2012 NFL Schedule: Mediocre Teams Crippled by Brutal Schedule

When you're a mediocre team, your strength of schedule for the coming season should reflect your draft position.

Unfortunately for some teams, this is not the case, and they are going to have to make significant strides to make up for what the football gods have cursed them with this season.

If you're a fan of these teams, expect the worst...then you won't be disappointed if they tank. 

3. Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings went 3-13 last season. Now they have to face a strength of schedule of .512. They face the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers twice each. They also face the San Francisco 49ers.

Christian Ponder better develop quickly, that's all I gotta say.

2. St. Louis Rams

The Rams, coming off of a 2-14 season, have enough problems as it is. Now the NFL hands them a strength of schedule of .523, and they have a beast on their hands. In 2012, the Rams face the 49ers, Packers, Lions, Bears, New York Jets and New England Patriots. Good luck, guys. 

1. Cleveland Browns

Coming off of a 4-12 season, the Browns have been burdened with a strength of schedule of .527, third-highest in the NFL. They play the Baltimore Ravens twice, the Cincinnati Bengals twice, the Pittsburgh Steelers twice, the defending champion New York Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Diego Chargers. They also face the Denver Broncos, complete with Peyton Manning, and the Washington Redskins, who will likely draft Baylor star Robert Griffin III. This is further proof that the Browns franchise is cursed.