The 2023 NFL season won't begin until September, but it will soon be the talk of the town among NFL fans. Why? Because the league is set to release its full 2023 schedule on Thursday in what is becoming a post-NFL Draft tradition.
Once the schedule is revealed, many NFL fans, media analysts and prognosticators will break down the teams that have the easiest and toughest schedules. Of course, many will argue that is an exercise in futility given how much the NFL power structure changes on a year-to-year basis.
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Certainly, that point is valid. But even still, the winning percentage of projected opponents from the previous season can provide a baseline with which to set expectations. And for those that don't buy into that method, examining the projected over/under win totals of each team's opponents can help to predict their overall strength of schedule.
Neither of these methods is perfect because of the unpredictability of the NFL. But still, it can at least paint a picture of which teams will perhaps have the best opportunity to exceed expectations in 2023.
Here's everything to know about the NFL's strength of schedule rankings in 2023, including which teams have the most difficult and easiest schedules on paper — well before any games are played.
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Toughest NFL schedule in 2023
Philadelphia Eagles (.566 opponents win percentage)
The Eagles may play in the weaker of the NFL's two conferences, but that doesn't mean that they are going to have an easy time winning games in 2023. Their opponents for the 2023 season had a combined record of 161-123-4 during the 2022 season meaning that Philadelphia will play the toughest schedule in the NFL for this season.
It's not too surprising to see the Eagles top this list. They play in the NFC East, a division that saw three teams make the playoffs with double-digit wins in 2022, and will play a first-place schedule after topping the division.
Additionally, the NFC East is playing every team in the AFC East and NFC West in 2023. The AFC East is a fairly stacked division as well while the 49ers and Seahawks were two of the NFC's best teams. Below is a full look at the Eagles' opponents for 2023:
| Home | Away |
| Arizona Cardinals | Dallas Cowboys |
| Buffalo Bills | Kansas City Chiefs |
| Dallas Cowboys | Los Angeles Rams |
| Miami Dolphins | New England Patriots |
| Minnesota Vikings | New York Giants |
| New York Giants | New York Jets |
| San Francisco 49ers | Seattle Seahawks |
| Washington Commanders | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Washington Commanders |
That said, few subscribe to the theory that attributing strength of schedule to the records that each team posted the previous season. Many now prefer to use projected opponent win totals to determine which teams are facing the most difficult slate for the upcoming season.
According to Sharp Football Analysis, the Patriots have the most difficult 2023 schedule based on projected win totals. Comparatively, the Eagles' schedule actually ranks 16th in the NFL; that means some of Philadelphia's opponents that were strong in 2022 are expected to regress during the upcoming season.
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Easiest NFL schedule in 2023
Atlanta Falcons (.417 opponents win percentage)
The Falcons play in the NFC South, which is expected to be the weakest division in football. As such, it's no surprise that Atlanta has the weakest 2023 schedule on paper.
None of the NFC South's four teams were able to post a winning record in 2022, so that will make Atlanta's divisional schedule fairly easy. And because the Falcons finished in last place in the division, they will reap the rewards of playing the likes of the Cardinals and Commanders in addition to the entirety of the NFC North and AFC South.
Below is a full look at the Falcons' opponents for 2023:
| Home | Away |
| Carolina Panthers | Arizona Cardinals |
| Houston Texans | Carolina Panthers |
| Indianapolis Colts | Chicago Bears |
| Green Bay Packers | Detroit Lions |
| Minnesota Vikings | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| New Orleans Saints | New Orleans Saints |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | New York Jets |
| Washington Commanders | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| Tennessee Titans |
If you follow the Sharp Football Analysis strength of schedule rankings, the Saints actually have the easiest schedule in 2023. That said, the Falcons aren't far behind the Saints. Atlanta's schedule ranks second-easiest in the league, so it seems like the Falcons are going to have a leg up on their competition in 2023.
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NFL strength of schedule rankings 2023
When looking at strength of schedule by using the traditional method of looking back a year, the teams from the AFC East and NFC East appear to be at the biggest disadvantage. Those teams have to endure tough divisional schedules, as a combined five of those eight teams made the playoffs in 2022, and none had fewer than seven wins.
Here is a breakdown of the NFL's strength of schedule rankings when looking at the collective record of their opponents in 2022.
