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.