By Nick Wilder @NickCWilder on February 13, 2015
Ranking the 10 Toughest Team Schedules of the 2015 NFL season
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The 2015 opponents for all NFL teams have been released, and it’s time for an early look at who has the toughest schedules overall. These top 10 rankings are based on the combined 2014 record and combined winning percentage of all 16 opponents. To put it in perspective, only four out of the 12 teams that made the playoffs in 2014 had strength of schedules over a winning percentage of .500 at season’s end.
10. Denver Broncos
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10. Denver Broncos
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The Broncos’ opponents in 2015 had a combined record of 138-117-1 and a combined winning percentage of .541 last season. Denver will face several quality teams, including the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. If next year ends up being Peyton Manning’s final season, it’ll be one of the toughest schedules he’s faced in his career.
9. Cleveland Browns
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9. Cleveland Browns
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Aside from playing in the brutal AFC North, Cleveland will play against a number of good squads next season. Those teams include the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks. Their schedule appears to be evenly balanced in terms of having tough games played at home, as well as on the road. The Browns’ opponents in 2015 had a combined record of 138-116-2 last year, which is a winning percentage of .543.
8. Kansas City Chiefs
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8. Kansas City Chiefs
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The Chiefs will obviously have the luxury of facing the Raiders twice next season, but their schedule overall is very difficult. Their 2015 opponents had a combined record of 139-116-1, which is a .545 winning percentage. Kansas City is set to match up with the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Three out of those five games will also be played on the road.
7. Oakland Raiders
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7. Oakland Raiders
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Oakland didn’t receive any 2015 scheduling luck after finishing 3-13 last season, tied for the third-worst record in the NFL. The Raiders’ opponents in 2015 actually have an identical combined record as the Chiefs’ opponents, which is 139-116-1. Next year, they’ll play against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. It might be another long year for Oakland fans in 2015.
6. St. Louis Rams
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6. St. Louis Rams
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The Rams’ 2015 opponents ended last season with a combined record of 141-114-1, which is a winning percentage of .553. On top of playing in the loaded NFC West, they’ll match up against the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers. Three out those five games will be on the road next season, and St. Louis was just 3-5 away from home in 2014.
5. Arizona Cardinals
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5. Arizona Cardinals
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After suffering horrible injury luck in 2014, the Cardinals were hoping for at least an average schedule in terms of difficulty next season. Well, that won’t be the case, as they are set to play the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers. Overall, their 2015 opponents had a combined 2014 record of 142-113-1, which is a winning percentage of .557.
4. Seattle Seahawks
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4. Seattle Seahawks
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It will be tough for last season’s Super Bowl runner-ups to even make the playoffs next year considering their schedule. In 2014, their opponents had a combined record of 142-112-2, which is a winning percentage of .559. They’ll battle the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately for Seattle, four out of those five games will be played away from home.
3. San Francisco 49ers
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3. San Francisco 49ers
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Another NFC West team, the San Francisco 49ers, will be looking for a bounce-back season in 2015 under new head coach Jim Tomsula. The task will prove to be arduous, as the team’s opponents next season had a combined record of 143-112-1 last year, which is a winning percentage of .561. San Francisco will play against several formidable teams, including the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.
2. Cincinnati Bengals
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2. Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals have lost in the first round of the playoffs four years in a row, and they’d be lucky to even reach the postseason in 2015 based on their strength of schedule. Cincinnati’s opponents had a combined record of 144-112 last year, which is a winning percentage of .563 overall. On top of playing against each AFC North team twice, they will match up with the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
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1. Pittsburgh Steelers
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The team with the toughest schedule in 2015 is by far the Steelers. They’ll play the Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks. Their opponents had a combined record of 147-107-2 last year, which is a winning percentage of .579. If the Steelers want to make the playoffs again in 2015, they will have to earn it.