Ranking Every NFL Team by Strength of Schedule

With NFL offseason action at a bit of a standstill, now is a perfect time to look ahead at the slate of meaningful games to come.

In a little more than two months, the defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots will host the Pittsburgh Steelers to kick off the 2015 regular season. It will be only the first of 256 games to be played over a 17-week span in order to determine the ensuing playoff field.

An awful lot can happen between now and Sept. 10 for all 32 NFL franchises, but the one thing we know for certain is what each team's regular-season schedule is going to look like.

Over the next 32 pages, we are going to take a quick look at every NFL team's 2015 schedule, examine its positives and negatives and try to predict some realistic expectations. Teams will be ranked in order of their strength of schedule (based on opponents' combined 2014 winning percentages) from the easiest to the most difficult.

32. Atlanta Falcons

John Bazemore/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .409

The Good

The Atlanta Falcons have the league's easiest schedule this season, which is definitely a good thing for a team looking to rebound from last year's 6-10 campaign.

What makes Atlanta's schedule really appealing is the fact that a 7-8-1 record was good enough to win the division a season ago. Though this sort of record isn't likely to claim the division title in 2015, the Falcons have to go into the season with the belief that they can realistically compete for it.  

Keeping pace in the NFC South will be more important for Atlanta than besting opponents from the NFC East and AFC South this season. This is why it helps the Falcons tremendously to finish the regular season with back-to-back home division games.

The Bad

The opening month-and-a-half isn't particularly easy for the Falcons. Atlanta will have to face off against the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans over the first four weeks. The first divisional game will come in Week 6 on Thursday night at the New Orleans Saints.

The Bottom Line

If the Falcons get off to a slow start in the regular season, it could be difficult to recover in the divisional race. However, this is a very forgiving schedule for the Falcons, and it shouldn't be too surprising to see the team back in the playoff hunt because of it. 

31. Indianapolis Colts

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .417

The Good

When you're a defending division champion and you're facing the league's second-easiest schedule, you usually feel pretty good about your ability to repeat.

The Indianapolis Colts have been the best team in the AFC South by far in recent years and should feel great about their chances against divisional foes and against the NFC South and AFC East.

A relatively soft final month (at the Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins, at home against the Houston Texans and Tennessee Titans) should allow the Colts to finish strong. 

The Bad

Though the Colts' 2015 schedule isn't particularly daunting overall, there is one tough stretch to come just before the Week 10 bye. Beginning on October 18, Indianapolis will have tough games against the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers and Denver Broncos. 

Even in this more difficult stretch, the Colts catch a break from the schedule-makers. Three of the four games will be at home.

The Bottom Line

Unless one of the other AFC South teams manages to surprise this season, the Colts should have little difficulty again winning the division. The Texans (9-7 a year ago) may pose a threat if their muddied quarterback situation becomes clearer, but Indianapolis is still the most complete team in the division at this point.

30. Houston Texans

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .417

The Good

The Texans narrowly missed the postseason with a 9-7 record last year and should be in position to make another run at the playoffs in 2015. The fact that Houston's schedule is only slightly more difficult that Indianapolis' (opponents went 106-148-2 last year vs. 106-149-1 for the Colts) should help the team keep pace with its division rival for much of the season.

The Texans play two of their first three games at home, which could help the team get off to a fast start in what will likely be a two-team race for the AFC South title. 

The Bad

Though Houston faces an easy schedule in terms of overall strength, the final month-and-a-half will be far from a cakewalk. The Texans have to play the Saints, Patriots and Buffalo Bills before finishing the season with three consecutive divisional contests. 

The Bottom Line

This team was good enough to win nine games a year ago but still has a monumental question mark at quarterback. If either Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett can answer that question, Houston can take advantage of another easy schedule and make some noise within the division.

However, the Texans are not widely viewed as a real threat in the AFC. 

"The Texans closed the gap in the standings last season," NFL Media's Gregg Rosenthal recently wrote. "But they are still in transition under coach Bill O' Brien. They are closer to Jacksonville and Tennessee than being a true title contender."

Expect Houston to loom large in the standings but not in the Super Bowl conversation. 

29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Chris O'Meara/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .425

The Good

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers hope they have found their franchise quarterback in this year's first overall draft pick, Jameis Winston. Winston will get to begin his NFL career with a very forgiving schedule. Only four of his first 16 contests will come against opponents who posted a winning record in 2014.

