released its schedule on Tuesday for the 2011 season. The schedule release has become one of the benchmark days on the NFL's offseason calendar.
Its the time of the year when fans everywhere pore over the schedule and figure out a way their team can win 13 games; even the fans in Cleveland can find a way to justify a playoff run.
How important is the schedule?
The schedule and strength of opponents is often a barometer of how a team may fare during the season. Examining tough stretches, when the bye hits, how many cold weather games they have to play all will give us insight into what's going to happen next season.
If you look at last year's Super Bowl combatants, you'll see that the Packers and Steelers ended up with the 21st and 22nd hardest schedules in the league.
Now, not to take anything away from two great teams, but you can wonder what would have happened, say if Baltimore (who had the 12th hardest schedule) had an easier schedule. Would they have ended up with home-field advantage when they met Pittsburgh in the playoffs?
Would the Ravens have choked away the second half of that game at home?
We'll never know for sure, but you could make a strong argument that they might have won.
So now that we know when and where every team is going to spend their Sundays this fall, let's look at each team's schedule and their odds of winning the Super Bowl.
The Cardinals saw their two-year reign as NFC West champions end this past season and they head into 2011 with a lot of holes to fill. They still have one of the toughest players to cover inLarry Fitzgeraldbut lack anyone you would even classify as decent to get the ball to him.
They play in the NFC West which helps them with their schedule right off the bat, but it's their out of division schedule which may cause them issues. That being said, Arizona's 2011 opponents had a combined 113-143 record last year, giving Arizona the easiest schedule in 2011.
If Arizona had a stronger team, their odds would be great, but even with the easy schedule, they will struggle.
The Cardinals do not have any prime-time games scheduled in 2011, barring any late-season Sunday Night Football flex games.
They open the season by hosting the Carolina Panthers, which should be a winnable game for them and may be Cam Newton's NFL debut.
Toughest Games:
Week seven and eight may be the toughest stretch for Arizona as they host Pittsburgh and then hit the road to take on Baltimore. Those most likely will be ugly losses.
Potential Wins:
Looking at Arizona's schedule, it's hard to find more than five wins, despite having the league's easiest schedule. The good news for Arizona is that five wins would put them in contention for the NFC West title.
The Falcons are coming off a great regular season that saw them win the NFC South, only to suffer a disappointing home playoff loss to Green Bay. They are a team loaded with good, young players.
Will that be enough to repeat as NFC South Champs and a better playoff result?
The Falcons were tough at home this year, and have been during theMatt Ryanera, and look to gain home field again. That will be tougher to do this year looking at their schedule.
Atlanta's opponents posted a 126-130 record, which is the 20th hardest schedule in the NFL. Last year, they faced a similar strength of schedule, but looking at this year's schedule, there are some rough patches that may pose a problem.
The Falcons are a playoff contender this year, and if they can manage this schedule, they will be at home in January.
Week 5 will be a chance for the Falcons to exact some revenge against Green Bay as they host them in Atlanta for a crucial early Sunday Night Football game.
The Falcons will be featured in prime time three other times, including a Sunday night game against the Eagles, a Thursday night game against the Jaguars and a Monday night tilt against the Saints.
Toughest Games:
The Falcons will have to be flying right out of the gate. Four of their first five games are against playoff teams from last year, and the fifth game is against up and coming Tampa Bay. If they can get through that stretch, they might be in good shape.
Potential Wins:
Atlanta's schedule will easily provide them with 12 to 13 wins this season. Will that be enough to get them home field in the playoffs?
The last time we saw the Ravens, the wheels were falling off in the second half against Pittsburgh in the Playoffs. The Ravens have won a lot of road playoff games in the past couple of seasons, making us wonder what they might be able to accomplish with home playoff games.
We might get to see that this year.
The Ravens' opponents come in at 117-139, which is the 31st hardest schedule.
It looks like the Ravens opponents might be the only ones eating crow this year. With their schedule Baltimore should be one of the AFC front runners.
Perhaps hosting the Steelers in the playoffs will result in a better outcome.
The Ravens aren't fond of Pittsburgh and the feeling is mutual. They get to renew their love in week 1 as the Steelers come to town. The two teams meet again in Pittsburgh, in week 9 on Sunday Night.
The other big AFC match up has the New York Jets, and their mouths, in Baltimore in week 4 for another Sunday night game.
Toughest Games:
When you have the second easiest schedule, you don't have many tough games or stretches. This is the case with Baltimore.
As mentioned, they travel to Pittsburgh in week 9 and have a late season Sunday night game on the west coast against San Diego in week 15. Other than that, it is pretty smooth sailing for the Ravens.
Potential Wins:
With few tough road games, is a 14-win season out of the question? It's within reach as long as they take care of business. Getting to 14 wins would give them home field advantage through out the playoffs, making them Super Bowl contenders.
You almost have to feel sorry for Buffalo. Despite showing some good signs, they are stuck in a division with New England and the Jets.
As if that weren't bad enough, they are then saddled with a schedule full of opponents with a combined record of 137-119, which is the second toughest schedule in 2011.
