals: .519
T-12. Los Angeles Chargers: .517
T-12. Denver Broncos: .517
T-12. Seattle Seahawks: .517
15: San Francisco 49ers: .514
16. Kansas City Chiefs: .512
17. Cincinnati Bengals: .510
T-18. Chicago Bears: .497
T-18. Minnesota Vikings: .497
20. Detroit Lions: .495
21. Baltimore Ravens: .484
22. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: .483
23. Jacksonville Jaguars: .477
24. Green Bay Packers: .476
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: .470
26. Cleveland Browns: .460
27. Carolina Panthers: .453
28. Tennessee Titans: .448
29. Indianapolis Colts: .434
30. Houston Texans: .431
31. New Orleans Saints: .427
32. Atlanta Falcons: .417