NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings For 17-Game Season

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings For 17-Game Season article feature image
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Andrew Dieb/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images. Pictured: Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott.

The NFL officially approved extending its regular season from 16 to 17 games starting in 2021 on Tuesday, changing the schedule for the first time since 1978 when it first expanded to 16 games.

While the exact regular-season schedule won't be released until May, we do have every team's home and away opponents, which is how Travis Reed — our in-house Data Manager — was able to use his model to rank the strength of schedule for all 32 teams.

Let's dig into those rankings, from easiest to hardest, then run through key information about the extension.

NFL Strength of Schedule Rankings

RankTeam
1Chargers
2Broncos
3Cowboys
4Jets
5Raiders
6Bills
7Jaguars
8Eagles
9Buccaneers
10Ravens
11Dolphins
12Texans
13Titans
14Chiefs
15Falcons
16Browns
1749ers
18Giants
19Patriots
20Bengals
21Colts
22Washington
23Cardinals
24Panthers
25Steelers
26Packers
27Saints
28Lions
29Vikings
30Seahawks
31Rams
32Bears

What To Know About the 17th Game

How Matchups Are Set

The 17th game will pit NFC divisions against AFC divisions, determining exact matchups based on the previous season's division standings. For example, with the AFC East going against the NFC East for this first season with a 17th game, the first-place Buffalo Bills in the AFC East will draw the reigning first-place Washington Football Team in the NFC East.

Here are the exact division matchups for the 17th game in 2021 (which will rotate in future seasons):

  • AFC East vs. NFC East
  • AFC West vs. NFC North
  • AFC South vs. NFC South
  • AFC North vs. NFC West

Determining Home vs. Away

AFC teams will host NFC teams for the 17th game in 2021, meaning AFC teams will play nine home games and eight away games .while NFC teams will play nine away games and eight home games. The conferences will then rotate every season.

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Bye Weeks

With the 17-game schedule playing out over 18 weeks, teams will still only have one bye week.

Preseason Length

Under the latest NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement, the league can play no more than 20 games in total, which means there can be no more than three preseason games played in the new 17-game regular season.


2021 NFL Opponents

TeamHomeAway17th Game
ARIGB, MIN, HOU, IND, CARCHI, DET, JAX, TEN, DAL@ CLE
ATLPHI, WSH, NE, NYJ, DETDAL, NYG, BUF, MIA, SF@ JAX
BALKC, LAC, GB, MIN, INDDEN, LV, CHI, DET, MIALAR
BUFHOU, IND, ATL, CAR, PITJAX, TEN, NO, TB, KCWSH
CARPHI, WSH, NE, NYJ, MINDAL, NYG, BUF, MIA, ARI@ HOU
CHIARI, SF, BAL, CIN, NYGLAR, SEA, CLE, PIT, TB@ LV
CINKC, LAC, GB, MIN, JAXDEN, LV, CHI, DET, NYJSF
CLEDEN, LV, CHI, DET, HOUKC, LAC, GB, MIN, NEARI
DALATL, CAR, DEN, LV, ARINO, TB, KC, LAC, MIN@ NE
DENBAL, CIN, PHI, WSH, NYJCLE, PIT, DAL, NYG, JAXDET
DETARI, SF, BAL, CIN, PHILAR, SEA, CLE, PIT, ATL@ DEN
GBLAR, SEA, CLE, PIT, WSHARI, SF, BAL, CIN, NO@ KC
HOUNE, NYJ, LAR, SEA, LACBUF, MIA, ARI, SF, CLECAR
INDNE, NYJ, LAR, SEA, LVBUF, MIA, ARI, SF, BALTB
JAXBUF, MIA, ARI, SF, DENNE, NYJ, LAR, SEA, CINATL
KCCLE, PIT, DAL, NYG, BUFBAL, CIN, PHI, WSH, TENGB
LARCHI, DET, JAX, TEN, TBGB, MIN, HOU, IND, NYG@ BAL
LACCLE, PIT, DAL, NYG, NEBAL, CIN, PHI, WSH, HOUMIN
MIAHOU, IND, ATL, CAR, BALJAX, TEN, NO, TB, LVNYG
MINLAR, SEA, CLE, PIT, DALARI, SF, BAL, CIN, CAR@ LAC
NEJAX, TEN, NO, TB, CLEHOU, IND, ATL, CAR, LACDAL
NODAL, NYG, BUF, MIA, GBPHI, WSH, NE, NYJ, SEA@ TEN
NYGATL, CAR, DEN, LV, LARNO, TB, KC, LAC, CHI@ MIA
NYJJAX, TEN, NO, TB, CINHOU, IND, ATL, CAR, DENPHI
LVBAL, CIN, PHI, WSH, MIACLE, PIT, DAL, NYG, BALCHI
PHINO, TB, KC, LAC, SFATL, CAR, DEN, LV, DET@ NYJ
PITDEN, LV, CHI, DET, TENKC, LAC, GB, MIN, BUFSEA
SFGB, MIN, HOU, IND, ATLCHI, DET, JAX, TEN, PHI@ CIN
SEACHI, DET, JAX, TEN, NOGB, MIN, HOU, IND, WSH@ PIT
TBDAL, NYG, BUF, MIA, CHIPHI, WSH, NE, NYJ, LAR@ IND
TENBUF, MIA, ARI, SF, KCNE, NYJ, LAR, SEA, PITNO
WSHNO, TB, KC, LAC, SEAATL, CAR, DEN, LV, GB@ BUF

About the Author
Katie is a Senior Editor who oversees Action's NFL and fantasy football coverage.

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