How can a team trying to rebuild handle that?
What does the league have against the up-staters?
Do the Bills have a shot this year? In a word, no. But, they still have some promising players and a high draft pick to help climb the hill.
The Bills get to relive their Super Bowl nightmares this season with games against the Giants, Redskins and Cowboys. Hopefully everyone will have their helmets on when these games start.
Buffalo gets to host its division rivals, the Miami Dolphins in week 15 which should make for some interesting weather. It's always fun watching warm-weather teams try to deal with the wind and snow.
Toughest Games:
Where to start here? The Bills have the second toughest schedule, so take your pick.
Maybe the toughest stretch will be a three-game road trip in weeks 10-13 against Dallas, Miami and the Jets.
Potential Wins:
The schedule is brutal, and it looks like another lean year up north. The good news is that they may be in the Andrew Luck conversation after what looks like a four-win season.
If the schedule makers have it out for Buffalo, they must really not like Carolina.
The Panthers only won two games last season and have a long way to go to return to their earlier success. With the No. 1 pick this year, many are speculating that they will take Cam Newton, which will be reason enough to watch them this year.
If Newton is the pick, he will get a quick baptism as Carolina has opponents with records of 142-114, which is the hardest schedule in the league.
Could they be looking at the No. 1 pick again in 2012? Will that make Andrew Luck go back to school for another year?
The Panthers do not appear on prime time this season for obvious reasons. If Cam Newton is their guy, he will be on big stages in week two against the world champs and week six in Atlanta.
Toughest Games:
It is tempting to just say the whole season will be tough, and it will but there are stretches that are tougher than others.
Weeks 4-6 will see Carolina on the road against Chicago, home against the Saints and then at Atlanta. That is going to be brutal; hide the women and children.
Potential Wins:
Carolina's two wins last season came against NFC West teams. They are only lucky enough to get one of those teams this year. The Panthers could very easily repeat last year's two-win effort.
The Bears were a pleasant surprise last season, ending up with the second seed in the NFC, which turned into hosting the NFC championship game. Unfortunately, they lost that game, and the nation lost any confidence they had inJay Cutler.
Cutler has a lot to prove to a doubting football fan nation this season. He'll have to do it against the 18th toughest schedule, as the Bears will face teams that went 128-128 last season.
This could be a tough schedule, and the Bears won't surprise anyone this year. They will have to contend with a healthy Packers team in their division, along with an up-and-coming Lions squad.
This may hurt Chicago's chances to repeat last year's success.
One of the league's best rivalries renews itself this season in week three as the Packers return to Soldier Field. This will be a chance for Cutler and the Bears to get some revenge and get a big division win. The teams do it again in Green Bay on Week 16, Christmas Day on NBC.
Always popular, the Bears appear on prime time four times, with two Sunday night games along with two Monday Night tilts.
Toughest Games:
The Bears get tested right out of the gate as they face Atlanta, New Orleans and Green Bay in the first three weeks. We will get an early indicator as to where Chicago is going in 2011.
Potential Wins:
Look for Chicago to back slide a bit, but they still could win nine or 10 games. Will this be enough to make the playoffs? In the NFC, probably, but it won't be enough to get home-field advantage.
The Bengals won their division in 2009 and looked to take it a step further last year after addingTerrell Owens. How could that go wrong?
Carson Palmer wants out or he will retire, Owens won't be back and then there's Chad Whats-his-name, who seems to enjoy drama.
The Bengals' 2011 schedule has them facing teams that were 121-135 last season, which is the 27th hardest schedule. This should be kind to the Bengals, but with their problems, it won't be enough to get them to the Super Bowl, or even the playoffs.
The Bengals will not be featured on any prime time games this season, which is understandable, and considering they may be without the marquee names we all know and love, they may be hard to watch.
That being said, they have some winnable games early. They start with their interstate rivals in Cleveland and then travel to Denver. So there is a chance they could get out to a 2-0 start.
Toughest Games:
Things get tough for the Bengals after their Week 7 bye when they have to play both Pittsburgh and Baltimore twice. The Bengals may get off to a decent start, but the second half may kill them.
Potential Wins:
It's tough to judge this with the uncertainty at quarterback. But, looking at the Bengals road in 2011, they can expect to win five to six games in 2011, making them long shots at the Super Bowl.
The Browns struggled last season, but they did show that they have some good, young players that they could build around.
The question remains whetherColt McCoyis the answer and whether Peyton Hillis can take the pounding his kind of running requires. How will that all translate against their 2011 schedule?
They are unfortunate to be in a division with Baltimore and Pittsburgh, and that has them facing the 21st toughest schedule and teams that went 126-130 last year.
Having a schedule on the easier side of the spectrum will help the Browns' young players develop but it won't put them in a position to overtake the Ravens and Steelers, yet.
The Browns have one prime time game as they travel to Pittsburgh in Week 14 for a Thursday night game.
Week 10 has the Rams traveling to Cleveland, which will be a chance for McCoy to measure up against his former Big 12 rivalSam Bradford.