| Rank | Team | Opp. Record | Opp. Win Pct. |
| 1 | Philadelphia Eagles | 161-123-4 | 0.566 |
| 2 | Miami Dolphins | 158-127-2 | 0.554 |
| 3 | New York Giants | 157-129-2 | 0.549 |
| 3 | New England Patriots | 156-128-3 | 0.549 |
| 3 | Dallas Cowboys | 156-128-4 | 0.549 |
| 6 | New York Jets | 155-129-3 | 0.545 |
| 7 | Buffalo Bills | 155-131-2 | 0.542 |
| 8 | Washington Commanders | 153-133-2 | 0.535 |
| 9 | Los Angeles Rams | 152-133-3 | 0.533 |
| 10 | Las Vegas Raiders | 150-136-2 | 0.524 |
| 11 | Arizona Cardinals | 148-137-3 | 0.519 |
| 12 | Denver Broncos | 148-138-2 | 0.517 |
| 12 | Seattle Seahawks | 148-138-2 | 0.517 |
| 12 | Los Angeles Chargers | 149-139-0 | 0.517 |
| 15 | San Francisco 49ers | 147-139-2 | 0.514 |
| 16 | Kansas City Chiefs | 147-140-0 | 0.512 |
| 17 | Cincinnati Bengals | 146-140-2 | 0.510 |
| 18 | Chicago Bears | 143-145-1 | 0.497 |
| 18 | Minnesota Vikings | 143-145-0 | 0.497 |
| 20 | Detroit Lions | 143-146-0 | 0.495 |
| 21 | Baltimore Ravens | 138-147-2 | 0.484 |
| 22 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 138-148-2 | 0.483 |
| 23 | Jacksonville Jaguars | 135-148-4 | 0.477 |
| 24 | Green Bay Packers | 137-151-1 | 0.476 |
| 25 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 134-151-2 | 0.470 |
| 26 | Cleveland Browns | 131-154-2 | 0.460 |
| 27 | Carolina Panthers | 130-157-2 | 0.453 |
| 28 | Tennessee Titans | 127-157-4 | 0.448 |
| 29 | Indianapolis Colts | 124-162-2 | 0.434 |
| 30 | Houston Texans | 123-163-2 | 0.431 |
| 31 | New Orleans Saints | 122-164-3 | 0.427 |
| 32 | Atlanta Falcons | 119-167-3 | 0.417 |
As mentioned, however, there is a different way to look at strength of schedule. That's by looking at the combined projected win total of each team's opponents in 2023.
This metric is similarly unfavorable to the teams in the AFC East, but a couple of AFC West teams crack the top five as well. Below is a breakdown of Sharp Football Analysis' strength of schedule rankings for 2023, ranked from hardest to easiest.
| SOS Rank | Team |
| 1 | New England Patriots |
| 2 | Buffalo Bills |
| 3 | Kansas City Chiefs |
| 4 | Las Vegas Raiders |
| 5 | Miami Dolphins |
| 6 | Washington Commanders |
| 7 | Los Angeles Chargers |
| 8 | New York Jets |
| 9 | Minnesota Vikings |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys |
| 11 | Baltimore Ravens |
| 12 | Arizona Cardinals |
| 13 | Denver Broncos |
| 14 | New York Giants |
| 15 | Los Angeles Rams |
| 16 | Seattle Seahawks |
| 17 | Philadelphia Eagles |
| 18 | Cincinnati Bengals |
| 19 | Cleveland Browns |
| 20 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| 21 | Green Bay Packers |
| 22 | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| 23 | San Francisco 49ers |
| 24 | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| 25 | Detroit Lions |
| 26 | Tennessee Titans |
| 27 | Houston Texans |
| 28 | Chicago Bears |
| 29 | Indianapolis Colts |
| 30 | Carolina Panthers |
| 31 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 32 | New Orleans Saints |
Whichever method you use, it seems that the AFC East is generally viewed as having an unfavorable schedule in 2023 while the NFC South has a favorable draw.
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NFL schedule for all 32 teams
The NFL will announce the dates of its 2023 schedule on Thursday. That said, we already know who each team will play during the 2023 season since the NFL uses a formula to determine its year-to-year schedule.
Below is a description of that formula, which determines each team's 17-game schedule.
- Home and away against its three division opponents (Six games)
- The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (Four games)
- The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (Four games)
- Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings (these games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season) (Two games)
- One interconference game based on the prior year's standings on a rotating four-year cycle. These games match a first-place team from one division against a first-place team in an opposite conference division that the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place and fourth-place teams in each division are similarly paired. The home conference for this game will rotate each season.
So, with that said, here's a look at the opponents for each of the NFL's 32 teams, listed in alphabetical order.
Arizona Cardinals opponents 2023
- Home: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
- Away: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders
Atlanta Falcons opponents 2023
- Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, Washington Commanders
- Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans
Baltimore Ravens opponents 2023
- Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks
- Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
Buffalo Bills opponents 2023
- Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
Carolina Panthers opponents 2023
- Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings
- Away: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans
Chicago Bears opponents 2023
- Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders
- Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders
Cincinnati Bengals opponents 2023
- Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks
- Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
Cleveland Browns opponents 2023
- Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
- Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks
Dallas Cowboys opponents 2023
- Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks
- Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers
Denver Broncos opponents 2023
- Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Washington Commanders
- Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Miami Dolphins
Detroit Lions opponents 2023
- Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks
- Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Green Bay Packers opponents 2023
- Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers
Houston Texans opponents 2023
- Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets
Indianapolis Colts opponents 2023
- Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars opponents 2023
- Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers
- Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kansas City Chiefs opponents 2023
- Home: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles
- Away: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Las Vegas Raiders opponents 2023
- Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Giants, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins
Los Angeles Chargers opponents 2023
- Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins
- Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans
Los Angeles Rams opponents 2023
- Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders
- Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New York Giants
Miami Dolphins opponents 2023
- Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans
- Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
Minnesota Vikings opponents 2023
- Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles
New England Patriots opponents 2023
- Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
- Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers
New Orleans Saints opponents 2023
- Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans
- Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots
New York Giants opponents 2023
- Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks
- Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Las Vegas Raiders, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers
New York Jets opponents 2023
- Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
- Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles opponents 2023
- Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers
- Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pittsburgh Steelers opponents 2023
- Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
- Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers opponents 2023
- Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Away: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders
Seattle Seahawks opponents 2023
- Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders
- Away: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers opponents 2023
- Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans
- Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers
Tennessee Titans opponents 2023
- Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks
- Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Commanders opponents 2023
- Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers
- Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks