The Ravens face another difficult road in 2026, ranking near the bottom of the NFL in rest differential while navigating a schedule loaded with contenders.
The NFL released the regular-season schedules for all 32 teams two weeks ago, and one of the biggest topics of discussion among fans, pundits, and experts is the lack of rest for some teams compared to others.
Rest differential is a real thing, according to NFL analyst Arif Hasan and Warren Sharp. Hasan describes his version as the “sum net rest days vs. opponents across all 17 games.” Hasan calculates it by adding up the difference in rest days between each team and its opponent for all games. A high positive number means the team has more recovery and preparation time than the teams it faces.
Sharp uses net rest edge to general rest advantage, and notes the unfavorable historical nature of the 2026 schedule for some teams.
A rest edge in the NFL is the number of extra days a team has to rest and prepare for their game over their opponent.
An example of rest edge: if the Dolphins have a full 7-day bye week ahead of their game vs. the Bills, and the Bills play on Monday Night Football and are on a short week, the Dolphins have a rest edge of +8 days before their game against the Bills. Conversely, the Bills have a rest edge of -8 days.
Based on Hasan’s version, only the Steelers, Rams, Colts, Dolphins, Saints, Jets, Raiders, Eagles, and Chargers will play against 2026 opponents on less rest than the Ravens.
On the positive end of the schedule spectrum, the NFL team with the highest net rest differential in Hasan’s version is the Chicago Bears at +15, a total of 15 extra days compared to their opponents. The Bears, along with the Buffalo Bills (+14) and Dallas Cowboys (+11.5), have the highest net rest differentials in the league since 2002. The Bears, Cowboys, Bills, and 12 other teams won’t face a single team off a bye week in 2026.
Warren Sharp Rest Disparity
In Sharp’s version, Baltimore has a -3 in rest differential, with 11 other teams getting less rest.
Baltimore opens the season on September 13 against the Indianapolis Colts before hosting the New Orleans Saints in Week 2. One of the most unique games on the schedule arrives in Week 3 when the Ravens face the Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking another major international showcase for the franchise.
Baltimore’s 2026 slate again looks brutal, featuring matchups against playoff contenders such as the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Chargers, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Ravens close the regular season with two massive AFC North battles against Pittsburgh in Weeks 15 and 18, potentially setting the stage for another dramatic division finish.
