Which NFL Teams Have The Hardest And Easiest 2015 Schedules?
Even before the release of next season's schedule (which should happen in April, about a week before the draft) we already know who everyone will be playing in 2015. That means it's possible to calculate who'll have the toughest row to hoe, and who gets a break.
The Falcons will face the weakest teams, their 2015 opponents compiling a .409 regular-season winning percentage last season. They'll face just four opponents who had winning records, but their relative cakewalk is a function of the historically bad NFC South getting to play the similarly woeful AFC South, as well as the usual six intradivisional games. In fact, the two divisions account for the eight easiest 2015 schedules.
The Steelers have the toughest strength of schedule, their opponents putting up a collective .579 winning percentage last year, thanks to games against the strong NFC West and AFC West, as well as against the Patriots and Colts.
Here's each team's strength of schedule, as compiled by CBS Sports yesterday ( Blogging the Boys did this in December as well):
1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 147-107-2, .579
2. Cincinnati Bengals: 144-112, .563
3. San Francisco 49ers: 143-112-1, .561
4. Seattle Seahawks: 142-112-2, .559
5. Arizona Cardinals:142-113-1, .557
6. St. Louis Rams: 141-114-1, .553
T-7. Oakland Raiders: 139-116-1, .545
T-7. Kansas City Chiefs: 139-116-1, .545
9. Cleveland Browns: 138-116-2, .543
10. Denver Broncos: 138-117-1, .541
11. Baltimore Ravens: 137-117-2, .539
12. Minnesota Vikings: 138-118, .539
13. Chicago Bears: 136-120, .531
14. Green Bay Packers: 135-120-1, .529
15. Detroit Lions: 135-121, .527
16. San Diego Chargers: 132-123-1, .518
17. Miami Dolphins: 126-130, .492
18. New York Jets: 125-131, .488
19. Buffalo Bills: 124-131-1, .486
T-20. Washington Redskins: 122-133-1, .478
T-20. New York Giants: 122-133-1, .478
22. New England Patriots: 122-134, .477
23. Philadelphia Eagles: 121-134-1, .475
24. Dallas Cowboys: 119-136-1, .467
25. Jacksonville Jaguars: 118-137-1, .463
26. Tennessee Titans: 111-144-1, .435
27. Carolina Panthers: 111-145, .434
28. New Orleans Saints: 109-145-2, .429
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 108-146-2, .425
30. Houston Texans: 106-148-2, .417
31. Indianapolis Colts: 106-149-1, .417
32. Atlanta Falcons: 104-150-2, .409
The NFL's year-to-year fluctuations mean these aren't the end-all for predicting 2015 results. But you could probably do a lot worse than Atlanta when picking a bounce-back team.
[ CBS Sports]
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