Toughest Games:
The Browns face a brutal three-game road trip late in the season in weeks 14 through 16. They have games at Pittsburgh on a Thursday night, then have to go across country to play Arizona and then back East to play at Baltimore.
That's a lot of travel for a team at the end of a long season.
Potential Wins:
The Browns are in a tough division, which will hurt them. They do have some winnable games but are realistically looking at a six-win season in 2011.
If things break right, they might be able to stretch that to an eight-win season, but Browns fans shouldn't expect much more than that.
Last year can only be described as a disaster for the Cowboys. They were set up to make a Super Bowl run and try and be the first team to play a home Super Bowl.
It turns out they had issues on both sides of the ball and whenTony Romogot hurt, the season slipped away. How will they fare in 2011?
Dallas plays the 15th toughest schedule in 2011 with opponents who went 129-127 last year. Will a tough schedule hurt their chances of getting Jerry Jones back to the Super Bowl?
Most likely.
The Cowboys have some big-name players, but also have some big-time holes that will need some filling before they can make late January plans.
As can be expected, Dallas makes five prime time appearances. Starting with week 1, they will travel to New York to play the Jets in a game that will be as hyped as any regular-season game can be. The star power will be blinding that evening.
The Cowboys end the season in a good old-fashioned NFC East showdown at the Giants. Will that game decide the NFC East?
Toughest Games:
The NFC East games are always tough, and Dallas will have their hands full with the Eagles and the Giants again this year.
They have two tough out of division games as well. The previously mentioned road game to start the season in New York will be a tough one to win, as well as the week six road game against the Patriots.
Potential Wins:
The Cowboys should rebound from last year's bad season. They have some land mines on their schedule in 2011 but should still be able to manage nine or 10wins. This might get them back to the playoffs, but they are not Super Bowl material yet.
The Broncos struggled last year, and it resulted in Josh McDaniels being shown the door and a potential quarterback controversy in place.
Tim Tebowplayed well at the end of the season during some meaningless games, and the big question is whether that was enough to unseat Kyle Orton as the starter. On top of that, the Broncos really struggled stopping the opponents.
They have a tough road ahead in 2011. Despite playing in the weak AFC West, they have the third toughest schedule, playing teams that went 133-123 last season.
It looks like another long year at Mile High.
The Broncos have two prime-time games as they start the season with the late Monday night game at home against the Raiders. The also have a Thursday night game against the Jets in Week 11.
The Broncos will also get a shot at the Super Bowl Champions in Week 4 when they go to Green Bay. This will be a chance for them to see where they are in their rebuilding process.
Toughest Games:
Outside of the previously mentioned games, the Broncos also have to face New England, at home in Week 15.
Even though the AFC West has been down the past couple of years, there are signs the other teams are on the rise. This is bad news for Denver as they enter a rebuilding phase in 2011.
Potential Wins:
Denver's schedule is going to make it impossible for them to return to the playoffs. The team has too many problems on defense and confusion at quarterback. Look for a five-win season out of the Broncos.
The Lions could be an interesting team in 2011. Last year, they were the most competitive they've been since Barry Sanders was carrying the rock in Motown.
A lot of their potential success depends on the health ofMatthew Stafford. Stafford shows great promise but hasn't been able to stay healthy. They will look to beef up their offensive line in the draft and if they do, they will have a lot of pieces in place.
Unfortunately, the schedule makers weren't kind to the Lions. Their 2011 opponents went 133-123 last season for the fourth-hardest schedule.
Can the Lions manage this kind of schedule and keep moving forward? They just might. They probably won't over take the Packers, but they may have Chicago in their sights.
Whether you like it or not, the Lions are back on prime time on Thanksgiving. This year, they host the Packers in a game that may be better than a lot of people think. It will be a good test of how far the Lions have come.
They also host the Bears on Monday night in week 5. If they are going to move past the Bears in the division, this will be a good chance to make a statement.
Toughest Games:
After the Thanksgiving game, they have a quick turn around and have to travel to New Orleans to play the Saints in week 13.
They also have tough road games week 1 in Tampa Bay and week 4 in Dallas. Those early games could be soul-crushing if the Lions don't come prepared.
Potential Wins:
The Lions are on the rise, but the 2011 schedule is brutal and may only yield six wins. Don't be fooled though, the Lions will be a better team than their 2011 record will show.
When you win the Super Bowl and are a team loaded with returning, young and talented players you are a Super Bowl contender. The Packers have a very good chance of returning to the Super Bowl.
This is a team last year that was riddled with injuries, squeaked into the playoffs and then won three road playoff games.
If they stay healthy this season, there is no reason to believe someone is going to have to come to the Frozen Tundra in January.
The Packers do have a tough schedule in 2011 playing teams that went 130-126 which is the 13th toughest schedule.
That is tough, but the Packers have the players to overcome that.
The Packers start the season hosting the previous Super Bowl champs when they host the Saints on the Thursday NFL kickoff game.
They are on prime time four more times, including good-looking games in Atlanta on week 5 and hosting the Bears in week 16.
