True Strength of Schedule shows Browns with a marginally tougher test
· Yahoo Sports
The conversation that started this week is that the Cleveland Browns' regular-season schedule this year is the easiest in the league. This is partially true, but there is a better way to look at the strength of schedules, but for Cleveland, it doesn't change much.
NFL Insider Jordan Schultz looked at the strength of schedule from a different, albeit logical, angle. Instead of using the record of each team from last year, he used the projected win totals for each team to determine each team's strength of schedule.
Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.
With this approach, the Browns did raise a couple of slots on the list. They went from the easiest schedule by using last year's wins to the fourth easiest schedule using next year's win totals.
The Detroit Lions actually leapfrogged to the easiest schedule, and the Bengals hopped above Cleveland for the third easiest schedule. The losers of this exercise are the Arizona Cardinals and the Miami Dolphins, who have the two hardest schedules in the NFL next year.
Here’s every team’s 2026 NFL strength of schedule based on current projected win totals.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) May 12, 2026
This is a much better way to view strength of schedule because it actually takes offseason moves and roster changes into account.
The #Lions have the “easiest” schedule, while the… pic.twitter.com/T4St8a7nGh
The Cardinals, who had the third overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, don't get any relief. They suffer from being in the NFC West, which, in this era, is by far and away the best Division in football. It won't get much easier for them next year.
For the Dolphins, who are in complete and total rebuild mode, they may be looking at a future building season. If they can put together a bunch of losses next season, it will set them up for a top draft selection.
For Cleveland, this doesnt change much. I do expect the Bengals to put together a nice little season and make a run at getting back to the playoffs. The Ravens come in just a couple of spots behind the Browns as the sixth-easiest schedule in the league, while the Steelers check in at 18.
It is likely that the two top teams in the AFC North are going to win a lot of football games next year. Their schedule is set up nicely for it, and they are two teams that are going to be highly motivated to do it.
The Browns are just happy that they will get some relief with the opponents on their schedule and, hopefully, will be able to put together some wins in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Browns Wire: True Strength of Schedule shows Browns with a marginally tougher test