The NFL officially unveiled their 2023 schedules, and these three teams have tough hills to climb if they plan on making the playoffs.
Not too long after the NFL Draft was held, fans got an idea of their team's chances heading into the 2023 season. Last Thursday, the NFL officially unveiled its schedules for the upcoming campaign. All 32 teams flexed their creative muscles to reveal their schedules to their respective fanbases.
With this, fans and media members can dive deep into the upcoming season and see who has a realistic chance of hoisting the Lombardi Trophy at the season's end.
Sure, fans already knew their favorite team's opponents, but now they know the exact order, the time and day of the game, and how long they will be on the road or at home. Those factors hold significance to seeing which teams will have an easy path to the big game or will have to scratch and claw to make it to the playoffs.
Here are three teams that were screwed over by the NFL over their schedules.
3 teams screwed the hardest by the 2023 NFL schedule, No. 3: Philadelphia Eagles
Even in a losing effort in Super Bowl 57, the future looked bright for the Philadelphia Eagles. They have a superstar at quarterback in Jalen Hurts, one of the top offensive lines in the league, and a relatively deep roster despite losing some big-name players in the offseason (i.e. Javon Hargrave, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, etc.). But their schedule is pretty brutal.
In terms of strength of schedule, the Eagles have the toughest. Their opponents have a combined record of 161-123-4 last season. The middle of the season until its conclusion will be rough. Just take a look for yourselves:
- Week 6: at New York Jets
- Week 7: vs. Miami Dolphins
- Week 8: at Washington Commanders
- Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Week 10: BYE
- Week 11: at Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
- Week 13: vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Week 14: at Dallas Cowboys
- Week 15: at Seattle Seahawks
- Week 16: vs. New York Giants
- Week 17: vs. Arizona Cardinals
- Week 18: at New York Giants
So from Week 6 onwards, the Eagles will be playing 9 of their final 12 games against teams that made the playoffs last season. Not to mention, the Jets are going to be a tougher opponent, considering they have Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, and if he's healthy, he could be a problem for the Eagles.
Don't get us wrong, the Eagles are still a stacked team that will more likely than not clinch a top seed in the NFC. But that stretch of games is absolutely brutal.
3 teams screwed the hardest by the 2023 NFL schedule, No. 2: Las Vegas Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders decided to move on from quarterback Derek Carr after the 2022 season and the search began to find his replacement. They ultimately went after Jimmy Garoppolo, who has a connection with head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler dating back to their time together with the New England Patriots. But, this team also traded away tight end Darren Waller to the New York Giants, so that is a big downfield option taken away.
This team already had difficult odds of making it out of the AFC West, especially with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers in there, but the schedule-makers did them absolutely no favors.
Take a look at Las Vegas' schedule from Week 8 until Week 16.
- Week 8: at Detroit Lions
- Week 9: vs. New York Giants
- Week 10: vs. New York Jets
- Week 11: at Miami Dolphins
- Week 12: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
- Week 13: BYE
- Week 14: vs. Minnesota Vikings
- Week 15: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 16: at Kansas City Chiefs
In those nine weeks, the Raiders will be playing a playoff team from last year six times. Sure, the Raiders will have a 34-day stay at home in Las Vegas (via CBS Sports' John Breech), but they have to play against the Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and Los Angeles Chargers with a bye week in between. That by no means will be easy, especially playing the Chiefs and Chargers.
Can the Raiders surprise the NFL by winning these games? Of course! Can it happen? Well, on paper, that looks like a tall task.
3 teams screwed the hardest by the 2023 NFL schedule, No. 1: New York Giants
Seriously, who did the New York Giants upset at the league offices?
The Giants were one of the big surprises of the 2022 season. General manager Joe Schoen was unable to make big moves due to the lack of cap space left by Dave Gettleman. Head coach Brian Daboll got the most out of quarterback Daniel Jones, running back Saquon Barkley, and the rest of the team, earning a 9-6-1 record to clinch a playoff spot. This team even earned a Wild Card Round victory over the Minnesota Vikings, their first playoff win since Super Bowl 46.
This offseason, the Giants were able to bring in pieces like tight end Darren Waller, linebacker Bobby Okereke, and wide receiver Parris Campbell to improve the team's chances in 2023. But then, they got a look at their schedule.
The Giants already knew they were going to get one of the toughest schedules in the league, as opponents had a 157-129-2 combined record last season. But the way the schedule is set up puts the Giants at a huge disadvantage. How so? In the first 11 weeks of the season, the Giants have 7 ROAD GAMES! Take a look for yourselves:
- Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Week 2: at Arizona Cardinals
- Week 3: at San Francisco 49ers
- Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks
- Week 5: at Miami Dolphins
- Week 6: at Buffalo Bills
- Week 7: vs. Washington Commanders
- Week 8: vs. New York Jets
- Week 9: at Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys
- Week 11: at Washington Commanders
That is a rough stretch to start the season. Then, they have a true test in facing the Philadelphia Eagles in Weeks 16 and 18 to end their season. That's cool.
The Giants proved everyone wrong and overcame the odds last year. Can they make it into Week 12 with a winning record? That would be quite the feat if they were able to do so.