Toughest Games:
The week 5 game in Atlanta could be a bear as the Falcons will be desperate to make a statement against the Pack.
Green Bay also has some rough-looking road games at San Diego in week 9 and at the Giants in week 13. That week 13 game is a prime candidate to get flexed into NBC's Sunday Night Football.
Potential Wins:
The Packers are stacked and despite a tougher schedule look like they are headed for at least at thirteen win season. That will put them in good shape to host the NFC playoffs.
It seems like every year the Texans are being heralded as the next great thing in the NFL. When they beat the Colts early last year, it looked like finally they were ready to take over the division. As it turns out, they couldn't stop anyone on defense.
They will need to fix that this year if they want to finally make the playoffs.
They have a ton of offensive weapons, and are a fantasy football dream, but will need to be more stout if they wish to overcome the 10th toughest schedule in 2011. The Texans opponents in 2010 combined for a 132-124 record.
It appears that Houston will have to wait one more year to make a playoff run.
The Colts come calling in Houston in week one, giving the Texans another shot to make a statement in the division. They return to the site of a horrific loss in week 12 when they go to Jacksonville, where they hope to knock the ball down this time.
The Texans do have one prime time game, in week 16 when they travel to Indianapolis to take on the Colts in a Thursday game.
Toughest Games:
Weeks 3-6 will be testing for Houston as they travel to the Saints, come home for the Steelers, host the Raiders and then hit the road to Baltimore. They might be lucky to get one win out of that stretch.
Potential Wins:
The Texans offense can play with the best of them, and that will help them manage through a tough schedule.
However, their defense will continue to cause problems and they are looking at eight wins, which will once again, keep them just out of the playoffs.
The once-mighty Colts started to show some wear and tear last season. Peyton Manning doesn't have a great supporting cast and the whole team suffered.
They still managed to win their division but went out weakly in the playoffs.
Will the Colts rebound and be a Super Bowl contender again in 2011? If they do, they will have to do it against the fifth toughest schedule in the league.
The Colts upcoming opponents went an impressive 133-123 last season, casting a doubtful shadow on 2010.
With a star like Manning, the Colts are on prime time five times this season, highlighted by a week 3 Sunday night game at home against the Steelers. That game will be a good barometer for the Colts to see where they stand in the AFC.
When the Patriots and Colts hook up, it is always exciting, and this year will be no different. Manning and his mates head to New England for a Sunday night match up in week 13.
Toughest Games:
Besides the previously mentioned AFC games, the Colts have two pretty tough NFC South match ups. The first is in week seven, again on Sunday night, when Manning returns to his hometown to play the Saints.
Two weeks later, the Falcons come to Indianapolis in a game that features the present and future of the quarterback positions.
Potential Wins:
The Colts struggled at times last year and were in danger of missing the playoffs. This year, they face a tough road with their schedule.
Indianapolis still hasPeyton Manning, and that should be good enough to eke out 10 wins. They will make the playoffs but won't be making a return trip to the Super Bowl.
Every year, the Jaguars are a tough team to read. They always feel like they are ready to take the next step, only to disappear at the end.
They lack a true home field advantage as many fans show up as empty seats, but those empty seats are missing one of the most exciting players in Maurice Jones-Drew.
Will Jones-Drew be able to lead his 'Jags back to the playoffs in 2011?
Most likely not as they face the sixth toughest schedule with an opponents record of 133-123. Jacksonville doesn't have enough horses to manage a schedule like that.
One of the biggest games the Jaguars play is in week 17 when they host the Colts. Could they be playing for the division title?
They make two prime-time appearances with a week seven Monday night game at home against the Ravens and a week 13 Monday-nighter also at home, against the Chargers.
Toughest Games:
Jacksonville faces some tough road games in 2011. The first is in week 2, when they travel to New York to take on the Jets. They also have to hit the road to play the Falcons in week 15.
Then there is also the annual double bill againstPeyton Manningand the Colts. These are all going to be tough games for the Jaguars to win.
Potential Wins:
This may be a rough year for Jack Del Rio and his boys as they try to navigate a tough schedule. Del Rio may be looking for a new job as Jacksonville is looking at a six- or seven-win season in 2011.
The Chiefs shocked the experts last season and won the AFC West, a division that had pretty much been handed to San Diego in the preseason.
The Chiefs will be out to prove that 2010 wasn't a fluke.
They have their work cut out for them, as they face opponents who went 133-123 which is good for seventh hardest in the league.
Kansas City will again have to deal with people pointing out that San Diego is better on paper this year. Can they use that as motivation? Will they be able to repeat?
They look to take a step back in 2011 with their schedule, but they will still be in playoff contention.
Kansas City has three prime-time games, highlighted by a week 12 Sunday night game against the defending AFC Champion Steelers. The game is in Arrowhead Stadium and you can bet that place will be loud.
They also will get to make a statement against the paper champion Chargers on Monday night in week 8.
