What having the toughest schedule in the NFL means for the Steelers

The Steelers returned to the playoffs last season after missing out the previous two years by taking advantage of one of the easiest schedules in the NFL. The Steelers’ opponents in 2014 had a .469 winning percentage in 2013. It was tied for the eighth easiest schedule in the league.

If the Steelers want to get back to the playoffs next season they’ll have to overcome the most difficult schedule. The 16 opponents on the schedule owned a .579 winning percentage last season with 11 of the teams finishing with a winning record.

The optimist will point to 2008, when the Steelers had the most difficult schedule in the league and won Super Bowl XLIII. The 16 opponents on the ’08 schedule had an even better winning percentage (.598). In ’08, the Colts had the second-most difficult schedule and made the playoffs. The Ravens had the fourth-most difficult schedule and made the playoffs, meeting the Steelers in the AFC championship game. Of the five teams with the easiest schedule in ’08 only the Chargers made the playoffs.

I looked at the five easiest and five toughest schedule in the NFL from 2008-14. The teams in bold made the playoffs. The only other time in the past seven years the team with the most difficult schedule made the playoffs was the Panthers in 2013. And notice the Steelers had the fourth-easiest schedule in 2009, the year after they won the Super Bowl, and failed to make the playoffs. 

It is easier to make the playoffs if you have one of the five easiest schedules. Seventeen teams with that designation made the playoffs in the past seven years while only 11 of the teams with a top-five most difficult schedule qualified.

2008

Toughest: Steelers, Colts, Jaguars, Ravens, Vikings

Easiest: Patriots, Chargers, Raiders, Broncos, Saints

2009

Toughest: Dolphins, Panthers, Patriots, Falcons, Buccaneers

Easiest: Bears, Vikings, Packers, Steelers, Ravens

2010

Toughest: Texans, Titans, Cowboys, Bengals, Jaguars

Easiest: Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, Chargers, 49ers

*2011

Toughest: Panthers, Bills, Jets, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Chargers, Broncos, Lions

Easiest: Cardinals, Ravens, 49ers, Redskins, Bengals, Steelers

2012

Toughest: Giants, Broncos, Browns, Rams, Ravens

Easiest: Patriots, Packers, Bills, Texans, Titans

2013

Toughest:Panthers, Lions, Saints, Rams, Ravens

Easiest: Broncos, Chargers, Colts, Raiders, Chiefs

2014

Toughest: Raiders, Rams, Broncos, Chargers and 49ers.

Easiest: Colts, Titans, Texans, Jaguars and Ravens.

*Five teams tied for the third-most difficult schedule