The 2017 NFL regular season may still be months away from getting started, but last week’s release of the 2017 schedule has revealed that several teams will be fighting an uphill battle to win Super Bowl 52 because of their difficult 2017 dockets.
Thanks to this look at the teams with the five toughest schedules in 2017, you’re going to have a great idea of what could lie ahead for each of these five Super Bowl 52 betting title hopefuls.
Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .578
Analysis:
The Broncos want to get back on top in the competitive AFC West in 2017 after falling to 9-7 in 2016 to finish three games behind both, Kansas City and Oakland just one year after winning it all in 2015. Unfortunately for the Bronco and new head coach Vance Joseph, the Broncos have the most difficult schedule in the league this coming season.
In addition to their difficult six-game AFC West divisional schedule, the Broncos have home games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and New York Giants on the docket, as well as road games against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, the offensively-explosive Washington Redskins and playoff participant Miami Dolphins.
Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .576
Analysis:
The Chiefs won the AFC West this past season (12-4) before getting robbed in their 18-16 playoff loss to Pittsburgh, but they could have a tough way to go to repeat their success in 2017 because of their difficult schedule.
Not only do the Chiefs have a half-dozen difficult division matchups, but they also have tough home dates against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins and even more daunting road matchups against the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New England Patriots, and New York Giants.
Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .568
Analysis:
The Chargers (5-11) may have a new home in Los Angeles, but the 2017 season could be a tough one for Philip Rivers and company as they adjust to new coach Anthony Lynn and a new system. In addition to all of that and the six tough division matchups they face, the Bolts have tricky home games against the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins, as well as a quartet of tough road games against the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and New York Giants.
Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .564
Analysis:
The Oakland Raiders had a fantastic 12-4 breakout campaign last season and clearly have an extremely bright future with the gifted Derek Carr at quarterback and Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack at linebacker, but apparently, 2017 will be no cake-walk of a campaign.
In addition to their six tricky AFC West matchups, the Raider also have home games against the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots (in Mexico City), and New York Giants and road dates against the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and blossoming Tennessee Titans.
Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .561
Analysis:
Not only will the Buffalo Bills have a new head coach in 2017 in Sean McDermott (good hire), but they’ll also have a difficult time getting back to being a better than average team after going 7-9 last season under Rex Ryan.
In addition to their four division games against playoff participants New England and Miami and two more against an equally desperate New York Jets team, the Bills also have home games against the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and Oakland Raiders and dangerous road matchups against the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers, and Cincinnati Bengals.
Thanks to this look at the teams with the five toughest schedules in 2017, you’re going to have a great idea of what could lie ahead for each of these five Super Bowl 52 betting title hopefuls.
NFL Schedules In 2017 Highlight Five Teams With Tough Ways To Go
1. Denver Broncos
Opponents’ combined 2016 overall record: 147-107-2Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .578
Analysis:
The Broncos want to get back on top in the competitive AFC West in 2017 after falling to 9-7 in 2016 to finish three games behind both, Kansas City and Oakland just one year after winning it all in 2015. Unfortunately for the Bronco and new head coach Vance Joseph, the Broncos have the most difficult schedule in the league this coming season.
In addition to their difficult six-game AFC West divisional schedule, the Broncos have home games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and New York Giants on the docket, as well as road games against Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts, the offensively-explosive Washington Redskins and playoff participant Miami Dolphins.
2. Kansas City Chiefs
Opponents’ combined 2016 overall record: 147-108-1Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .576
Analysis:
The Chiefs won the AFC West this past season (12-4) before getting robbed in their 18-16 playoff loss to Pittsburgh, but they could have a tough way to go to repeat their success in 2017 because of their difficult schedule.
Not only do the Chiefs have a half-dozen difficult division matchups, but they also have tough home dates against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins and even more daunting road matchups against the Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, New England Patriots, and New York Giants.
3. L.A. Chargers
Opponents’ combined 2016 overall record: 145-110-1Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .568
Analysis:
The Chargers (5-11) may have a new home in Los Angeles, but the 2017 season could be a tough one for Philip Rivers and company as they adjust to new coach Anthony Lynn and a new system. In addition to all of that and the six tough division matchups they face, the Bolts have tricky home games against the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Redskins, as well as a quartet of tough road games against the Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, and New York Giants.
4. Oakland Raiders
Opponents’ combined 2016 overall record: 144-111-1Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .564
Analysis:
The Oakland Raiders had a fantastic 12-4 breakout campaign last season and clearly have an extremely bright future with the gifted Derek Carr at quarterback and Defensive Player of the Year Khalil Mack at linebacker, but apparently, 2017 will be no cake-walk of a campaign.
In addition to their six tricky AFC West matchups, the Raider also have home games against the Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots (in Mexico City), and New York Giants and road dates against the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and blossoming Tennessee Titans.
5. Buffalo Bills
Opponents’ combined 2016 overall record: 143-112-1Opponents’ combined 2016 winning percentage: .561
Analysis:
Not only will the Buffalo Bills have a new head coach in 2017 in Sean McDermott (good hire), but they’ll also have a difficult time getting back to being a better than average team after going 7-9 last season under Rex Ryan.
In addition to their four division games against playoff participants New England and Miami and two more against an equally desperate New York Jets team, the Bills also have home games against the Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, and Oakland Raiders and dangerous road matchups against the Atlanta Falcons, Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers, and Cincinnati Bengals.
