The 2023 NFL schedule was not created equally for all teams.
While the league attempts to create compelling matchups, talent inequality between conferences and divisions mean some teams have a well-paved path to the playoffs while others will have to bushwhack their way across treacherous terrain to get there. But even if the NFL scheduling mechanism dictates six games in a division filled with Super Bowl hopefuls or four against a beefy cross-conference lineup, there’s still hope for respite. Well-timed bye weeks and stretches without star quarterbacks staring across the field at them can help buoy a team’s hopes as a contender.