Toughest Games:
They Chiefs have a brutal stretch in weeks 11-15 as they go to New England, host Pittsburgh, to to Chicago, continue on the road to play the Jets, and then come back home to host the Packers.
They can expect to be underdogs in all of these games.
If that wasn't bad enough, they end the season with big rivalry games in week 16 when they host the Raiders before ending the season at Denver.
Potential Wins:
The Chiefs are facing an improving AFC West and a brutal out of division schedule. There is no way they don't take a step back and are looking at an eight- to nine-win season.
In Miami, they once again are looking for the next quarterback. Long gone are the Dan Marino days of stability at the position.
They may have thought Chad Henne was the man, but now it looks like he is going to have to fight for his job. How will this translate in 2011?
The Dolphins are in one of the tougher divisions in football and face the 11th hardest schedule. Their opponents have a 132-124 record.
It looks like Miami will be home in January again this year.
Miami starts the season on prime time when they host the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football.
They also have a Monday night game in New York against the Jets in week 6. Don't the Jets and Dolphins always play on Monday night?
Toughest Games:
Miami fans can be excited to get two Monday night games. Unfortunately, they will get smoked in both of those games, in front of the whole world.
They also have to travel to Dallas in week 12 and end the season on the road against New England and home against the Jets. The Dolphins may catch a break here, though, as both those teams may be resting starters.
Potential Wins:
Miami may still be looking for a quarterback in 2012, and the good news is that with only four wins this season, they may be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes.
If things had gone according to plan, we'd all be talking about the defending champion Vikings. Wasn't that supposed to happen?
They had the Hall-of-Fame quarterback, the monster running back and an aggressive defense.
Minnesota's fall from grace last year was hard to watch on many levels. They still have a solid nucleus coming in to 2011 but have nobody to drive the car. WithBrett Favregone, they are searching for a new quarterback.
Will it be a rookie, or will it beDonovan McNabb?
It may not matter, as the Vikings face the 12th toughest schedule and teams that went 132-124 last year. They may improve this year, but they will still be looking up at Green Bay and Chicago.
The Vikings have two prime time division games, starting in week six when they go to Chicago for a Sunday night affair. They follow that up with a Monday night game in Green Bay in week 10, after their bye week.
The Vikings also travel to Washington to play the Redskins in week 16. Will that be McNabb's return to DC? Will the fans there be happy to see him?
Toughest Games:
Outside of their tough in-division games, they also start the season with a tough game at San Diego and return home the next week to face a pretty good Tampa Bay team.
The Vikings are facing an 0-2 start before they have to face the hungry Lions in week 3. That may be a pivotal game for both teams.
Potential Wins:
The Vikings are going to miss the playoffs in 2011. The lack of a quarterback will hinder them, as well as an offensive line that started to show some chinks last season. Look for Minnesota to only win seven games.
Tom Bradymay have done a lot of crying this offseason, but when the games kick off, he will be back to his robotic intensity. As long as Brady is behind center, the Patriots will be Super Bowl contenders.
Last season, they beat out the Jets in a tough AFC East division only to have the Jets take care of them, in their own building, in the playoffs.
You can bet the Patriots will be out to change that.
This season, they will face opponents who were 129-127, which comes in as the 16th toughest schedule for the Patriots.
No team finds a way to win better than they do and it almost doesn't matter the quality of their schedule. They will be there at the end.
New England has four prime time games this season, which for some reason doesn't seem like much. There is always the chance they will have more flexed in late in the season.
The highlight of their schedule will be the two match ups with the Jets. The war of words, the rivalry, everything we love about football.
The first of these games is at New England in week 5, and the re-match in New York is in week 10.
Toughest Games:
Outside of the two Jets games, they also have a week eight game in Pittsburgh which will be tasty. They also have their annual Brady vs. Manning Bowl in week 13.
Potential Wins:
The Patriots will be in a dogfight with the Jets this year. The teams will probably split their series and it will be up to how they manage the rest of their schedule.
New England can be counted on to win 11 to 12 games, which will put them right in the thick of things.
New Orleans managed to make the playoffs last year, only to suffer one of the biggest upsets in NFL history in Seattle. That game showed two things:
One,Drew Breescan and will still put up a ton of points. Two, the Saints are vulnerable on defense. If a team like Seattle lights you up, you have work to do.
The Saints will try and get back on top of the mountain in 2011 against a list of opponents who went 130-126 last year which is 14th toughest in the league.
Atlanta owned the division last year and Tampa Bay is coming, so the Saints have a tough road ahead of them.
The Saints go to Green Bay on the Thursday night NFL kick off game in a match up of the last two Super Bowl champions. This game is a masterpiece of scheduling by the NFL as it will feature two of the best quarterbacks in the game.
The Saints also will face the Falcons in a prime time game in week 16 on Monday Night Football. That game could be for the division crown.
Toughest Games:
Along with the games mentioned above, New Orleans also has tough games in week seven when they host the Colts, and in week 12 at home against the Giants.
These games will be tough ones for the Saints, but at least they get them in the Dome.
