Detroit Lions projected to have easiest 2026 NFL schedule

DETROIT,MICHIGAN-November 17: Fans arrive at Ford Field prior to the NFL football game between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, November 17, 2024 (Photo by Jorge Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) | NurPhoto via Getty Images The 2026 NFL schedule release is expected sometime in May, but we already know the 17 opponents for the Detroit Lions. Based on a repeating formula, the Lions’ nine home opponents and eight road opponents have already been determined . And based on that, strength of schedule can be calculated before the official schedule even drops.

The most common way to view strength of schedule is using last year’s record of each opponent. Based on that, the Lions are projected to have the sixth-easiest schedule—their opponents averaging a . 467 winning percentage last year.

However, after years of data collecting, studies have shown that last year’s record of opponent has not been a very good measure of predicting strength of schedule. That’s why Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis has starting using a different measure for strength of schedule: over/under win totals set by Vegas sportsbooks—or the projected wins for each team based on Vegas odds. Based on that data, the Lions’ 2026 schedule actually turns out to be easiest in the league.

NEW: NFL strength of schedule for 2026! 5 easiest schedules: 1️⃣ Lions 2️⃣ Saints 3️⃣ Bengals 4️⃣ Browns 5️⃣ Jets 5 hardest schedules: 2️⃣8️⃣ Rams 2️⃣9️⃣ Cowboys 3️⃣0️⃣ Panthers 3️⃣1️⃣ Dolphins 3️⃣2️⃣ Cardinals 1-32 with insight & analysis: https://t. co/iS1PFqfcxx — Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 4, 2026 And that’s just the beginning of the good news for Lions fans.