This could mean a positive first year for Winston, and the Buccaneers will have an opportunity to finish it off strong. Three of the team's final five games will come at home, and three of the final five will come against NFC South rivals.

The Bad

There is only one part of Tampa's 2015 schedule that appears particularly intimidating. This is a three-week stretch in November, when the team must face the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles and the Colts. Two of the three games will be on the road.

The Bottom Line

Because of a soft overall schedule and because of the relative uncertainty of the division, the Buccaneers may actually have a chance to make some real noise in the NFC South this season. A lot is going to depend on Winston's development, of course, but the hurdles for this team could certainly be bigger. 

28. New Orleans Saints

Brian Blanco/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .429

The Good

The Saints are looking to bounce back from last year's 7-9 disappointment and could hardly have asked for a better opportunity to do so from the schedule-makers.

New Orleans will draw some tough competition from the AFC South and NFC East this year but will only play six games against opponents who posted a record above .500 in 2014. The Saints will also enjoy the benefit of not playing back-to-back road games at any point in the entire season.

The Bad

The only really challenging stretch is likely to come between Weeks 3 and 5, when the Saints will face the Panthers, Cowboys and Eagles. Carolina and Dallas both went to the playoffs in 2014, and Philadelphia narrowly missed with a 10-6 record. Two of the three games will also be away from home.

The Bottom Line

We watched the Saints make some impactful roster changes this offseason, such as the trading of tight end Jimmy Graham and wide receiver Kenny Stills. However, this team is likely to at least have a chance in the NFC South as long as head coach Sean Payton and quarterback Drew Brees have command of the offense. 

The fact that the Saints will avoid any lengthy road trips this season is extremely beneficial, as this is a team that traditionally plays its best football in the Superdome.

Expect the new-look Saints to be right back in the thick of the NFC South race in 2015. 

27. Carolina Panthers

Bob Leverone/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .434

The Good

The Carolina Panthers open the season with an opportunity to gain some early steam. Three of the team's first four opponents (the Jaguars, Saints and Buccaneers) were losing teams in 2014.

A similar stretch of games comes at the end of the regular season, as none of the final five games will come against a team that had a winning record a season ago.

The Bad

Just because Carolina has favorable bookends to its season doesn't mean there won't be some challenges along the way. The month immediately following their Week 5 bye has the Panthers facing off against the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, the Colts and the Green Bay Packers. 

These four teams were a combined 45-19 a season ago. 

The Bottom Line

The Panthers took home the NFC South crown last season with a 7-8-1 record and will have a very good chance to win it again in 2015. The tricky part will be overcoming an early bye week (Week 5) and the tough grouping of games that follows.

If Carolina can survive the first half of the season with a favorable record, coasting to a division title may be possible. The Panthers will only face one opponent in the final eight weeks who had a winning record last season. 

26. Tennessee Titans

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .435

The Good

The Titans open the season with back-to-back road games, but they come against the lowly Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns. If the Titans and new quarterback Marcus Mariota can manage to upset the Colts in Week 3, they could realistically be 3-0 at the bye.

Another favorable stretch begins in Week 11, when the Titans will play two games against the Jaguars with a contest against the Oakland Raiders mixed in.

The Bad

Though the opening and middle portions of the Titans' schedule feature some winnable matchups, there will be no such luck at the end of it. 

Tennessee's final three contests come against the New England Patriots, the Texans and the Colts. All three teams posted winning records in 2014.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the Titans are looking at a schedule that should inspire confidence. Most of the matchups appear winnable, and there should be plenty of opportunities to scoop up some momentum before the tough final stretch. 

However, we're still talking about a team that only managed to win two games a season ago. No one should expect the Titans to go from walking disaster to title contender based on scheduling alone.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars

John Raoux/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .463

The Good

Because the Jaguars get to play the division rival Titans twice and pull opponents from the NFC South, the overall strength of Jacksonville's schedule is weak.

However, the only really favorable stretch comes immediately after the team's Week 8 bye. The Jaguars will have a "road" game in London against the Buffalo Bills—then a tough game against the Baltimore Ravens will be followed by two games against the Titans and a home game against the San Diego Chargers.

