Toughest Schedule
Arizona Cardinals
PFM ROAD AHEAD
2026 NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings
The Arizona Cardinals have the NFL’s toughest 2026 schedule in the current PFM rankings. Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs are the main reasons why. There are manageable weeks on the schedule, but not enough to offset the strength of that group.
Last season’s records are a useful starting point, but they can hide what changed after the season ended. A stronger quarterback situation can make an opponent more dangerous. A thinner roster or a coaching change can pull the other way. PFM ranks every schedule by where those opponents stand now, then updates the order as team strength changes. It does not predict individual games. It is a direct answer to which teams face the toughest road.
32NFL TeamsCurrent opponent strength, one league-wide order
Arizona CardinalsMost Favorable Schedule
Cleveland BrownsToughest Next Five
Denver BroncosMost Top-10 Opponents
Arizona CardinalsLeague View
All 32 Teams
Schedules are ranked from the highest opponent PFM average to the lowest.
Schedule Rank#1
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona CardinalsGames17
Opponent Avg.82.9
Top 1010
Bottom 104
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#2Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles ChargersGames17
Opponent Avg.82.0
Top 1010
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#3Los Angeles Rams
Los Angeles RamsGames17
Opponent Avg.81.9
Top 108
Bottom 104
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#4Miami Dolphins
Miami DolphinsGames17
Opponent Avg.81.8
Top 108
Bottom 104
Toughest OpponentKansas City Chiefs · 87.1
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#5Las Vegas Raiders
Las Vegas RaidersGames17
Opponent Avg.81.4
Top 109
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#6Seattle Seahawks
Seattle SeahawksGames17
Opponent Avg.81.4
Top 108
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentLos Angeles Rams · 90.7
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#7Buffalo Bills
Buffalo BillsGames17
Opponent Avg.81.4
Top 107
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentLos Angeles Rams · 90.7
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#8San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ersGames17
Opponent Avg.81.4
Top 107
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#9New England Patriots
New England PatriotsGames17
Opponent Avg.81.3
Top 106
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#10Denver Broncos
Denver BroncosGames17
Opponent Avg.81.2
Top 107
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#11Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City ChiefsGames17
Opponent Avg.80.9
Top 107
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#12Chicago Bears
Chicago BearsGames17
Opponent Avg.80.8
Top 106
Bottom 104
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#13Dallas Cowboys
Dallas CowboysGames17
Opponent Avg.80.8
Top 106
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#14New York Giants
New York GiantsGames17
Opponent Avg.80.5
Top 107
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#15New York Jets
New York JetsGames17
Opponent Avg.80.4
Top 107
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentKansas City Chiefs · 87.1
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#16Green Bay Packers
Green Bay PackersGames17
Opponent Avg.80.3
Top 106
Bottom 104
Toughest OpponentLos Angeles Rams · 90.7
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#17Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota VikingsGames17
Opponent Avg.80.2
Top 105
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentDetroit Lions · 86.4
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#18Washington Commanders
Washington CommandersGames17
Opponent Avg.80.2
Top 106
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#19Carolina Panthers
Carolina PanthersGames17
Opponent Avg.79.7
Top 104
Bottom 103
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#20Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia EaglesGames17
Opponent Avg.79.3
Top 104
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentSeattle Seahawks · 91.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#21Tennessee Titans
Tennessee TitansGames17
Opponent Avg.79.1
Top 104
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentDetroit Lions · 86.4
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#22Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis ColtsGames17
Opponent Avg.79.0
Top 104
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentKansas City Chiefs · 87.1
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#23Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville JaguarsGames17
Opponent Avg.78.9
Top 105
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentPhiladelphia Eagles · 86.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#24Houston Texans
Houston TexansGames17
Opponent Avg.78.7
Top 102
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentPhiladelphia Eagles · 86.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#25Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta FalconsGames17
Opponent Avg.78.5
Top 103
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentKansas City Chiefs · 87.1
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#26Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh SteelersGames17
Opponent Avg.78.3
Top 104
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentPhiladelphia Eagles · 86.2
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#27Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay BuccaneersGames17
Opponent Avg.78.3
Top 102
Bottom 105
Toughest OpponentLos Angeles Rams · 90.7
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#28Detroit Lions
Detroit LionsGames17
Opponent Avg.77.9
Top 102
Bottom 107
Toughest OpponentNew England Patriots · 85.6
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#29Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore RavensGames17
Opponent Avg.77.5
Top 102
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentBuffalo Bills · 85.6
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#30Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati BengalsGames17
Opponent Avg.77.3
Top 102
Bottom 107
Toughest OpponentKansas City Chiefs · 87.1
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#31New Orleans Saints
New Orleans SaintsGames17
Opponent Avg.77.3
Top 101
Bottom 106
Toughest OpponentDetroit Lions · 86.4
View full schedule breakdownSchedule Rank#32Cleveland Browns
Cleveland BrownsGames17
Opponent Avg.77.0
Top 101
Bottom 107
Toughest OpponentHouston Texans · 84.2
View full schedule breakdownCurrent Strength vs. Old Records
What PFM Sees Differently
Traditional strength-of-schedule lists lean on last season’s records. That is a useful starting point, but it can miss how much a quarterback, roster or coaching situation has changed. These are the schedules where current team strength changes the answer the most.
