A look at the Steelers 2016 opponents

[Sword]

Dam, looks like we have the hardest opponents again this year.....I
hope we stay healthy....

Baltimore Ravens - 5-11
Buffalo Bills - 8-8
Cincinnati Bengals -12-4
Cleveland Browns - 3-13
Dallas Cowboys - 4-12
Indianapolis Colts - 8-8
Kansas City Chiefs - 11-5
Miami Dolphins - 6-10
New England Patriots - 12-4
New York Giants - 6-10
New York Jets - 10-6
Philadelphia Eagles - 7-9
Washington Redskins - 9-7

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/A-look-at-the-Steelers-2016-opponents/93d887e4-eab1-4b7a-bb4d-657611d24c32[/URL]

[BradshawsHairdresser]

To me, that looks like about as favorable a slate of opponents as you can expect. Opponent's winning pct. around .451, if I figured correctly.

[phillyesq]

Winning percentage will fluctuate greatly from year to year, but one thing that sticks out on that schedule is the lack of elite QBs. If Luck returns to form, he and Brady are the two that you worry about.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Also the relative lack of travel is notable.
This past season, we played both the AFC West and NFC West (long flights to different time zones).
This coming season, we play both the AFC East and NFC East (mere puddle jump commutes).

The only difference between our schedule and our AFC North rivals are the 2 games hosting an AFC West team and traveling to an AFC South team:
We travel to Indy and host K.C.
Cincy travels to Houston and hosts Denver.
Baltimore travels to Jacksonville and hosts Oakland (or L.A. or whatever...TBD).
Cleveland travels to Tennessee and hosts San Diego (or L.A. or whatever...TBD).

[Slapstick]

I'm pretty sure that divisional opponents count twice in the strength of schedule calculation...

Out of 256 games in 2015, (16 teams playing 16 games each) the aggregate wins are 121 while the aggregate losses are 135...an opponent win % of approximately .473...

Personally, I think using the previous season's data isn't necessarily accurate...I think the fact that the Steelers do not play a game outside of the Eastern time zone is much more significant...

[Iron Shiek]

Undefeated season. I'm going to bookmark this post.

[feltdizz]

Doesn't look like a hard schedule on paper

[SteelerOfDeVille]

To me, that looks like about as favorable a slate of opponents as you can expect. Opponent's winning pct. around .451, if I figured correctly.

would think the Ravens would improve if for no other reason than getting guys back from injuries (Suggs, Elam, Flacco, Forsett, Steve Smith) were all KEY injuries.

Eagles lost a coach who had lost the team - they'll likely improve as well

Cowboys get Romo back...

Obviously, Luck makes a difference

that doesn't include teams who were already good (Pats, Chiefs, Bengals, etc).

Looks tougher in reality than on paper

[SteelCrazy]

Undefeated season. I'm going to bookmark this post.

That wouldn't be so far fetched if our LB's could generate consistent pressure.

[papillon]

That wouldn't be so far fetched if our LB's could generate consistent pressure.

Actually, if the defense in general improves on this year's performance, not just the LBs, it would go a long way to making that a reality

Pappy

[squidkid]

in see 8 of those teams improving on their records
2 dropping a game or two
and 3 staying the same

[Oviedo]

May not have elite QBs, but there are some pretty tough defenses on that list. Won't be able to rely on the Ravens being decimated by injuries again either, but we do have a player who can kick a Field Goal now...maybe two but one will be gone.