Ahmad Bradshaw (US PRESSWIRE)

NFL Top 5: Toughest schedules

It doesn't seem fair, but the New England Patriots got the easiest schedule based on opponents' 2011 records. Their opponents went 116-140 (.453).

Let's look at teams that don't have it so easy. Here are the five teams facing the toughest schedules.

NEW YORK GIANTS
2011 record: 9-7 SU, 8-8 ATS
Odds to win Super Bowl: 15.00

The Super Bowl champs’ opponents went a combined 140-116 (.547), best in the NFL. That’s their reward for winning the division last year, and also the luck of the draw. The NFC East faces the AFC North and NFC South, two of the better divisions. The Giants don’t get their bye until Week 11. Teams prefer it in the middle of the season.  Then they face a brutal closing stretch that makes it hard to envision them repeating last year’s dramatic finish: vs. Green Bay, at Washington, vs. New Orleans, at Atlanta, at Baltimore, vs. Philly.

DENVER BRONCOS
2011 record: 8-8 SU, 7-9 ATS
Odds to win Super Bowl: 15.00

Denver is in the same boat as the Giants, getting a first-place schedule along with the AFC North and NFC South. Which means Pittsburgh, Baltimore, New Orleans, etc. So it’s no surprise Denver’s opponents went a combined 139-117 (.543), second-toughest behind the Giants. Peyton Manning faces five playoff teams in the first seven games, plus division rivals San Diego and Oakland. Thanks to Manning, the Broncos play the max five primetime games and it’s possible they could be flexed into a sixth. The only good news is the bye comes in Week 7, following one of Denver’s two Monday night games.

BALTIMORE RAVENS
2011 record: 12-4 SU, 8-8 ATS
Odds to win Super Bowl: 15.00

Baltimore and San Francisco are the only teams that play both of last year’s Super Bowl teams, the Patriots and Giants. Ravens’ opponents went a combined 134-122 (.523), tied for fourth-hardest. Baltimore gets two short turnarounds in the first four weeks. The Ravens open at home against Cincinnati on Monday night, then visit Philly for an early Sunday game. After hosting New England on Sunday night, Sept. 23, they host Cleveland on Thursday. How about back-to-back road games in Pittsburgh (Nov. 18) and San Diego (Nov. 25)?

DALLAS COWBOYS
2011 record: 8-8 SU, 5-11 ATS
Odds to win Super Bowl: 23.00

Dallas better start fast, because another December swoon is a distinct possibility. The Cowboys missed the playoffs with a 1-3 finish last season, making them 30-43 in December since 1994. This year’s December schedule: vs. Philly, at Cincy, vs. Pittsburgh, vs. New Orleans, at Washington.  The bye comes in Week 5, much earlier than coaches like. The Cowboys will need it for their post-bye gauntlet of four road games in five weeks (at Baltimore, at Carolina, vs. Giants, at Atlanta, at Philly). Dallas does get five of its final seven at home, where it went 5-3 SU but 2-6 ATS last season.

CLEVELAND BROWNS
2011 record: 4-12 SU, 8-8 ATS
Odds to win Super Bowl: 151.00

Poor Cleveland. The Browns failed to trade up for Robert Griffin III, then got dealt the third-toughest schedule and hardest for a non-playoff team. Their opponents went 135-121 (.527) last year. Cleveland faces only four teams that had losing records. One of those is Washington (Dec. 16), the team that outmaneuvered the Browns and traded for the No. 2 pick.  Picture RGIII, with nearly a full season under his belt, against battered and weak-armed Colt McCoy.  The Browns also play the Super Bowl champs for the fourth time in five years.


 

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Posted by BoneDoc32
1 year ago

From a different perspective I think Philly got screwed. They play four teams coming off byes. Then they also play Dallas week after Thanksgiving. And when they play Dallas, Eagles will also be coming off a Monday niter.
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Posted by BoneDoc32
1 year ago

"From a different perspective I think Philly got screwed. They play four teams coming off byes. Then they also play Dallas week after Thanksgiving. And when they play Dallas, Eagles will also be coming off a Monday niter. "

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Sports Betting Headlines »

Featured Free Play
MLB: Minnesota vs. Detroit
Pick:
Detroit
Start:
May 25, 2013 - 4:08 PM
Capper:
Will Rogers
Offered at:
bet365 @ -1.5 -105 Detroit
Analysis:

It's two teams going different ways when Minnesota and Detroit play Saturday afternoon and with the price being where it is, I'll be selecting the Tigers on the Run Line (-1.5).  Detroit has taken the first two games of this series, 7-6 and 6-0.  I envision the game today playing out like yesterday's where Anibal Sanchez took a no-hitter into the 9th inning.  Minnesota has now lost 10 in a row.

Here are my keys to the game:

1.  Recent Results - While the Twins have been losing, the Tigers have been winning - four straight, in fact. Detroit is averaging over seven runs per game during this time frame.  Meanwhile, Minnesota is struggling badly.  Four players in yesterday's lineup came in batting .212 or worse on the season.  Any time a team has lost 10 games in a row, there's a multitude of things going wrong. Such is the case with the Twins right now.

2.  Homefield Advantage - The Tigers continue to get the job done at Comerica Park this season.  They are 15-7 at home and averaging more than six runs per game there. Obviously, it's going to be tough for Minnesota to match that kind of production.

3. X-Factor - The Tigers have a deep rotation and after having to deal with Sanchez yesterday, the Twins face Doug Fister Saturday afternoon.  Fister threw his own complete game shutout against Minnesota the last time he faced them, which was last September. He's a perfect 4-0 at home this season with a 3.00 ERA. 

Selection:  This is a Run Line Play (-1.5) on the Detroit Tigers (1*).

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