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5 toughest NFL schedules in 2016

By John Buhler

November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi
November 8, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn looks on against the San Francisco 49ers during the fourth quarter at Levi /
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January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly addresses the media in a press conference after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi
January 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Chip Kelly addresses the media in a press conference after being introduced as the new head coach for the San Francisco 49ers at Levi /

player. 42. . NFC. West. San Francisco 49ers. 1

Even though the 49ers have a new, respectable head coach in former Eagles and Oregon Ducks head coach Chip Kelly, San Francisco will have to endure the most brutal 2016 slate of games of any team in the NFL. Not only does San Francisco have arguably the weakest roster in the NFC, but they catch no breaks with the 2016 schedule.

The 49ers went 5-11 in 2015 in Jim Tomsula’s lone season as head coach, finishing in fourth place in the NFC West and earning the No. 7 overall draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Only the 4-12 2015 Cowboys were worse than the 49ers in the 2015 NFC.

San Francisco has six games against its three biggest rivals in the toughest division in football in the NFC West. Drawing a highly competitive NFC South doesn’t help either, and the AFC East is capable of sending two teams to the AFC Playoffs in 2016, one of which is obviously New England. The 49ers’ two other 2016 opponents are the Bears of the NFC North and the Cowboys of the NFC East.

San Francisco is tied with the Falcons for the toughest strength of schedule entering 2016; the 49ers opponents combined to go 142-114 for a .555 winning percentage in 2015. The biggest difference between Atlanta and San Francisco is that the Falcons are a top half team in the NFC and the 49ers are one of the worst teams in their conference entering the 2016 NFL campaign.

It’s very difficult to find wins on the 49ers’ 2016 schedule. Even with Kelly as the new head coach of the team, six wins in 2016 seems like an unrealistic ceiling this upcoming season. Unless Kelly shocks the world in 2016, San Francisco is destined for another top 10 pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. A dearth of talent will play a huge part in the 49ers’ in 2016 season, but that absolutely brutal schedule will probably hurt them more than anything.

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