opcorn2 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
A look at the most difficult schedules in 2011 (based on opponents' 2010 record).
<TABLE><THEAD><TR><TH>Team</TH><TH>Combined win-loss record</TH><TH>Percentage</TH></TR></THEAD><TBODY><TR class=last><TD>1. Carolina Panthers</TD><TD>142-114-0</TD><TD>.555</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>2. Buffalo Bills</TD><TD class=alt-bg>137-119-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.535</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>3t. New York Jets*</TD><TD>133-123-0</TD><TD>.520</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>3t. Indianapolis Colts*</TD><TD class=alt-bg>133-123-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.520</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>3t. Jacksonville Jaguars</TD><TD>133-123-0</TD><TD>.520</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>3t. Kansas City Chiefs*</TD><TD class=alt-bg>133-123-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.520</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>3t. San Diego Chargers</TD><TD>133-133-0</TD><TD>.520</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>3t. Denver Broncos</TD><TD class=alt-bg>133-123-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.520</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>3t. Detroit Lions</TD><TD>133-123-0</TD><TD>.520</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>10t. Miami Dolphins</TD><TD class=alt-bg>132-124-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.516</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>10t. Houston Texans</TD><TD>132-124-0</TD><TD>.516</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>10t. Minnesota Vikings</TD><TD class=alt-bg>132-124-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.516</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>13t. Green Bay Packers*</TD><TD>130-126-0</TD><TD>.508</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>13t. New Orleans Saints*</TD><TD class=alt-bg>130-126-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.508</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>15t. New England Patriots*</TD><TD>129-127-0</TD><TD>.504</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>15t. Philadelphia Eagles*</TD><TD class=alt-bg>129-127-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.504</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>15t. Dallas Cowboys</TD><TD>129-127-0</TD><TD>.504</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers</TD><TD class=alt-bg>127-129-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.496</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>19t. Cleveland Browns</TD><TD>126-130-0</TD><TD>.492</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>19t. Oakland Raiders</TD><TD class=alt-bg>126-130-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.492</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>19t. New York Giants</TD><TD>126-130-0</TD><TD>.492</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>19t. Atlanta Falcons*</TD><TD class=alt-bg>126-130-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.492</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>23t. Tennessee Titans</TD><TD>125-131-0</TD><TD>.488</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>23t. Chicago Bears*</TD><TD class=alt-bg>125-131-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.488</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>23t. Seattle Seahawks*</TD><TD>125-131-0</TD><TD>.488</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>26. St. Louis Rams</TD><TD class=alt-bg>122-134-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.477</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>27t. Pittsburgh Steelers*</TD><TD>121-135-0</TD><TD>.473</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>27t. Cincinnati Bengals</TD><TD class=alt-bg>121-135-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.473</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>27t. Washington Redskins</TD><TD>121-135-0</TD><TD>.473</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>30. San Francisco 49ers</TD><TD class=alt-bg>119-137-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.465</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD>31. Baltimore Ravens*</TD><TD>117-139-0</TD><TD>.457</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD class=alt-bg>32. Arizona Cardinals</TD><TD class=alt-bg>113-143-0</TD><TD class=alt-bg>.441</TD></TR><TR class=last><TD colSpan=4>Source: ESPN Stats & Information | *Reached playoffs in 2010 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Thanks to the schedule, the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers have great chances of returning to the playoffs as high seeds. Like the NFC East teams, the Ravens and Steelers have the opportunity to go 3-1 or 4-0 against NFC West teams. Over the past three years, there have been four 4-0s and two 3-1s by the top two finishers in divisions playing the NFC West. The Ravens have a particular advantage this year. Their .457 schedule (117-139) is the second-easiest in football. With the Cincinnati Bengals possibly down with Carson Palmer not expected back after a 4-12 season and the Cleveland Browns in transition, the Ravens have a great chance to go 4-2 or 5-1 in the AFC North. Baltimore's AFC South schedule isn't that tough, either, with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans in transition and the Houston Texans trying to adjust to a 3-4 defense.
The Steelers went 12-4 against a .500 schedule last year and face a .473 campaign this season, tied for the fourth-easiest schedule this season.
