NFL Schedule 2020 Release: Ravens, Steelers, Cowboys Have Easiest Games Based On 2019 Standings

The complete schedule for the 2020 NFL season will be released Thursday night at 8 p.m. EDT on NFL Network. It’s not yet known when each matchup will occur, but every team is already aware of which opponents it will face over the course of 17 weeks.

Based on the final 2019 standings, the Baltimore Ravens have the easiest schedule next season. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys are tied for the second-weakest schedule.

Baltimore led the NFL with a 14-2 record last season as quarterback Lamar Jackson won the MVP award unanimously. The Ravens will face the Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins, who had the league’s two worst records. The New York Giants (4-12) are also on Baltimore’s schedule. The Ravens’ opponents had a combined .437 winning percentage in 2019.

Playing in the same division as the Ravens, Pittsburgh shares many of Baltimore’s opponents. Seven of the Steelers’ games will come against teams that suffered double-digit losses last year.

The Dallas Cowboys face the weakest set of opponents in the NFC. Four total matchups with the Redskins and Giants, as well as a visit to Cincinnati, play a significant role in Dallas’ strength of schedule ranking.

The opponents for the Cowboys and Steelers had a .457 winning percentage a season ago. The Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins are tied for the fourth-easiest schedule, facing teams that won 46% of their games.

The AFC East has the toughest draw. Each team in the division will play the AFC West, which is led by the Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. The AFC East is also scheduled to face the NFC West, which boasted three winning teams a season ago.

The New England Patriots have the most difficult schedule in 2020. Without Tom Brady on the roster for the first time in 20 years, Bill Belichick’s team will play opponents that had a combined .535 winning percentage. New England has won 11 straight division titles.

The New York Jets have the second-most difficult schedule. The Miami Dolphins are third. The Buffalo Bills are tied for fourth with four other teams.

Kansas City is in the middle of the pack in terms of strength of schedule. The upcoming opponents for Patrick Mahomes and Co. had exactly a .500 record last season.