1. Does the Super Bowl winner...

[BarnOwl]

…automatically get the toughest schedule in the next NFL season?

And if that’s too easy for you, how about a couple more questions to help me in my losing battle with ignorance, to wit:

2. When is the schedule made up?
3. How is the toughest schedule determined (based, of course, on knowledge available at the time)?
4. Does the lousiest club get next year’s easiest schedule?

I’ve left number 5 (above) blank for anyone who also might have a question in the vein of the OP. Feel free to add 6, 7, 8, etc.

Oftentimes, hijacks are better than the OP.

[anson2995]

Nope. Starting in 2002, when the NFL switched to an 8-division format, they adopted a fixed schedule system. Teams play the other three teams in their division twice (once home and away) each year. They play a game against each team in two other divisions each season, based on a three or four year cycle. The final two games are based on their position in the standings. (Full details from NFL.com)

So in that regard, technically, a Super Bowl team is likely to have two games against tougher opponents than the lesser teams in their own division will. But under the new system, a team doesn’t get a significantly tougher (or easier) schedule based on its record the previous season.

This addresses questions 1, 3 & 4. To answer question numebr 2, the schedules (or at least the list of opponents) for 2002-2009 were determined when this system was adopted. Specific times and dates are set later.
FWIW, anotehr benefit is that every team plays every other team at least once every four seasons. You don’t get a situation like the Dolphins and Broncos only playing once during the Elway and Marino eras (1983 to 1997) or teams like Buffalo and Tampa Bay having never played each other.

[Petey]

On preview, I see it’s been answered, but since I already typed it up:

The schedule is based upon the finish in your division, but doesn’t include playoffs. Currently, you only play two games different from the other teams in your division.

Cite

The scheduling format includes the following elements:

  Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games).

  The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games).

  The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games).

  Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings (2 games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year. 

For example New England’s schedule:

home and away with divisional opponents: Buffalo, N.Y. Jets, Miami.

AFC West teams: Denver, Oakland, San Diego, Kansas City

NFC South teams: Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans, Tampa Bay.

1st place teams in AFC North and AFC South: Pittsburgh, Indianapolis

[BarnOwl]

Good inputs.

Thanks very much.

[Petey]

BTW, the scheduling difference was greater in years past. When there were 4 divisions of 5 teams, and 2 divisions of 4 teams, the interconference schedule only included the top four finishers. That is, 1-4 of AFC East would play 1-4 of NFC East, rotating the divisions every three years. The four fifth place teams would replace those games with 4 games against each other.

This led to teams not playing each other for long periods of time, just based on the quirk of where they happened to finish.