2022 NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings: Expert Projects Chiefs with Hardest, Giants with Easiest Schedules

2022 NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings: Expert Projects Chiefs with Hardest, Giants with Easiest Schedules article feature image
Credit:

Getty Images. Pictured: Patrick Mahomes, Daniel Jones

Exact dates for the 2022 NFL schedule will be released at 8 p.m. ET on May 12, but we've known every team's list of opponents for months. That's why Sean Koerner, our Director of Predictive Analytics, has ranked all 32 teams by their strength of schedule after averaging his initial team power ratings for each of their opponents.

You'll find the rest of his 2022 NFL strength of schedule rankings listed from easiest to most difficult below, followed by his projected win totals for each team.

2022 NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings

Rank
Team
1
Giants
2
Eagles
3
Commanders
4
Lions
5
Bears
6
Cowboys
7
Colts
8
Vikings
9
Packers
10
Buccaneers
11
Saints
12
Jaguars
13
Browns
14
Panthers
15
49ers
16
Ravens
17
Falcons
18
Dolphins
19
Titans
20
Seahawks
21
Cardinals
22
Bills
23
Broncos
24
Texans
25
Jets
26
Chargers
27
Patriots
28
Bengals
29
Steelers
30
Rams
31
Raiders
32
Chiefs

Playing in the division with Koerner's highest average projected win total (9.7) and with interconferene matchups against the NFC West, the Kansas City Chiefs have the most difficult strength of schedule based on the power ratings, followed by their division rival Las Vegas Raiders.

Meanwhile, the New York Giants have the easiest strength of schedule, followed by two more NFC East teams in the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders — in part thanks to the division drawing interconference matchups against a weak AFC South.

Another factor impacting these strength of schedule ratings are the fact NFC teams will host a ninth home game against AFC teams this season.

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Below is a closer look at the rotation of opponents for every division:

2022 NFL Schedule Opponents

AFC East

  • Intraconference: AFC North
  • Interconference: NFC North
  • 17th Game: NFC West

AFC North

  • Intraconference: AFC East
  • Interconference: NFC South
  • 17th Game: NFC East

AFC South

  • Intraconference: AFC West
  • Interconference: NFC East
  • 17th Game: NFC North

AFC West

  • Intraconference: AFC South
  • Interconference: NFC West
  • 17th Game: NFC South

NFC East

  • Intraconference: NFC North
  • Interconference: AFC South
  • 17th Game: AFC North

NFC North

  • Intraconference: NFC East
  • Interconference: AFC East
  • 17th Game: AFC South

NFC South

  • Intraconference: NFC West
  • Interconference: AFC North
  • 17th Game: AFC West

NFC West

  • Intraconference: NFC South
  • Interconference: AFC West
  • 17th Game: AFC East
About the Author
Sean is The Action Network's Director of Predictive Analytics. He was named the No. 1 fantasy football draft ranker of 2019 by FantasyPros, where he's also finished as the top in-season ranker in three of the past five seasons

Follow Sean Koerner @The_Oddsmaker on Twitter/X.

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