2012 NFL Schedule: Sleeper Teams with Hardest Road to Playoffs

The following sleeper teams are going to have a hard time waking up next season because they are facing a brutal schedule. 

That certainly doesn't mean they can't succeed, it only means it is going to be a long and hard road. Here are the three teams that will be fighting an uphill battle. 

*Strength of schedule is determined by opponents' 2011 record.

Cleveland Browns

After finishing 2011 with a 4-12 record, the Browns are most definitely a sleeper. They also are not without potential. 

This team has a young defense that showed flashes of dominance last season, and they are ready to improve on last year's performance. 

They could make some real noise if they can use the draft to improve an offense that was terrible last season. However, they have too many holes to fill to make a real run at this thing. 

Strength of Schedule: Third toughest

Schedule 

Week 1, 9/9: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET, FOX 

Week 2, 9/16: Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 3, 9/23: Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET,

Week 4, 9/27: Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Network 

Week 5, 10/7: Cleveland Browns vs. New York Giants, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 6, 10/14: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 7, 10/21: Cleveland Browns vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 8, 10/28: San Diego Chargers vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 9, 11/4: Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 10, 11/11: BYE

Week 11, 11/18: Cleveland Browns vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 p.m. ET, FOX

Week 12, 11/25: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 13, 12/2: Cleveland Browns vs. Oakland Raiders, 4:15 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 14, 12/9: Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 15, 12/16: Washington Redskins vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m. ET, CBS 

Week 16, 12/23: Cleveland Browns vs. Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS

Week 17, 12/30: Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Analysis

The Browns are dealt a rough blow right off the bat being in the AFC North. They are the only team in the division that did not make the playoffs last season, and none of those teams figure on taking a step back. 

Out-of-division games against the Eagles, Chargers, Broncos and Giants ensure things won't be much easier for them outside of their conference. 

Prediction: 6-10

Carolina Panthers

The Carolina Panthers finished last season 6-10, and showed serious signs of promise. They won four of their last six games. 

Carolina had a surprisingly explosive offense last season. If they can get a little defense to go with that offense, they can be deadly. And they will need to be to succeed against this schedule. 

Strength of Schedule: Seventh toughest

Schedule 

Week 1, 9/9: Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:15 ET, Fox

Week 2, 9/16: Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints, 1 ET, Fox

Week 3, 9/20 (Thursday): Carolina Panthers vs. New York Giants, 8:20 ET, NFL Network

Week 4, 9/30: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons, 1 ET, Fox

Week 5, 10/7: Carolina Panthers vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:05 ET, Fox

Week 6, 10/14: BYE

Week 7, 10/21: Carolina Panthers vs. Dallas Cowboys, 1 ET, Fox

Week 8, 10/28: Carolina Panthers at Chicago Bears, 1 ET, Fox

Week 9, 11/4: Carolina Panthers at Washington Redskins, 1 ET, Fox

Week 10, 11/11: Carolina Panthers vs. Denver Broncos, 1 ET, CBS

Week 11, 11/18: Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 ET, Fox

Week 12, 11/26 (Monday): Carolina Panthers at Philadelphia Eagles, 8:30 ET, ESPN

Week 13, 12/2: Carolina Panthers at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 ET, Fox

Week 14, 12/9: Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 ET, Fox

Week 15, 12/16: Carolina Panthers at San Diego Chargers, 4:05 ET, Fox

Week 16, 12/23: Carolina Panthers vs. Oakland Raiders, 1 ET, CBS

Week 17, 12/30: Carolina Panthers at New Orleans Saints, 1 ET, Fox 

Analysis

Locked in a division with the Saints and Falcons, the Panthers will be going head-to-head with two playoff teams. 

They also have tough games against the Giants, Bears, Cowboys, Broncos, Eagles and Chargers. There is a lot of offensive firepower on those teams and it will definitely put the Panthers' weak defense to the test. 

I expect the Panthers to make massive upgrades to their defense in the draft, and Cam Newton should be an even better player next season.

Prediction: 8-8

Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals finished last year 8-8 after an impressive late-season run. They won seven out of their last nine games. 

Any team that can go on that kind of run to close out the season has to be considered a threat the following year.

Strength of Schedule: Eighth toughest

Schedule 

Week 1, 9/9: Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 PM EST, Fox

Week 2, 9/16: Arizona Cardinals vs. New England Patriots, 1 PM EST, CBS

Week 3, 9/23: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 PM EST, Fox

Week 4, 9/30: Miami Dolphins vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 PM EST, CBS

Week 5, 10/4: Arizona Cardinals vs. St. Louis Rams, 8:20 PM EST, NFL Network

Week 6, 10/14: Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 PM EST, CBS

Week 7, 10/21: Arizona Cardinals vs. Minnesota Vikings, 1 PM EST, Fox

Week 8, 10/29: San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals, 8:30 PM EST, ESPN

Week 9, 11/4: Arizona Cardinals vs. Green Bay Packers, 1 PM EST, Fox

Week 10, 11/11: BYE

Week 11, 11/18: Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1 PM EST, Fox

Week 12, 11/25: St. Louis Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 PM EST, Fox

Week 13, 12/2: Arizona Cardinals vs. New York Jets, 1 PM EST, Fox

Week 14, 12/9: Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks, 4:15 PM EST, Fox

Week 15, 12/16: Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:05 PM EST, Fox

Week 16, 12/23: Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 PM EST, Fox

Week 17, 12/30: Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers, 4:15 PM EST, Fox

Analysis

The Cardinals will be chasing the dominant 49ers in the NFC West, but they are also going to have to contend with the Seahawks, who ended the season on a similar run as they did. 

Besides the division games, the Cardinals are going to have to deal with the NFC East, and that means matchups with the Patriots and Jets, as well as a Dolphins team that finished last season strong. 

That isn't all either. They also drew matchups with the NFC North, which means games against the likes of the Packers, Lions and Bears. 

Arizona's QB situation is too unsettled to expect them to be able to handle this schedule. They will take a step back. 

Prediction: 6-10