The Bad

The opening stretch of this schedule is brutal. The Jaguars face host the Panthers and the Miami Dolphins before heading on a three-week road trip. The first two of those road games come against the Patriots and the Colts.

Jacksonville will also have back-to-back road games two more times before the end of the regular season.

The Bottom Line

The strength of Jacksonville's schedule may not seem too challenging, but the NFL schedule-makers did not do the Jaguars any favors. There really doesn't seem to be a stretch where this team can go on a winning streak and gain some notable momentum. 

Jacksonville should post a better record this year than it did in 2014, but contending for a playoff spots feels most unlikely. 

24. Dallas Cowboys

LM Otero/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .467

The Good

The Cowboys shouldn't have too much trouble picking up some early-season momentum. The team opens at home against the New York Giants and will also play the Falcons and Saints within the first month of the season.

Dallas will also get to finish the season against the Washington Redskins, a team that won just four games a season ago. Only one of the Cowboys' road games will come against a team that made the playoffs last season.

The Bad

Dallas doesn't have one especially difficult stretch on the calendar, but there are a few tough matchups on the schedule. The Patriots (Week 5), Seahawks (Week 8) and Packers (Week 14) are all games that could prove difficult to win.

The Bottom Line

Dallas does draw a handful of tough opponents. However, there are enough winnable games here for the team to again compete for a playoff spot as long as the Cowboys can win the majority of their games within the NFC East.

I would be more worried about the departure of running back DeMarco Murray than the upcoming schedule as they relate to the Cowboys' playoff chances. 

23. Philadelphia Eagles

Matt Rourke/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .475

The Good

The Eagles will also have an opportunity to snatch up some momentum early in the regular season. Philadelphia opens the season on Monday night against the Falcons and also has favorable games against the New York Jets, the Washington Redskins, the Saints and the New York Giants within the first five weeks.

The Eagles will then get a chance to finish strong with winnable division games against the Giants and Redskins to close the season. 

The Bad

Though the opening month appears favorable for Philadelphia, three of the team's first four games are going to come on the road. There is also a tough stretch beginning in November that sees the Eagles battle the Cowboys, Dolphins, Lions and Patriots within a five-week span.

The Bottom Line

As far as schedules go, the Eagles seem to have flown into the middle ground. The play (and health) of new quarterback Sam Bradford is going to define this season more than the schedule.

If Bradford plays well, there will be plenty of opportunities for the football world to take notice. The Eagles are currently scheduled for five prime-time games and a Thanksgiving matchup with the Lions.

22. New England Patriots

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .477

The Good

The Patriots' 2015 schedule really isn't as forgiving as one might think, considering opponents combined to win less than 50 percent of their games last season. 

However, there are a few games that should be easily winnable for the defending Super Bowl champions on the calendar. These include games against the Titans, Jaguars and against Washington.

At this point, a prime-time game against Peyton Manning and the Broncos almost feels like a favorable matchup for New England, even if it'll play in Denver.

The Bad

The Patriots may have to play the first month of the season without star quarterback Tom Brady, If so, the team could easily drop games against the Steelers, Bills and Cowboys at the beginning of the year. New England will also have to contend with a ridiculously early Week 4 bye and a Week 6 game in Indianapolis.

The Patriots also face a tough stretch starting at the end of November. Beginning in Week 12, the team will face the Broncos, Eagles and Texans with two of the three games being on the road. 

New England finishes the season with back-to-back divisional games on the road.

The Bottom Line

Even though the Patriots could have asked for an easier schedule here and may be without their quarterback for four weeks, this is a team that has not had a losing record since 2000. Expect New England to do enough to earn a playoff spot once again.

T20. New York Giants

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .478

The Good

The best part of the Giants' 2015 schedule is that it provides an opportunity to finish out the season strong. A late Week 11 bye will give the team rest for a stretch run, and only one of New York's final six opponents had a winning record last year.

The Giants will only play one of their road games this season against a team that made the postseason in 2014. 

The Bad

Finishing the season strong is possible, but the Giants could struggle to get off to a fast start.

New York will face the Cowboys twice as well as the Bills and Eagles within the first seven weeks of the season. The Giants will also have to deal with the Patriots the week before the bye.

The Bottom Line

For New York, a lot of this season is going to hinge on the play of the defense (ranked 29th, allowing 375.8 yards per game last season) and the team's fortunes in the NFC East. The Giants were just 204 in divisional play a season ago.

