Now that the confetti has settled on the Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl victory, it is time to look ahead. The 2026 schedule is taking shape, and for four NFC teams, the road to the playoffs looks especially steep.
Based strictly on opponent win-loss records from the 2025 season, these franchises are facing the most demanding slates in the conference. Here is what they are up against:
#1 – Chicago Bears
2025 Record: 11-6 (NFC North Champions)
Opponent Win Percentage: .550
The Matchups: Home and away against the NFC North (Lions, Packers, Vikings); the entire NFC East (Eagles, Cowboys, Giants, Commanders); the entire AFC East (Bills, Patriots, Dolphins, Jets).
Winning the NFC North came with a price. As division champs, the Bears draw the winners from other divisions, which means hosting the Eagles and traveling to Seattle. But the real story here is the AFC East rotation; facing Buffalo, New England, and Miami in the same season is a brutal stretch for any secondary. The Bears are most likely going to try to improve the secondary in free agency and the draft, as many teams are preparing for that weak room right now.
Caleb Williams had a breakout year in 2025 under Ben Johnson, but repeating that success will be tough. The cumulative opponent win percentage sits at .550, meaning there are no soft spots on the calendar. If the Bears can navigate this schedule and finish strong, they will be the most battle-hardened team in the conference come January. Caleb has shown signs of greatness and, given more time with HC Ben Johnson, the sky is the limit for the young phenom.
#2 – Green Bay Packers
2025 Record: 9-7-1
Opponent Win Percentage: .538
The Matchups: Home and away against the NFC North; the NFC East (Eagles, Cowboys, Giants, Commanders); the AFC East (Bills, Patriots, Dolphins, Jets).
The Packers share the same rotational opponents as the rest of the North, which means they also have to deal with the AFC East. However, finishing second in the division gives them the second-place teams from the NFC East (Philadelphia) and the AFC West (Denver) instead of the top seeds, though both of those teams are going to improve immensely.
That still makes for a rough road for the red-hot Packers. Traveling to Philadelphia to face an Eagles team looking to bounce back is never easy, and the Broncos bring one of the league’s top defenses. With new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon installing his system, the Packers have little room for error early in the season. They will need to protect home field at Lambeau to steal wins against these heavyweight opponents, as the Bears have improved under Ben Johnson, and Campbell hopes to return to the head of the division in 2026.
#3 – Arizona Cardinals
2025 Record: 3-14
Opponent Win Percentage: .538
The Matchups: Home and away against the NFC West (Seahawks, Rams, 49ers); the NFC North (Lions, Packers, Vikings, Bears); the AFC East (Bills, Patriots, Dolphins, Jets).
The Cardinals are in a weird spot. Normally, finishing in last place gives you a softer schedule, but that is not the case here. As a fourth-place team, they draw the fourth-place teams from the NFC North (the Vikings) and the NFC East (the Giants). The problem? The Vikings went 9-8 and just missed the playoffs ahead of their decision to retain QB JJ McCarthy. Their own division also held the eventual Super Bowl Champion Seahawks and the fiery Rams, who many believed could have also won the big game.
On top of that, Arizona has to face the entire AFC East. That means road trips to Buffalo and New England late in the season, which is a tough ask for a team trying to rebuild after a 3-14 campaign. The travel demands alone are going from the desert to the frozen north late in the year, which could wear down a roster that lacks depth. Arizona hopes to add a QB as the news of Kyler Murray being cut has loomed over the free agency period, adding to the complexity of the entire situation.
#4 – Carolina Panthers
2025 Record: 8-9 (NFC South Champions)
Opponent Win Percentage: .521
The Matchups: Home and away against the NFC South (Buccaneers, Falcons, Saints); the entire NFC West (Rams, Seahawks, 49ers, Cardinals); the entire AFC West (Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Raiders).
The Panthers snuck into the playoffs with a losing record, but winning the NFC South comes with a price. They draw the entire NFC West, which means trips to Seattle and San Francisco and home games against the Rams. Additionally, their own division continues to grow as it added Kevin Stefanski in Atlanta.
The bigger issue? The AFC West rotation. The Panthers get the Chiefs, who had a down year by their standards but still feature Patrick Mahomes and are expected to rebound. Facing Kansas City’s offense, Denver’s defense, and the Chargers’ passing attack in the same season will be a test of Carolina’s grit. Head coach Dave Canales will need to keep morale steady if the team hits a rough patch in October. Idzik also takes the reins as play-caller, so the upstart Panthers bring a new outlook offensively.