Potential Wins:
Despite the schedule looking tough on paper, the Saints have enough talent to win 10 or 11 games. That may not be enough to knock off Atlanta, but it will get them in the dance.
The Giants finished 2010 with a winning record but still missed the playoffs. This is a big year as the New York natives are starting to get restless.
Winning a Super Bowl a couple of years ago was great, but in New York they care more about what you've done lately. Lately, the team has been mediocre and included a major melt down against the Eagles that cost them the playoffs.
Will the Giants be able to retake the NFC East in 2011?
The schedule would suggest they might. They will see teams who went 126-130 last season, which leaves them with the 22nd toughest schedule.
This will put the Giants in the playoffs, maybe as division champs.
Being a New York team, the Giants will end up on prime time four times in 2011. This includes a big NFC game against the Saints in week 12 as well as an interesting match up with the Rams in New York in week 2.
Of course, there's always the always anticipated NFC East battles with Dallas and the Eagles to look forward to seeing.
Toughest Games:
The Giants get an early look at the Eagles going to Philadelphia in week 3 and is a chance for them to avenge that fourth-quarter collapse.
They also end the season with two tough games, starting with a cross town match up with the Jets in week 16 and followed by a home game against Dallas to close the season.
Those two games may say a lot about the fate of the Giants.
Potential Wins:
The Giants will match last seasons total of 10 wins. With the usual slug-fest that is the NFC East, that might be good enough to win it.
Was there any team as annoying and yet fun to watch as the New York Jets in 2010? Not only are they a great team, but they are a team with some great personalities.
The ring leader is of course head coachRex Ryan, who has already determined they are favorites to win the Super Bowl.
If this team would stay quiet and just play ball, they might be scary good. They have made it to the AFC Championship two years in a row, and two years in a row they have come up short.
In both of those runs, they had to play all their games on the road. Is this the year the Jets get a home playoff game and make that run a bit easier?
To do so they will have to overcome a tough schedule. Rex Ryan probably is excited that the Jets have the eighth hardest schedule with opponents who went 133-123.
The Jets, despite the hype, are a good team. They will once again be battling it out with the Patriots.
The Jets are on prime time five times, which shouldn't surprise anyone. Their hype has grown to the point where all of their games are highlight games. Their games against the Patriots will be big as always, and home field in January will ride on them.
They also meet their crosstown friends in week 16, on Christmas Eve. Do you think anyone will be watching that game?
Toughest Games:
The Jets have a tough stretch early, starting in week 3 when they fly across the country to play the Raiders and follow that up with road games against the Ravens and Patriots.
We will all have a clear picture of the AFC after that stretch of games.
Potential Wins:
This is a "put up or shut up" year for Ryan and his Jets. They are loaded and look to win 13 games this season.
Hue Jackson takes over the Raiders job, for now, to see if he can bring them back to their faded glory in 2011. Last season, the Raiders showed some long-lost spirit leaving many to wonder if they were back on the road to greatness.
They will have to adjust to a new coaching staff, and have to find a solid answer at quarterback and stop drafting players based only on how fast they are if they wish to do so.
They have a pretty easy schedule in 2011 coming in at the 23rd toughest with an opponent record of 126-130. This is good news for a team that's still learning how to win.
There was a time when every game the Raiders played was a highlight. Those days are past, but they could be an exciting team to watch this year. They will face their long time AFC rivals again this year which are usually don't miss affairs.
Outside of the division, they also will host the Jets in week 3. In many ways the Jets have become what the Raiders used to be, which makes this game all the more interesting.
Toughest Games:
Outside of the San Diego, Kansas City and New York games, the Raiders don't have too many tough games.
However, in week 4 they host the Patriots, which will most likely result in a loss.
They also have a big tilt in week 14 when they have to travel to Green Bay to play the Packers. The Raiders will have their hands full in that game and will be under dogs.
Potential Wins:
The Raiders made strides last year and will be a tough out for every team on their schedule. This should result in a good year for Oakland, and eight wins is very probable.
Eagles quarterbackMichael Vicktook the league by storm last season and had the Eagles back in the playoffs and top of the NFC East.
To repeat that, they will need to keep Vick healthy and fight off the Giants and Cowboys.
They will also face the 17th toughest schedule this year with opponents who went 129-127. Not the worst but not the best, it will be a schedule that is manageable and will have the Eagles in the mix again in 2011.
The Eagles have five prime time games, which says a lot about how exciting Vick is. Of these four, the best should be their week 11 match up with the Giants in New York.
Will the Giants be more careful punting in that game?
They also go to Atlanta in week 2 for an early big-time NFC match up that may affect things at the end of the season.
Toughest Games:
The NFC East games are always tough, and this year will be no exception.
Philadelphia's toughest stretch comes between weeks 11 and13. They start that stretch with a Sunday night game in New York, then host the always-good Patriots and finally have to fly across country to Seattle for a Thursday night game against the tough-at-home Seahawks.
Potential Wins:
Philadelphia will be in contention for the NFC East but may not have enough horses to make a serious Super Bowl run. But, looking at their schedule, 10 wins is very likely.