If the Giants can keep pace in the division early this season, the favorable ending schedule could allow this team to make a strong playoff push.

T20. Washington Redskins

Evan Vucci/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .478

The Good

Washington is looking to rebound from last year's 4-12 debacle and will have an excellent opportunity to do so early in the season.

Only one of Washington's first seven opponents (the Eagles) earned a winning record in 2014, and none of them had a playoff appearance. It should also help that only two of Washington's road games will come against teams that had a winning record in 2014.

The Bad

The opening slate might be favorable for the Redskins, but the back end of the schedule is not. 

Over the final nine weeks of the season, Washington will play five teams that participated in last year's playoffs. The final two games of the season will be divisional road contests.

The Bottom Line

If Washington cannot get off to a fast start during the easier early stretch, this season could quickly spiral out of control. 

Even if the Redskins do start strong, it is hard to imagine this team making a strong postseason push. It is likely more important than anything else this season for Washington to figure out if the combination of quarterback Robert Griffin III and head coach Jay Gruden has any real future.

19. Buffalo Bills

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .486

The Good

Only one of Buffalo's road games this season (against New England) comes against a team that made the playoffs in 2014. The Bills also get to finish the season with two consecutive home games.

Unfortunately, this is about as good as things get for the Bills, who won nine games a year ago.

The Bad

The Bills open against the Colts, Patriots and Dolphins, which could easily translate to a 0-3 start if the team isn't careful. A grueling six-week stretch also follows the team's bye week.

Beginning in Week 9, the Bills will face the Dolphins, Jets, Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, Texans and Eagles. Four of these games will be on the road, and only one (New York) will be against a team that had a losing record last season.

The Bottom Line

The trick here is for Buffalo to find some sort of consistency at the quarterback position. The Bills had the league's fourth-best defense (18.1 points per game allowed) last season and added a ton of offensive firepower during the offseason.

If EJ Manuel or another quarterback can provide a steady presence under center, the Bills should be a playoff team no matter how challenging the schedule appears. 

18. New York Jets

Julio Cortez/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .488

The Good

The New York Jets get to open the season against the Cleveland Browns, who haven't won an opener since 2004. This gives the team a chance to grab some momentum before heading to face the Colts in Week 2.

The Jets also get a favorable stretch after the Week 5 bye. Winnable games against Washington, the Oakland Raiders and Jacksonville surround a critical Week 7 game against the Patriots.

The Bad

Though the Jets open against the long-beleaguered Browns, the next three games are going to be rough. The Jets will have to play the Colts, Eagles and Miami Dolphins before heading into an early bye week.

There will also be a challenging three-game stretch to end the season, with road games against the Cowboys and Bills sandwiching a home game against New England.

The Jets will play in four prime-time games, which is going to keep the spotlight on new head coach Todd Bowles and whichever quarterback wins the starting job. 

The Bottom Line

The Jets took some big steps to improve the defense this offseason (such as bringing back Darrelle Revis), and the defense wasn't even a weak point in 2014. According to Pro Football Focus, the Jets fielded the fifth-best overall defense last year. 

This, combined with a favorable schedule, is why the Jets can become a playoff team in 2015. However, New York is going to have to get some consistency out of Geno Smith, Ryan Fitzpatrick or another quarterback this season in order to do so. 

17. Miami Dolphins

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .492

The Good

The first month of Miami's schedule is set up to give the team a chance to find its rhythm before a Week 5 bye. Though the Dolphins open with back-to-back road games, they are very winnable contests against Washington and Jacksonville.

Miami then plays at home against the Bills and Jets.

The Bad

Though Miami faces an easier overall schedule than many other teams, there is still plenty of reason to be concerned. Only six of the Dolphins' 16 games will be against teams that produced a losing record in 2014.

There is also a tough stretch that begins in late October. Starting with the Titans in Week 6, the Dolphins will play five of seven games on the road. The two home games in that stretch (Houston and Dallas) will be challenging, and the away games include the Patriots, Bills and Eagles.

Miami finishes the season with critical conference matchups against the Colts and the Patriots 

The Bottom Line

A very challenging midseason set of games is going to make it difficult for the Dolphins to carry momentum into the back end of the season. 

The Dolphins appear to be an improved team on paper, but they might not be good enough to take on this schedule and come out as a playoff team. 

