NFL schedule release date 2023: When to expect an announcement, strength of schedule & more

Clear your schedule for the NFL schedule.

The next big tentpole in the NFL's offseason after the draft is the schedule release, which typically takes place in mid-May. Then, it's just three short months until live football action and four until regular-season action.

The Eagles will be ready for that action, but they won't be a surprise to anyone as they were in 2022. Philly has the league's toughest schedule for 2023 based on opponents' win percentage from last season. That, plus the fact they now have a massive bull's-eye on their back, means it may be tough sledding for the defending NFC champs.

Elsewhere, the NFC South may have it easier than it did last year, and boy, could those teams use the help. No one in the division finished above .500 in 2022, but all four teams are expected to be much better this upcoming season.

MORE: Tracking the latest NFL schedule leaks ahead of the official release on Thursday

So, don't worry, NFL fans, it's just a few more sleeps until NFL action. Here's what to know about the 2023 opponents for all 32 teams, the upcoming schedule release, and more: 

NFL schedule release date 2023

• Date: Thursday, May 11 
• Time: 8 p.m. ET
• TV channel: NFL Network, ESPN2

The league announced May 8 that it would roll out the schedule on Thursday, May 11. The Sporting News is tracking all of the latest leaks ahead of the official schedule release here.

NFL Network will carry the schedule release, as it has in years past. For those who want to live stream the show, you can use Fubo, which carries NFL Network, Fox, CBS, NBC and the ESPN family of networks, meaning you won't miss a minute of in-market NFL action in 2023. Fubo also offers a free trial.

Who has the hardest NFL schedule in 2023?

If the Eagles have any shot at repeating, they'll have to weather the NFL's toughest slate.

They play one extra road game in 2023 as part of the NFL's 17-game schedule. The AFC holds home field for the extra crossover game this year.

Here's how the Eagles' schedule breaks down by home and road:

Who has the easiest NFL schedule in 2023?

The Falcons are coming off a sneakily competitive season, and they'll have the easiest schedule to navigate this year. Some of that is because the NFC South wasn't great in 2022, but they also play some teams who are trying to work their way back up.

Here's who the Falcons will be playing in 2023:

2023 NFL strength of schedule rankings

As noted, the defending NFC champion Eagles have the NFL's toughest slate entering the 2023 season, followed by the Super Bowl-hopeful Dolphins.

Things went south in the NFC South in 2023, and that is reflected in the strength of schedule for those teams. The Falcons and Saints bring up the rear in the 2023 rankings, with the Panthers and Buccaneers sitting in the bottom third.

Here's how the 2023 strength of schedule breaks down for every NFL team:

2023 NFL schedule for all 32 teams

While dates and venues for all 32 teams will be known once the NFL's schedule is officially released, franchises and fans already know all of their opponents for the upcoming season.

The NFL uses this formula to put together each team's schedule:

1. Home and away against its three division opponents (six games).
2. The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (four games).
3. The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (four games)
4. Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings. These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place and fourth-place teams in each division are similarly paired (two games).
5. One interconference game based on the prior year's standings on a rotating four-year cycle. These games match a first-place team from one division against a first-place team in an opposite conference division that the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place and fourth-place teams in each division are similarly paired. The home conference for this game rotates each season (one game).

Here's who will be playing who in the 2023 NFL season:

AFC East

Buffalo Bills

• Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals, Washington Commanders, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

• Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers
• Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens

New England Patriots

• Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints
• Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers

New York Jets

• Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans
• Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens

• Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions
• Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Chargers

Cincinnati Bengals

• Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills
• Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs

Cleveland Browns

• Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
• Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks

Pittsburgh Steelers

• Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans
• Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks

AFC South

Houston Texans

• Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets

Indianapolis Colts

• Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams
• Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots

Jacksonville Jaguars

• Home: Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons
• Away: Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

• Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Chargers, Seattle Seahawks
• Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AFC West

Denver Broncos

• Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, Washington Commanders
• Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

• Home: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles
• Away: Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

Los Angeles Chargers

• Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys
• Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys

• Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks
• Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers

New York Giants

• Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers
• Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders

Philadelphia Eagles

• Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings
• Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

• Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears
• Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos

NFC North

Chicago Bears

• Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Arizona Cardinals
• Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

• Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Seattle Seahawks
• Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens

Green Bay Packers

• Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, New York Giants, Pittsburgh Steelers

Minnesota Vikings

• Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers
• Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Philadelphia Eagles, Cincinnati Bengals

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons

• Home: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Washington Commanders
• Away: Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals, New York Jets

Carolina Panthers

• Home: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys
• Away: Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

• Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants, Tennessee Titans
• Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

• Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans
• Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals

• Home: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons
• Away: Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears, Houston Texans

Los Angeles Rams

• Home: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Away: Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts

San Francisco 49ers

• Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Away: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars

Seattle Seahawks

• Home: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers
• Away: Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans