Broncos, Patriots pivot to soft schedules after NFL's toughest opening slates

Miami faces the No. 3 remaining slate after a No. 5 start.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 1h1 min read

Hardest Strength of Schedule this season to date r Via @PFF on X

What happened: Denver, New England, Los Angeles, Buffalo, and Miami played the NFL's five hardest schedules to open the 2026 regular season, per PFF. While four of those clubs now transition into significantly lighter opponent slates, Miami gets no relief over the rest of the campaign.

Why it matters: The schedule turn gives injury-tested Denver, New England, and Buffalo a clearer runway to stack wins in the AFC playoff race after surviving top-four opening gauntlets. Los Angeles drops from the third-hardest slate to a middle-tier 13th-ranked finish, whereas Miami must navigate a top-five schedule across both segments of the season.

By the numbers: PFF 2026 NFL Strength of Schedule ranks (to date vs. remaining): Denver Broncos (1st to date, 29th remaining); New England Patriots (2nd, 27th); Los Angeles Rams (3rd, 13th); Buffalo Bills (4th, 24th); Miami Dolphins (5th, 3rd).

What to watch: AFC East positioning hinges on whether New England and Buffalo capitalize on bottom-tier remaining schedules while Miami continues through the league's third-toughest slate.

Sources

@PFF 2026-10-17T00:03:50.319199+00:00

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