16. San Diego Chargers

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .518

The Good

Because the Chargers draw teams from the AFC and NFC Norths this season (five combined playoff teams in 2014), there doesn't appear to be any particularly soft portion of their upcoming schedule.

San Diego does get to open the season at home and will get favorable matchups against the likes of Cleveland, Jacksonville and Oakland this season. However, there is no extended stretch that isn't going to be challenging in 2015.

The Bad

Only six of San Diego's 16 games this season will come against teams that posted a losing record a year ago. The Chargers will also have to contend with a back end of the season loaded with divisional games.

The Chargers have a Week 10 bye followed by five divisional contests in a seven-week span. In that stretch, San Diego will play the Chiefs and the Broncos twice apiece. The two AFC West foes combined for a 21-11 record last season.

If the Chargers are going to make a push for a division title in 2015, it is going to come after the bye week,

The Bottom Line

The Chargers are one of those teams that keeps hovering around the edge of real contention. The team has experienced just one losing season since 2005 and has gone 9-7 in back-to-back campaigns.

This could be the year that San Diego finally takes that next step and makes a run at the Super Bowl, but a daunting late schedule isn't going to make things easy. 

15. Detroit Lions

Tom Lynn/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .527

The Good

Detroit managed to reach the postseason last year but is still looking for its first playoff victory since the 1991 season.

The Lions will benefit from having two separate three-game homestands this season. They should also benefit from having a well-timed bye week that splits their season perfectly in half.

Finishing the season with games against the Chicago Bears and San Francisco 49ers could allow Detroit to make a late-season push if necessary. The two combined to win just 13 games in 2014 and are dealing with coaching turnover this offseason.

The Bad

The opening stretch of Detroit's schedule isn't pretty. The Lions play their first two games on the road against the Chargers and Minnesota Vikings before heading home to play the Broncos. The next two games then come at Seattle and against Arizona.

A stretch after the bye week is also going to provide a big test. In a four-week period, Detroit will face the Packers twice and the Eagles. 

The Bottom Line

This is a fairly taxing schedule for the Lions, who are looking to get back to the postseason for a second consecutive year. However, the real challenge will be winning games within the NFC North. This will be more important for Detroit's playoff chances than beating opponents from the NFC or AFC West.

Knocking off the Packers could prove especially troublesome.

14. Green Bay Packers

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014):  .529

The Good

The Packers get to kick off their 2015 season against the Chicago Bears, who won just one division game in 2014. The team also gets to finish the season against the Vikings, who (you guessed it) also won only a single NFC North game in 2014.

This doesn't mean the Packers are going to have a free victory at either end of their season. However, it helps Green Bay immensely that some of its more favorable matchups come against teams in its own division.

Eight of Green Bay's games are against teams with a losing record in 2014. Four of them come against the Bears and Vikings.

The Bad

Green Bay faces some stiff competition outside of the NFC North. Teams like the Seahawks, Chiefs, Chargers and Broncos are likely to test the Packers early in the season, while the Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals are on the docket for December.

If either the Vikings or the Bears manage to take a big leap in 2015, this schedule suddenly looks a whole lot more difficult.

The Bottom Line

The Packers are just too talented to miss out on the postseason this year even if they face one of the more difficult schedules in the NFL.

13. Chicago Bears

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .531

The Good

If the Bears can survive an early-season assault, the team could be positioned to make a surprise playoff push at the back end of the season.

The team's Week 7 bye is favorable, and the Bears have an enticing December slate. Starting in Week 13, Chicago will battle the 49ers, Redskins, Vikings and Buccaneers. None of these four teams won more than eight games a season ago.

The Bad

December may be kind to Chicago, but the early gamut likely will not. The Bears open with two home games, but they come against the Packers and the Cardinals. Their next contest is on the road in Seattle.

In all, four of Chicago's first six games are against teams that appeared in last year's playoffs. Six of the first eight games will be against teams that took home a winning record in 2014.

The Bottom Line

This season is likely to be about quarterback Jay Cutler more than it is the schedule. If Cutler can settle down, stop the Captain Apathy act and play quality football, the Bears can be a real threat in the NFC North. Remember, he did help lead Chicago to a 10-6 record in 2012.

12. Minnesota Vikings

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .539

The Good

There isn't a lot to like about Minnesota's schedule in 2015, but if we're looking for a bright spot, it's that the Vikings only have back-to-back road games once this season. The two-game road trip comes directly after the bye week. 