San Francisco 49ersPFM Says TougherPFM RankNo. 8
Traditional RankNo. 18
Difference10 spots
San Francisco's schedule is tougher than 2025 records make it look. Seattle Seahawks (No. 1), Los Angeles Rams (No. 2) and Kansas City Chiefs (No. 3) form the strongest part of the road. San Francisco also sees Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams twice. Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams both look stronger now than their 2025 records suggest. The traditional order has San Francisco No. 18; PFM has it No. 8. A 10-spot gap is too large to dismiss.
Los Angeles RamsPFM Says TougherPFM RankNo. 3
Traditional RankNo. 13
Difference10 spots
Seattle Seahawks (No. 1), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 3) and San Francisco 49ers (No. 5) give Los Angeles one of the strongest opponent groups in the current PFM rankings. Los Angeles also sees Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers twice. Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers both look stronger now than their 2025 records suggest. The record-based list puts the schedule No. 13, but PFM moves it to No. 3. That is a 10-spot difference. PFM sees the tougher road.
Seattle SeahawksPFM Says TougherPFM RankNo. 6
Traditional RankNo. 14
Difference8 spots
Seattle has to deal with Los Angeles Rams (No. 2), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 3) and San Francisco 49ers (No. 5), and that is the part of the schedule the traditional rank undersells. Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams both look stronger now than their 2025 records suggest. Seattle also sees Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers twice. PFM moves the road from No. 14 to No. 6. There are manageable games, but not enough to erase a 8-spot difference. PFM sees the tougher road.
Green Bay PackersPFM Says More FavorablePFM RankNo. 16
Traditional RankNo. 4
Difference12 spots
Green Bay's schedule looks more favorable than 2025 records suggest. New Orleans Saints (No. 32), Carolina Panthers (No. 29) and Minnesota Vikings (No. 18) sit lower in the current PFM ratings. Green Bay also sees Minnesota Vikings twice. Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints do not look as strong now as their 2025 records suggest. The traditional order has Green Bay No. 4; PFM has it No. 16. That 12-spot drop is justified.
Chicago BearsPFM Says More FavorablePFM RankNo. 12
Traditional RankNo. 1
Difference11 spots
New Orleans Saints (No. 32), Carolina Panthers (No. 29) and Minnesota Vikings (No. 18) pull Chicago's schedule in a more favorable direction. Chicago also sees Minnesota Vikings twice. Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints do not look as strong now as their 2025 records suggest. The record-based list ranks the road No. 1; PFM has it No. 12. That is a 11-spot difference. Last season matters, but PFM sees the more favorable road now.
Carolina PanthersPFM Says More FavorablePFM RankNo. 19
Traditional RankNo. 10
Difference9 spots
Carolina falls from No. 10 in the record-based order to No. 19 in PFM. New Orleans Saints (No. 32), Cleveland Browns (No. 30) and Atlanta Falcons (No. 22) are the main reason. Carolina also sees New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons twice. New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons do not look as strong now as their 2025 records suggest. There are still difficult games, but not enough to support the old ranking. PFM sees the road as 9 spots more favorable.
How PFM Measures Strength of Schedule
Road Ahead averages the current PFM Team Scores of every opponent on the regular-season schedule. Home, away and neutral-site games are tracked for context, but venue does not change the opponent average. PFM is measuring schedule strength, not predicting individual games.
Ratings updated: September 1, 2026 Schedule updated: June 29, 2026
PFM ratings updated
How PFM grades NFL teams