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5 easiest NFL schedules in 2015

By Will Osgood

Jan 23, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of NFL shield logo at midfield of University of Phoenix Stadium in advance of Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 23, 2015; Glendale, AZ, USA; General view of NFL shield logo at midfield of University of Phoenix Stadium in advance of Super Bowl XLIX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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After the NFL schedules were released Tuesday night, here are what appear to be the five easiest schedules. 

The 2015 NFL schedule is now out. Though we’ve known since the end of the 2014 regular season, which teams would be playing we only now learned when games would be played (time and date).

Not surprisingly, most of the teams with the easiest schedules are teams who finished with poor records in 2014, but not exclusively. There is a rather noticeable fifth team on this list, who seemingly should not be there.

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Tennessee Titans

Simply read here why the Titans have the easiest schedule in the NFL in 2015.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Given the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ poor record in 2014, which led to them gaining the No. 1 pick in next week’s NFL draft, it is no surprise that they also have one of the easiest schedules in the league in 2015.

They start the season hosting the Tennessee Titans, who joined them with a 2-14 record in 2014, and hold the No. 2 overall pick in next week’s draft. They then travel to New Orleans to play an early game–which is always best-case scenario for an opponent (don’t want to play New Orleans in the dome in prime time).

The only possible cold weather game comes November 22 when they travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles. The Week 17 game at Carolina could feature some poor weather as well, but that is somewhat of a relative term.

The lone primetime game the team plays is Week 15 at St. Louis in the mandatory Thursday night game. Though it is somewhat unfortunate to play that game so late in the season, it may also work to their advantage, as by then Jameis Winston (let’s assume) will not only be the starter but be comfortable playing NFL football.

Plus the Rams are unlikely to be world beaters in 2015.

San Francisco 49ers

Only once–the very first in-between of these season–do the San Francisco 49ers have less than a full week in between games (other than the mandatory Thursday night game). They play the late Monday Night Football game at home in Week 1 against the Minnesota Vikings and then at Pittsburgh the following Sunday afternoon (early game).

But that’s early in the year. Players should not yet be weary of traveling or tired from accumulating high snap counts. It’s probably a good thing since the Niners figure to be significantly weakened in the talent department in 2015 (though they hold a ton of draft picks in the upcoming draft).

They host the mandatory against their rival of the past few years, the Seattle Seahawks. Throw in a Week 5 primetime game at the Giants and you have the Niners’ most difficult games schedule-wise.

Dec 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) waves to the crowd after the Texans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17 at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) waves to the crowd after the Texans defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars 23-17 at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /

Houston Texans

There really isn’t a game on the Houston Texans’ schedule that the team should look at and think, “Oh man, that’s daunting!”

The seemingly most difficult games on the schedule are mostly all played at home–versus Indianapolis in Week 5, versus the Jets and Saints in consecutive weekends in November and the Patriots on December 13.

The only frightful road game is Week 15 at Indianapolis, but there was no getting out of that game as they play each other twice–once at home, once on the road–every season. The nice thing is that game is slated for a 1 PM ET/Noon CT start.

New England Patriots

It’s kind of unfair that the Super Bowl champs get out of some potentially nasty weather games, and get to play in Miami in Week 17. They play at Buffalo (potentially nasty weather if played later in the year) in Week 2 and at Houston (dome) and Miami in Week 17.

They play at Dallas in Week 5 in an afternoon contest and at Indianapolis. Those figure to be the two toughest road games on their schedule.

Sure they play at Denver and host Philadelphia in consecutive weeks, but aside from that, there simply isn’t much on the schedule to worry Bill Belichick, not that’d care anyway.

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