The Bad

Unfortunately, Minnesota's bye week comes awfully early in the season (Week 5), and it comes in the middle of a rigorous initial stretch. The Vikings open the season on the road in San Francisco and then match up against five straight opponents who had a winning record in 2014.

In total, Minnesota will play nine games against teams that had a winning record last season. Four of the team's away games are against such opponents.

If the Vikings manage to survive the challenges of the regular season, they will then have to face the Packers in the season finale. If a division title or a playoff spot is on the line in Week 17, it could spell trouble for Minnesota.

The Bottom Line

With quarterback Teddy Bridgewater another year older and with Adrian Peterson back in the lineup, the Vikings could very well be a surprise team in 2015. However, they will have to learn how to win in the NFC North in order to do so. 

The Vikings have won just three divisional games over the past two seasons.

11. Baltimore Ravens

Nick Wass/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .539

The Good

Technically, the Ravens face a slightly tougher schedule (opponents went 137-117-2 last season) than the Vikings (138-118) do. However, Baltimore's schedule is actually more alluring in many ways.

For starters, the Ravens get to have two separate three-game homestands during the season. The Ravens also get to play at home for five of the final eight contests.

A Week 9 bye splits the Ravens' season into two perfect halves.

The Bad

The Ravens get to play five home games in the final eight weeks of the season. This, of course, means that they play five of the first eight games on the road.

Though three of the final four games come at home, all four are going to be tough for the Ravens. Baltimore finishes the season against the Seahawks, Chiefs, Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bottom Line

Baltimore has only missed the postseason once over the past seven years, which makes it a little difficult to view an intimidating schedule as more than a nuisance to the Ravens. Part of the reason for this is that Baltimore (3-3 in the division last season) usually manages to hang with the rest of the AFC North.

Winning against the AFC North will be critical in 2015, as the Ravens finish the season against their top two division opponents.  

10. Denver Broncos

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .541

The Good

Even though the Broncos face a tough slate of games this season, there are some bright spots on the schedule. Denver opens the season at home and gets to finish the season with back-to-back home contests.

In fact, four of the Broncos' final six games will be in Denver, where late-season weather can provide one heck of a home-field advantage.

The Bad

There are a lot of quality opponents on this schedule. Of the 16 games Denver will play, 11 will be against teams that notched a winning record last year. 

The Broncos also face four road games in the first six weeks of the season, though two of these games come against the lowly Raiders and Browns. A rugged November features games against the Colts, Chiefs, Packers and Patriots.

The Bottom Line

It will be interesting to see if new head coach Gary Kubiak's system helps quarterback Peyton Manning stay fresh late in the season when the weather begins to turn in Denver.

"Running the ball has always been a strong play of our offense and being physical and running play-action pass off those runs." Broncos tight end Owen Daniels said of Kubiak's offense, per Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post. We’ll try to continue to do that."

If a balanced offense helps Manning overcome Father Time again in 2015, this could be a very difficult team to best down the stretch.

9. Cleveland Browns

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .543

The Good

The Browns have a very difficult overall schedule in 2015, but the team may be able to ease into things. Not one of Cleveland's first three opponents (Jets, Titans and Raiders) managed to win more than four games in 2014.

This could give the Browns some early momentum, which they will definitely need later in the season. 

A Week 11 bye will give the Browns a chance to get healthy late in the season. Four of the final six games will be at home. 

The Bad

After Week 3, the Browns will only face one team (St. Louis Rams) that posted a losing record in 2014. This means that 12 of Cleveland's 16 games will come against opponents coming off a season with at least eight victories.

The stretch after the Week 11 bye is especially ugly. Beginning in Week 12, the Browns will face the Ravens, Bengals, 49ers, Seahawks, Chiefs and Steelers. 

The Bottom Line

On paper, the Browns are a better team than the one that went 7-9 a year ago. However, last year's schedule (strength of .465) was a lot easier, and it's difficult to believe that Josh McCown is the quarterback to finally make this team a contender.

Cleveland should feel lucky if it can manage to equal last year's record. 

T7. Kansas City Chiefs

Orlin Wagner/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .545

The Good

If the Chiefs can avoid an ugly start to the season, things could fall into place for a strong late-season push. Three of the team's final five games will be against teams that posted a losing record last year, and the Chiefs end with home games against the Browns and Raiders.

