Toughest/Easiest schedules in football history

[CSKreager]

How about the 1991 Cardinals

Only 2 games against teams with losing records (Rams/Patriots) and that was in September

Other than that: 2x Giants, 2x Eagles, 2x Cowboys, 2x Washington

8-8 Minnesota

THREE 10 win NFC West teams (SF, ATL, NO)

12-4 Denver at Mile High

[Brian wolf]

I still can't believe Coryell was fired by Mr. Bow-Tye in 1978 ... He held his own against George Allen, Tom Landry and Dick Vermeil !

[Sonny9]

1991 Redskins. 7 games against teams with 10 or more wins

[7DnBrnc53]

Dan Henning's '89 Chargers is also worthy of note as far as tough schedules are concerned. Led on defense (the team's obvious strong-spot) by Leslie O'Neil, Gary Plummer, Lee Williams, and Burt Grossman in his 10-sack rookie year played against nine winners plus three 8-8s (and two 7-9s, both vs Seahawks)! However, their finale vs Denver shouldn't really count be it Denver already cliched top-seed.

Just the same, after their 2-2 start and despite finishing 4-8 the rest of the way, their most-lopsided loss would be to Tuna's G-men in Week #7 by just 7pts (20-13)! Yes, a loss-is-a-loss but quite respectable work! And they did manage to score wins vs the likes of Philly, Raiders, and at Chiefs (completing a sweep vs them, actually) in that stretch! Now if only you could give that defense to those previous 'Air Coryell' squads...

I know, especially the 85 Chargers. They lost three games in the last 40 seconds or OT. They were 25th in points allowed and last in yards allowed. That team would have been dangerous with an average defense.

Back to 1989, though: They were the typical "If they only had a QB" team. McMahon was washed up by then. The talent was there, but they struggled untll 1992 when Stan Humphries came on the scene.

[JohnTurney]

1977 Broncos had a tough schedule, one of toughest in that era - Raiders 3 times, Steelers twice, Cowboys twice, Colts. Bengals were 8-7, Cards 7-7 (but they did suck until later in season, were 7-3 at one point, Den played them week 1) They did have a couple of creampuffs, though.

[RRMarshall]

The 1974 NE Pats had a murderous schedule that included 8 games against playoff teams, Miami (2), Buffalo (2), Oakland, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and the LA Rams. They went 3-5 against that gauntlet and still managed to finish 7-7 in their road back to respectability.

[JohnTurney]

The 1974 NE Pats had a murderous schedule that included 8 games against playoff teams, Miami (2), Buffalo (2), Oakland, Pittsburgh, Minnesota, and the LA Rams. They went 3-5 against that gauntlet and still managed to finish 7-7 in their road back to respectability.

And they lost a couple they were in but just made a couple of key mistakes--lost 2 to Bills that could have gone either way, even a split puts them at 8-6

The Steelers didn't blow them out, and they held their own vs Dolphins in the season finale...The Dolphins broke it open in the 4th...

Early on probably caught a few teams off-guard with their 3-4 defense...one of my favorite teams, the 74 Pats for several reasons.

[CSKreager]

This is going to be very unpopular but….. the 1984 49ers had an easy schedule

Everyone criticizes the 72 Dolphins for their weak schedule, but look at who the Niners played.

(Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Minnesota, New Orleans, Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit)

Outside of Marino/Theismann/Simms, they basically got to play a bunch of lousy QB’s.

After the Steelers loss, they played ONE good signal caller until the Super Bowl- Simms.

No wonder their entire secondary went to the Pro Bowl.

[7DnBrnc53]

This is going to be very unpopular but….. the 1984 49ers had an easy schedule

Everyone criticizes the 72 Dolphins for their weak schedule, but look at who the Niners played.

(Tampa Bay, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Atlanta, Minnesota, New Orleans, Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit)

Outside of Marino/Theismann/Simms, they basically got to play a bunch of lousy QB’s.

After the Steelers loss, they played ONE good signal caller until the Super Bowl- Simms.

No wonder their entire secondary went to the Pro Bowl.

They played an easy schedule in 1981 as well (their first SB season). They only played three playoff teams that year (Dallas, Giants, @Cincy) in the regular season. Some of the QB's they played against that year were Dave Wilson, Vince Evans, Gifford Nielsen, and Tom Flick.

[CSKreager]

1991 Redskins. 7 games against teams with 10 or more wins

9 of their 14 wins were against teams that didn’t make the playoffs