Pittsburgh seems like they've been regulars in the Super Bowl the past five years. Its easy to see why. They have a great defensive system, they like to pound you and they have a great quarterback.
There is no reason to think that the Steelers won't be challenging again for the AFC title. They will face some fierce competition within their division with the Ravens, and then there's always those Jets and Patriots.
Pittsburgh's quest to host playoff games again this year is even easier than it was last season. They have the 28th toughest schedule facing teams who went 121-135 last year. (Thank you, NFC West).
It would take a rash of injuries for Pittsburgh not to be in the mix in January.
Pittsburgh has five prime time appearances this season, which make sense as they are good and get people to turn on their tube.
The two highest anticipated of these games will be the week three game in Indianapolis on Sunday night and the week nine home showdown against Baltimore on Sunday night.
Toughest Games:
The Steelers waste no time getting bloody as they face the Ravens in Baltimore in week one. That is a tough draw on opening day, especially if there is a shortened pre-season.
They also have a tough stretch beginning in week eight when they host New England and then host the Ravens the next week. Get the post game whirlpools ready.
Potential Wins:
The Steelers are easily one of the top two or three teams in the NFL and when you're this good, the schedule almost doesn't matter. The fact they have an easy one only makes them that much tougher come playoff time. Look for Pittsburgh to win 13 to 14 games.
Who can explain the 2010 San Diego Chargers? They had an explosive offense and one of the best defenses in the league. Yet, with all that going for them, they still missed the playoffs.
When future coaches want to stress special teams, all they will need to do is pop in the Chargers 2010 highlight reel. Giving up kick returns, punt returns and blocked punts for scores did the Chargers in during the season.
It can't be that bad again, can it?
On paper, San Diego is as talented as any other team in the league. In 2011, they will put that talent to test against the ninth-toughest schedule and teams that went 133-123.
You would guess they have enough talent to handle the schedule fine, but we'll have to wait and see how their special their special teams are.
You will see the Bolts in four prime time match ups this year, highlighted by a big AFC West game in Kansas City on Monday night in Week eight. The Chargers lost in Kansas City last year and this is their chance to take control of the division.
They also have a juicy Thursday night game in week ten at home against the Raiders.
Toughest Games:
Outside of their division games the Chargers have two other tough games starting early in week two at New England. They then have a late season game, in week 15, when they host the Ravens.
If the Chargers want to make noise in the AFC, they will have to show up in those games against two of the division's best.
Potential Wins:
When you look at the roster who say to yourself, "how can this team not win 12 games?" but then last year comes rushing back to you. The Chargers will improve but with a tough schedule, that improvement will only result in 10 wins.
San Francisco was handed the NFC West title before the season started. This was going to be the year. They had a great defense, great running back, monster tight end and a quarterback who finally figured it out.
Five weeks later, they had yet to win, fired their offensive coordinator, and the quarterback was getting booed out of the building. Despite all that, they still almost won the NFC West.
This year they have a new coach, and maybe a new quarterback. The NFC West is up for grabs and San Francisco has as good a shot as anyone.
Thanks to the division they are in, they are faced with opponents who went 119-137 last year, which equals the 30th toughest schedule.
If the 'Niners can take care of business in the division, they could win it. Because of that, the division games become the highlight games.
They get at it in week one against Seattle in San Francisco, where they hope to get revenge for the opening day thumping they took in Qwest Field last season.
The NFC West will come down to the wire again, and the 49ers have a week 16 rematch with the Seahawks in Seattle and then a season-ending game in St. Louis. These two games could put San Francisco back in the playoffs.
Toughest Games:
For the NFC West teams, any game out of division is tough, and the 49ers have two brutal ones, starting with week 12 when they go to Baltimore and then in week 15 they host the Steelers.
Those will be losses.
Potential Wins:
The 49ers have talent and with the division they are in, and better coaching, they are looking at nine wins, which will put them in contention for the NFC West.
The Seahawks were not a good team in 2010. Yes, they won the NFC West and upset the Saints in the playoffs. But, they were not good.
They ended the year at 7-9 and were at the bottom of almost every offensive and defensive statistical category.
So, how did they win seven games? They were 4-2 in the division, beat a terrible Carolina team at home, got two kick off returns to beat an underachieving San Diego team and upset Chicago on the road.
This year, they have a ton of questions, one quarterback under contract and a tougher schedule. Now, while their schedule is tougher, it is still not tough by most standards. Their opponents were 125-131, which makes their schedule the 24th toughest.
Everyone is in contention for the NFC West, but Seattle has an uphill struggle.
As with San Francisco, NFC West games are going to be the biggest. Seattle starts off on the road against the 49ers hoping not to repeat last year's beatdown they suffered there.
They also have big games against the Rams beginning in St. Louis in week 11 and a Monday night game in week 14.
Toughest Games:
Seattle has some brutal stretches this year. Starting in week 2, they go to Pittsburgh, then come home for the Cardinals and Falcons and then travel to New York to face the Giants.