The Week 9 bye is positioned perfectly at the halfway point in the season.

The Bad

The problem for Kansas City is that the start to the season isn't pretty. The Chiefs begin on the road in Houston and then face the Broncos, Packers and Bengals to finish the first month. These four teams were a combined 43-20-1 in 2014.

Another difficult string of games comes right after the bye week. Beginning in Week 10, the Chiefs will battle the Broncos, Chargers and Bills. Two of the three games will be on the road.

The Bottom Line

Kansas City came very close to reaching the playoffs a year ago and should be in the thick of the AFC West race again this season. The tough part will be keeping pace with the Broncos and the Chargers. Like Kansas City, San Diego finished with nine wins a year ago. 

T7. Oakland Raiders

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .545

The Good

Realistically, the Raiders have a tougher schedule than the Chiefs because there doesn't appear to be a favorable series of games at any point in the season. There are winnable games against teams like the Browns, Jets, Vikings and Titans, but they are spaced out.

Perhaps the best news is that only three of Oakland's road games are against 2014 playoff teams. Oakland also gets to kick things off with two consecutive home games.

The Bad

The Raiders have two home games to start the season, but they come against the Ravens and Bengals, two playoff teams from a year ago. The Raiders also have to deal with an early bye week (Week 6) that comes long before a vicious final stretch.

Over the last five weeks of the season, the Raiders will engage the Chiefs twice and will also battle the Broncos, Packers and Chargers.

The Bottom Line

If the Raiders can pull of a couple of early upsets, there may be enough momentum here to carry Oakland through the middle portion of the season. However, the Raiders are rebuilding with a long-term approach in mind and are probably not equipped to handle a schedule this draining at this point in time. 

Coming away from this schedule with five to seven wins should be seen as a sign of real progress.

6. St. Louis Rams

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .553

The Good

It's going to be a challenging season for the Rams in 2015, but there is one series of very winnable games that comes directly after the team's Week 6 bye.

St. Louis faces the Browns, 49ers, Vikings and Bears after the bye. This Rams also have a winnable game against Washington in Week 2. This means St. Louis could have as many as seven wins before Week 11 if it can pull off a couple of early upsets.

The Bad

Pulling off an early upset ins't going to be an easy task. Four of the Rams' first five games (Seattle, Pittsburgh, Arizona and Green Bay) will be against teams that made the playoffs in 2014. Three of the first five games will be on the road.

The end of the season isn't going to be much easier. Five of the final seven opponents (Baltimore, Cincinnati, Arizona, Detroit and Seattle) were playoff participants earlier this year.

The Bottom Line

If the Rams can get consistently solid quarterback play from newcomer Nick Foles, they could emerge as a surprise playoff team. However, St. Louis will have to win against all of the teams it should beat and pull off a few upsets along the way in order to do so.

5. Arizona Cardinals

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .557

The Good

The Cardinals will face one of the more difficult schedules in the NFL this season, but at least the opening month looks forgiving.

Each of Arizona's first four opponents (the Saints, Bears, 49ers and Rams) posted a losing record in 2014. Three of the first four games will also come at home. This give the Cardinals an excellent opportunity to jump out with a strong start to the season. 

The Bad

Unfortunately, things get a lot more difficult for the Cardinals after the first month.

Arizona will play six of its eight road games in a nine-week span beginning with the Lions in Week 5. The Cardinals then finish with a daunting three-game stretch against the Eagles, Packers and Seahawks.

In total, Arizona will play eight of its games against teams that earned a winning record last year.

The Bottom Line

This is far from the easiest schedule the Cardinals could hope to face. We have to remember, however, that this is a team that managed to win 11 games in 2014 despite losing its top two quarterbacks to injury.

The Cardinals proved they were a mentally tough team a year ago, and that mental toughness should help them overcome a schedule that might make lesser teams tremble. Arizona should be back in the thick of the NFC playoff race again this season.

4. Seattle Seahawks

David Goldman/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .559

The Good

The Seahawks may have the talent to get back to the Super Bowl for a third consecutive season, but the road to doing so is going to be more than a little rocky. 

There is really no easy stretch in Seattle's season, but the team will get to play two of its first three games and four of its first seven games against teams that posted a losing record in 2014.

