2013 NFL Schedule: Team-by-Team Strength of Schedule Breakdown

The Denver Broncos aren't going anywhere.

John Fox's crew may have been eliminated early from the 2012 NFL playoffs after a dominant regular season, but according to NFL.com's strength of schedule for next season, they have the cushiest road back to the promised land. 

All three other AFC West teams join Denver in having one of the five easiest schedules, while the Indianapolis Colts round out the top five. 

Cam Newton, meanwhile, will have the unfortunate task of leading the Carolina Panthers against the most brutal schedule in the league. The Panthers' opponents in 2013 combined for a 138-116-2 record this season. 

While much will change between now and the start of the 2013 regular season, it's still intriguing to evaluate how each team stacks up against other. Here's a look.

Team	SOS	Opponent Combined 2012 record
Carolina Panthers	.543	138-116-2
Detroit Lions	.539	138-118-0
New Orleans Saints	.539	137-117-2
St. Louis Rams	.539	137-117-2
Baltimore Ravens	.535	137-117-2
Green Bay Packers	.533	136-119-1
Arizona Cardinals	.520	131-121-4
Miami Dolphins	.520	133-123-0
San Francisco 49ers	.520	132-122-2
Minnesota Vikings	.516	132-124-0
Seattle Seahawks	.516	130-122-4
Cincinnati Bengals	.508	130-126-0
Jacksonville Jaguars	.508	129-125-2
New England Patriots	.508	130-126-0
Atlanta Falcons	.504	128-126-0
Chicago Bears	.502	128-127-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	.500	127-127-2
Washington Redskins	.498	127-128-1
New York Jets	.496	127-129-0
Philadelphia Eagles	.496	127-129-0
Cleveland Browns	.492	126-130-0
Pittsburgh Steelers	.492	126-130-0
Tennessee Titans	.488	124-130-2
New York Giants	.480	123-133-0
Dallas Cowboys	.480	121-134-1
Buffalo Bills	.473	121-135-0
Houston Texans	.473	120-134-2
Kansas City Chiefs	.473	121-135-0
Oakland Raiders	.469	120-136-0
Indianapolis Colts	.461	117-137-2
San Diego Chargers	.457	117-139-0
Denver Broncos	.430	110-146-0

Other Teams of Note

Baltimore Ravens

A repeat won't be easy for the Baltimore Ravens. The Super Bowl champs not only have to face the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals twice each, but they also have the fifth-most difficult schedule overall. 

Seattle Seahawks

The young 'Hawks, who surged at the end of 2012, are a popular "under-the-radar" Super Bowl pick for next year, but getting to the playoffs won't be an easy task. They are in a dangerous, still-improving NFC West division and have the 11th-toughest schedule in the league.

Philadelphia Eagles

Chip Kelly's first NFL season will be placed under a microscope, and he'll go up against an average schedule. The Eagles' 2013 opponents went a combined 127-129 in 2012. Anything is possible in the NFC East, and Philadelphia has a level playing field to make its case next year.

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