2026 NFL Schedule Release Flags 10 Teams for Hot Starts in First 4 Games
Updated
Updated · Bleacher Report · May 16
2026 NFL Schedule Release Flags 10 Teams for Hot Starts in First 4 Games
10 articles · Updated · Bleacher Report · May 16
Ten teams were tagged for "hot" starts after the 2026 NFL schedule release, with the Ravens, Eagles, Chiefs, Lions, Packers, Bears and Giants among those seen as best positioned through the first four weeks.
Those projections hinge on early slates heavy on losing 2025 opponents or home games: Baltimore avoids a 2025 winning team until Week 8, while Kansas City gets Denver, Indianapolis, Miami and Las Vegas to open.
At the other end, 12 teams were labeled "cold," including the Dolphins, Patriots, Commanders, Broncos and Cardinals, largely because they open against multiple 2025 playoff teams or difficult road stretches.
Several contenders land in the middle instead, with the Bills, Bengals, Texans, Chargers, Rams and 49ers facing opening months that look manageable but still include enough tough matchups to cap expectations near 2-2 or 3-1.
The exercise underscores how the NFL's full schedule release quickly shifts offseason focus from roster building to early-season trajectory, highlighting which clubs may gain momentum or face pressure by October.
Do 'hot start' predictions matter when advanced analytics reveal a team faces a brutally difficult season-long schedule?
With record travel and rest disparity, is the NFL sacrificing competitive fairness for global entertainment and revenue?