The NFL schedule is here, and in the wake of its arrival, fans and analysts are poring over the hundreds of matchups set to take place in the fall and winter. Some games can be spotted as must-see battles of attrition, but on the other side of the spectrum, a few matchups appear to be lopsided.
One of the teams will have the fight of their lives while the other might think it can sleepwalk through the contest. In the NFL, any given Sunday means you can’t write off any matchups, but some will be asking for everything from the underdog. Here’s a look at the toughest matchups on the schedule.
Toughest Matchups in 2026 NFL Schedule
#5 – Titans at Jaguars, Week 12
The only thing going for this matchup is that it is a divisional game, but it might not feel like one with the Titans’ entirely new coaching staff. Cam Ward better be the answer, because he will need to play unlike he has in the NFL to have any shot against Trevor Lawrence.
#4 – Chargers at Dolphins, Week 16
The Miami Dolphins are rebuilding, but that doesn’t mean the team is quitting. If the Chargers put together another 10+ win season under Jim Harbaugh, this game could be a slaughter. Of course, the team historically has tended to randomly stumble in these types of matchups, but Miami could be on the edge of quitting this late into the season. It’ll be a battle for Miami against itself even before the Chargers factor into the equation.
#3 – Jets at Patriots, Week 6
Geno Smith defeated the Patriots with the last ounce of momentum from his time in Seattle in Week 1 of last year, but don’t expect things to go much better. It will take everything from Geno Smith to beat New England in New England, which has only happened once since 2013 (which, coincidentally, was in a contest Smith played in).
#2 – Eagles at Titans, Week 2
The Philadelphia Eagles have ruined a Patrick Mahomes Super Bowl three-peat and routinely reached the playoffs in the Jalen Hurts era. Meanwhile, Robert Saleh might be looking to get back to .500 with a group of players still settling into his way of doing things. For the Titans to pull this one out, it’s going to take everything, including a perfect training camp and preseason. The prep for this game should start now.
#1 – Broncos at Cardinals, Week 7
The Denver Broncos were viewed by most as the rightful Super Bowl team in 2025, but it’s hungry like a team that was robbed. The Cardinals, meanwhile, could be testing the waters with Carson Beck in his first start.
If the Cardinals choose this matchup to make his debut, it will be that much harder. Denver, a team that has historically made a habit of “kicking the team’s a**,” as Von Miller famously once said before the Broncos blew out the Cardinals in 2018. If the Cardinals pull this one out, it would be the second Broncos loss to the Cardinals since 1977.
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