Which NFC North team has the most difficult remaining schedule?

The NFC North is completely wide open after the Aaron Rodgers injury. Not only that, but only two games separate the first place Vikings (4-2) and the last place Bears (2-4).

It’s literally anyone’s division and you can make legitimate arguments for any team right now (yes, even the Bears). With such a competitive field, it may all come down to which team simply has the easiest path the rest of the way.

So I took a look at each team’s schedule and calculated their remaining strength of opponent. Interestingly enough, each team has five home and five away games left (Edit: The Vikings actually only have four home games left, one of their games originally marked as a home game is being played in London). Here’s a look:

Detroit Lions

vs. Steelers (4-2)
at Packers (4-2)
vs. Browns (0-6)
at Bears (2-4)
vs. Vikings (4-2)
at Ravens (3-3)
at Buccaneers (2-3)
vs. Bears (2-4)
at Bengals (2-3)
vs. Packers (4-2)

Overall record: 27-31 (14-16 at home; 13-15 away)

Minnesota Vikings

vs. Ravens (3-3)
vs. Browns (0-6)—In London
at Washington (3-2)
vs. Rams (4-2)
at Lions (3-3)
at Falcons (3-2)
at Panthers (4-2)
vs. Bengals (2-3)
at Packers (4-2)
vs. Bears (2-4)

Overall record: 28-29 (11-18 at home; 17-11 away)

Green Bay Packers

vs. Saints (3-2)
vs. Lions (3-3)
at Bears (2-4)
vs. Ravens (3-3)
at Steelers (4-2)
vs. Buccaneers (2-3)
at Browns (0-6)
at Panthers (4-2)
vs. Vikings (4-2)
at Lions (3-3)

Overall record: 28-30 (15-13 at home; 13-17 away)

Chicago Bears

vs. Panthers (4-2)
at Saints (3-2)
vs. Packers (4-2)
vs. Lions (3-3)
at Eagles (5-1)
vs. 49ers (0-6)
at Bengals (2-3)
at Lions (3-3)
vs. Browns (0-6)
at Vikings (4-2)

Overall record: 28-30 (11-19 at home; 17-11 away)

Overall

The Lions technically have the easiest schedule remaining, but barely. All four teams are playing a set of opponents who collectively have a record just below .500.

There are some anomalies for some schedules. For example, the Vikings have a tough stretch where they play three straight away games against opponents with .500 records or better. The Bears are also the only team that still has two games remaining on the schedule against winless teams, but they are also the only team that must face a 5-1 team (Eagles).

In the end, there just isn’t a clear advantage with the schedule. The team that comes out of the NFC North will not have a free ride to the top. They’ll have to earn it.