Detroit Lions have NFL's easiest schedule, according to one expert

If the Detroit Lions don't finish the 2026 season with a playoff-worthy record, they may not be able to blame the schedule.

Per the latest ranking by football analyst Warren Sharp, the Lions have the easiest strength of schedule of all 32 NFL teams for 2026. Sharp's analysis bases a team's strength of schedule on the Vegas projected win totals of its opponents, not win totals from the previous year.

The Lions finished 9-8 in the 2025 season, landing in last place in the NFC North and out of the playoffs for the first time since the 2022 season. But the Honolulu-blue-and-silver lining to a last-place finish is a last-place schedule, with the Lions facing several teams who finished in fourth in their respective divisions in 2025.

Detroit's 2026 strength

of schedule compares favorably to 2025, when the Lions entered the season with the third-toughest schedule in the NFL, per Sharp. That scheduled featured road games against perennial contenders like the Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Rams.

This year's schedule features what should be a lighter road schedule, with the team's toughest non-divisional opponent being the defending AFC-champion New England Patriots, who the Lions play on Nov. 15 in Munich. The Lions also play the Buffalo Bills in a Week 2 Thursday night matchup in Buffalo.

Per BetMGM, the Lions have an over/under of 10½ wins, as high as the Patriots and the defending Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks.

NFL strength of schedule rankings

Rankings from Warren Sharp as of Aug. 16 – 1 is easiest, 32 is hardest.

1. Detroit Lions.
2. Cincinnati Bengals.
3. New Orleans Saints.
4. New York Jets.
5. Baltimore Ravens.
6. Cleveland Browns.
7. San Francisco 49ers.
8. Philadelphia Eagles.
9. Indianapolis Colts.
10. New England Patriots.
11. Denver Broncos.
12. Kansas City Chiefs.
13. Las Vegas Raiders.
14. Buffalo Bills.
15. Minnesota Vikings.
16. Tennessee Titans.
17. Pittsburgh Steelers.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars.
19. Atlanta Falcons.
20. Los Angeles Chargers.
21. New York Giants.
22. Houston Texans.
23. Seattle Seahawks.
24. Green Bay Packers.
25. Tampa Bay Bucanneers.
26. Chicago Bears.
27. Los Angeles Rams.
28. Dallas Cowboys.
29. Washington Commanders.
30. Carolina Panthers.
31. Miami Dolphins.
32. Arizona Cardinals.

Lions 2026 schedule

All times Eastern.

• Week 1, Sunday, Sept. 13: vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., Fox
• Week 2, Thursday, Sept. 17: at Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. Prime Video
• Week 3, Sunday, Sept. 27: vs. New York Jets, 1 p.m., Fox
• Week 4, Sunday, Oct. 4: at Carolina Panthers, 8:20 p.m., NBC
• Week 5, Sunday, Oct. 11: at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m., Fox
• Week 6, Sunday, Oct. 18: BYE
• Week 7, Sunday, Oct. 25: vs. Green Bay Packers, 4:25 p.m., Fox
• Week 8, Sunday, Nov. 1: vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m., Fox
• Week 9, Sunday, Nov. 8: at Miami Dolphins, 1 p.m., Fox
• Week 10, Sunday, Nov. 15: vs. New England Patriots in Germany, 9:30 a.m., Fox
• Week 11, Sunday, Nov. 22: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., CBS
• Week 12, Thursday, Nov. 26: vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m., CBS
• Week 13, Sunday, Dec. 6: at Atlanta Falcons, 1 p.m. CBS
• Week 14, Sunday, Dec. 13: vs. Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., Fox
• Week 15, Sunday, Dec. 20: at Minnesota Vikings, 8:20 p.m., NBC
• Week 16, Monday, Dec. 28: vs. New York Giants, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
• Week 17, Sunday, Jan. 3: at Chicago Bears, 4:25 p.m., Fox
• Week 18, TBD: at Green Bay Packers, TBD

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You can reach Christian at [e-mail].

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions have NFL's easiest schedule, according to one expert