NFL: Teams With the Hardest Road to Super Bowl 2016

By compiling the combined 2014 regular season records of the opponents on each team’s 2015 schedule, we have determined which NFL teams have the toughest road to Super Bowl 50.

The Atlanta Falcons’ schedule, aided by six games against NFC South teams, came in as the easiest in the league, which is a good thing for a team with a first-time head coach in Dan Quinn. The Falcons are followed by the Indianapolis Colts, who have the second-easiest schedule in the league for the 2015 season despite making it to the AFC Championship Game in 2014.

Surprisingly, the Super Bowl XLIX champion New England Patriots will merely have the 22nd-hardest schedule in 2015. In addition to playing in a weak AFC East division, they were also fortunate enough to draw the AFC South and NFC East on their 2015 slate. On the flip side, teams that are in full-fledged rebuilding mode such as the St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, and Cleveland Browns all have schedules that rank in the top 10 hardest schedules in 2015.

Other teams of note include the Green Bay Packers (14th-hardest schedule), the Denver Broncos (10th-hardest schedule), and the Seattle Seahawks (4th-hardest schedule).

With that, here is a look at how all 32 NFL teams rank in terms of strength of schedule.

32.  Atlanta Falcons

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  104-150-2

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .409

 

31.  Indianapolis Colts

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  106-149-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .417

30.  Houston Texans

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  106-148-2

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .417

29.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  108-146-2

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .425

 

28.  New Orleans Saints

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  109-145-2

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .429

27.  Carolina Panthers

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  111-145

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .434

26.  Tennessee Titans

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  111-144-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .435

25.  Jacksonville Jaguars

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  118-137-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .463

 

24.  Dallas Cowboys

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  119-136-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .467

23.  Philadelphia Eagles

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  121-134-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .475

22.  New England Patriots

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  122-134

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .477

21.  New York Giants

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  122-133-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .478

20.  Washington Redskins

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  122-133-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .478

19.  Buffalo Bills

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  124-131-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .486

18.  New York Jets

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  125-131

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .488

17.  Miami Dolphins

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  126-130

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .492

 

16.  San Diego Chargers

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  132-123-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .518

15.  Detroit Lions

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  135-121

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .527

14.  Green Bay Packers

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  135-120-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .529

13.  Chicago Bears

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  136-120

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .531

12.  Minnesota Vikings

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  138-118

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .539

11.  Baltimore Ravens

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  137-117-2

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .539

10.  Denver Broncos (pictured above)

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  138-117-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .541

9.  Cleveland Browns

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  138-116-2

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .543

 

8.  Kansas City Chiefs

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  139-116-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .545

7.  Oakland Raiders

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  139-116-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .545

6.  St. Louis Rams

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  141-114-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .553

5.  Arizona Cardinals

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  142-113-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .557

4.  Seattle Seahawks

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  142-112-2

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .559

3.  San Francisco 49ers

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  143-112-1

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .561

2.  Cincinnati Bengals

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  144-112

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .563

1.  Pittsburgh Steelers (pictured above)

Combined 2014 Records of 2015 Opponents:  147-107-2

Combined 2014 Winning Percentage of 2015 Opponents:  .579

Please note that this list does not take into account the day of the game or the time of the game in question.