As if that wasn't bad enough, starting in week nine they go to Dallas and then return home to face the Ravens.
Ouch.
Potential Wins:
The Seahawks are still rebuilding. Last year they benefited with a super weak division. That won't happen for them this year and they are a four-win team.
After years of crawling down in the muck, the Rams have started to turn the corner. They have a good looking quarterback and a tough defense.
And don't forget about one of the most under-rated players in Stephen Jackson at running back.
Last year, the young Rams lost out on the playoffs by one game to the Seahawks. This year, they look to take the next step and win the NFC West, where everyone is a contender.
Like the rest of the division, they have an easy schedule coming in at the 26th toughest with a record of 122-134. This would be a good chance for the Rams to batter their way through a weak division
The winner of the NFC West will be the team that does the best within the division. The Rams have big games against the Seahawks in week 11 and on Monday night in week 14. They take on the 49ers in San Francisco in week 13 and to end the season in week 17.
These four games may determine who wins the NFC West.
Toughest Games:
St. Louis has an ugly start to the season, opening with a home game against the Eagles, then to the Giants for a Monday night game, and they follow that up with a home game against Baltimore.
They will have to maintain their composure after what will be an 0-3 start.
After their bye in week 5 they have another tough stretch starting with a game in Green Bay in week 6, followed by at Dallas and then home against the Saints.
Potential Wins:
The Rams have a tough out of division schedule this year. Wins will be tough to come by for a young team that still has to learn how to win. Look for the Rams to win seven games this season.
Tampa Bay was a fun team to watch last year. Fun because you were seeing a team start to come together and win games.
They still have some work to do, as they struggled to beat the top teams in the NFC and ended up just on the outside of the playoff picture.
The Buccaneers have a middle of the road schedule this year which could help in their continued growth. 2011's opponents went 127-129 last year, which is the 19th toughest schedule.
Tampa has some big dogs in their division that they will have to overcome if they want to play in the postseason this year.
If Tampa Bay wants to take the next step, they need to beat the Falcons and Saints. They get their chance with the Saints, beginning week six in Tampa and then again in New Orleans in week nine.
They see the Falcons in Tampa in week three and then finish the season in Atlanta for a big game.
Like last year, these games may determine the Buccaneers' fate.
Toughest Games:
The Bucs have a couple of other tough games that should concern them. They host the Colts on a Monday night in week 4, which gives them another chance to beat a team above them.
They then travel to Green Bay for a big, and tough game in week 11 in an old school NFC Central rematch.
Potential Wins:
Tampa Bay has a lot of young talent that is still growing. They may still struggle this year against the good teams, and yet still may manage 10 wins. Will that be enough for a playoff berth in 2011?
Things got so bad in Nashville last season that the Titans turned toRandy Mossto try and spark their offense. That is as pure an act of desperation as there is.
Longtime coach Jeff Fisher is out in Tennessee and it appears that Vince Young will go as soon as the lockout is over. This leaves the Titans in a full rebuild mode.
Luckily for them, they have the 25th toughest schedule with an opponent record of 125-131. This is good news for a team that will struggle.
The Titans have no prime time games, which is a shame, as Chris Johnson is as prime time as it gets.
Tennessee hosts Baltimore in week 2, which will be an ugly game, but will give the fans in Nashville the chance to see a good team. The fans can also come out and seePeyton Manningin week eight andDrew Breesin week 14.
That may be the highlight of the season for Titans fans.
Toughest Games:
In addition to the games mentioned above the Titans also get to travel to Pittsburgh in week five and to Atlanta in week 11.
When a team is in the straits the Titans are, every game is tough, but these have the potential to be over during the warm ups.
Potential Wins:
Its going to be a rough year in Tennessee this season. The team is building from scratch and they are looking at a three-win campaign.
The Washington Redskins have some issues coming into the 2011 season. They have a disgruntled defensive lineman they are paying a ton of cash to and now have a quarterback who never wanted to be there.
After an uninspiring season, the fans and team don't seem to want Mr. McNabb in D.C. either.
So, the Redskins are looking for a quarterback, among other things, in this off season and may unload McNabb to the highest bidder as soon as they get a chance.
How will this affect the 2011 season?
Finding a quarterback is one of the hardest things to do; luckily, the Redskins will have an easy schedule in 2011. Their opponents boast a 121-135 record, which gives them the 29th toughest schedule.
Still, in the NFC East, Washington will be on the bottom looking up.
Washington finds themselves on prime time once in 2011, in week three, in a classic NFC East match up against the Cowboys in Dallas.
A potentially fun game could be the week 16 home game against the Vikings. Minnesota is one of the teams rumored to be interested inDonovan McNabb. If that were to happen, he would face a "warm" welcome in DC.
Toughest Games:
The toughest games facing the Redskins this season are the NFC East games. Outside of that, they have a tough two-week stretch in weeks 13 and 14 with a home games against the Jets and Patriots.
The Redskins should be underdog in those games as well as their NFC East tilts.
Potential Wins:
Washington is in for a tough year again as they rebuild. Their fans should not expect more than six wins.
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