Sports

Perennial AFC Loser Faces Easiest Schedule in NFL This Season

One of the worst teams in the NFL over the past decade is set to have the easiest schedule heading into the 2026 NFL season.

While the full schedule won’t be announced until May 14, the Cleveland Browns already know who they’ll be facing this season – just not when. Based on opponent’s win percentage for 2025-26, the Browns have the easiest strength of schedule – ranking No. 32 among all NFL teams with a .429 opponent win percentage for the 2025 season.

Cleveland’s opponents for the 2026 season had a combined record of 124-165 during the 2025 season. The Browns will face just three teams that had a winning record in 2025: the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers (twice).

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While the Browns are preparing for one of the easiest schedules in the NFL, their opponents have made plenty of changes over the past few months.

Cleveland faces the Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Las Vegas Raiders, Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans, who all went through head coaching changes after the 2025 season. The Browns will face a familiar face when they square off against the Falcons, who hired the ousted Kevin Stefanski.

Former Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken took over as the Browns head coach and brought in three new coordinators in Travis Switzer as offensive coordinator, Mike Rutenberg as defensive coordinator and Byron Storer as special teams coordinator.

A major lasting question facing the Browns is who will be under center in 2026.

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2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 10:53 AM.

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