The NFL will be making history this season, as this is the first time that teams will play 17 regular-season games. For teams that have very tough schedules, the last thing that they wanted to see was the league go to the 17-game schedule.
When the 2021-22 schedule was released, people looked at who had easier paths to the playoffs and who had the toughest schedules, according to last year’s records. It’s time to take a look at some of the teams who will have a tough time making the playoffs due to the strength of their schedule. Let’s jump right into action si you can keep planning your bets against the NFL odds.
Toughest NFL Schedules in 2021
Pittsburgh Steelers
According to last season’s records, the Pittsburgh Steelers have the toughest schedule in the NFL. The Steelers will face ten teams that made the playoffs last season. Among those ten teams are the Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, and Buffalo Bills. All three of those teams played in their conference championship game last season.
Pittsburgh comes into the 2021 season with a makeshift offensive line and an aging quarterback who struggled last season. The Steelers also suffered some key losses in free agency. Their opponents had a .574 winning percentage last season. If the Steelers struggle early on, it could be a long season in the Steel City.
Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore’s opponents had a .563 winning percentage last season. The Ravens get the pleasure of playing Green Bay and Kansas City this season. Baltimore is in one of the toughest divisions in football, and the season will be a grind for them. The Ravens play a lot of their tougher opponents at home, but that still will be a difficult task for them.
The AFC West is a very good division, and the Ravens will have to play the Chiefs, Chargers, Raiders, and Broncos this season. Kansas City, Los Angeles, and Denver all have a very good shot at making the playoffs this season.
Chicago Bears
The Bears also have one of the toughest schedules in the league. The Bears are in somewhat of a rebuild mode, and at some point this season, they’ll more than likely be starting a rookie quarterback. The Bears have to play the AFC North this year, which includes Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Baltimore.
They also have to play the Los Angeles Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Seattle Seahawks, with all of those games being on the road. We’ll see what the Bears are made of.
Green Bay Packers
The Packers made it to the NFC Championship game last season, and how does the league reward them, they give them a date with the Chiefs in Kansas City. Green Bay also has to clash with the AFC North this season. Their road schedule is brutal, with games at Arizona, Baltimore, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Kansas City.
The Packers will have some tough ones at Lambeau Field as well, as they host the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. If Aaron Rodgers can get through this schedule and lead the Packers to the playoffs, it will be a very successful season for the Pack.
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