The Bad

There may not be any easy part of the season for Seattle, but there are certainly some intimidating stretches upcoming. 

The Seahawks will face the Lions, Bengals and Panthers in October and will have to deal with the Cowboys, Cardinals and Steelers in November. All six of these teams appeared in the postseason this past year. In all, nine of Seattle's 16 games will come against 2014 playoff teams.

Seattle will also have to deal with the fact that it opens and closes the season with road divisional contests. 

The Bottom Line

According to Odds Shark, the Packers recently overtook the Seahawks as the favorites to win Super Bowl 50. There is a good reason for this. 

Seattle is going to have to overcome the emotionally draining last-second loss in last year's title game and will also have to overcome an extremely difficult overall schedule. It is hard to bet against the defending NFC champions, but this slate of games could make it difficult for the Seahawks to earn home-field advantage in the postseason.

This, in turn, could make it very hard to get back to the big game one more time. 

3. San Francisco 49ers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .561

The Good

The upcoming schedule for the 49ers looks to be about as much fun as a bad case of chickenpox. There are really no positives to this schedule other than the fact that San Francisco gets to open and finish the season at home.

The Bad

In addition to dealing with the rest of the NFC West in 2015, the 49ers will have to contend with the AFC and NFC North divisions. These two divisions combined to send five teams to the postseason last year. In all, nine of San Francisco's 16 games will come against 2014 playoff participants.

The start to the season is truly uninviting. Within the first month, San Francisco will have to play the Steelers, Cardinals and Packers (34-14 combined record last season) in consecutive weeks.

The 49ers will also have to deal with the fact that they play only one divisional game after Week 12. This severely limits the team's ability to make up ground in the NFC West last in the season.

The Bottom Line

It is going to be very difficult for the 49ers to realistically contend with the likes of Arizona and Seattle within the division this season. Even if the schedule were easier than it is, the team has a new head coach in Jim Tomsula, and it lost a ton of talent to either retirement or free agency in the offseason. 

Equaling last year's 8-8 record would be a win for this team with this schedule. 

2. Cincinnati Bengals

Michael Conroy/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .563

The Good

There aren't many positives in Cincinnati's regular-season schedule, but the spacing of road games is one of them. The Bengals will play back-to-back road games only once (in Weeks 15 and 16) in 2015.

Though the Bengals do have to open the season on the road, they will do so against the woeful Raiders. Oakland was ranked 31st in scoring offense (15.8 points per games) and 32nd in scoring defense (28.2 points per game) a year ago. This should give Cincinnati a prime opportunity to open the year with a 1-0 record.

The Bad

There is plenty to dislike when it comes to Cincinnati's 2015 schedule. The Bengals have to play teams from the AFC West and NFC West in addition to their AFC North foes. Only four of Cincinnati's games will come against opponents who posted a losing record in 2014.

The final month of the season could be especially difficult for the Bengals. The team must play home games against the Steelers and Ravens with two prime-time road games against the Broncos and 49ers sandwiched in between. 

The Bottom Line

The Bengals have lost in the opening round of the playoffs in each of the past four seasons. This is a very, very talented football team, but with this schedule it will be difficult for the Bengals to get another crack at losing in the postseason. 

1. Pittsburgh Steelers

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Combined Opponent Win Percentage (2014): .579

The Good

The Steelers open the season against the Patriots, who may be without quarterback Tom Brady because of suspension. The next two games come at home against the San Francisco 49ers and at the St. Louis Rams, two teams with losing records in 2014. 

Assuming Brady's suspension for his alleged role in the deflated football scandal holds, this makes for a relatively forgiving opening to an otherwise brutal schedule.

The Bad

The final seven weeks of the regular season make for a very rough stretch. The Steelers will face off against all three AFC North rivals (Cleveland twice) as well as the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks. Five of these seven games are against playoff teams from a season ago, and four of the seven will be on the road.

This makes for a daunting finish to the league's toughest schedule as the Steelers try to repeat as division champions.

The Bottom Line

Things are not going to be easy for Pittsburgh, who plays the AFC and NFC West divisions this year.

However, this is a team that Pro Football Focus ranked third overall offensively last season. The Steelers are capable of matching the best teams in a shootout and should again compete for playoff spot if the defense (ranked 18th, allowing 353.4 yards per game last season) can correct the mistakes of 2014.