Just saw this, and it looks like a very tough schedule next year
Home Buffalo, Miami, N.Y. Jets, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, San Diego
Away Buffalo, Miami, N.Y. Jets, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Dallas, N.Y. Giants, Indianapolis
How tough it will be depends a lot on how the teams get better. There are certainly a LOT of question marks.
1) Miami - They are about 18 million under the cap. Their Coach just quit and their best player is talking about the possibility of retirement. All but one of their starting D-line are under UFAs (Taylor is now listed as a LB, not a DE). Also, they have a bunch of safeties who are UFAs as well.
2) Cleveland - Crennel is holding his breath that he doesn't get the axe. Their foray into free agency looked good to start, but LeCharles Bentley went down to a season ending knee injury day 1 of camp and leaving the Browns with a huge hole at center since they had traded Jeff Faine to New Orleans. Joe Jurevicius was injured and a non-factor much of the season. D'Qwell Jackson and Willie McGinest both had injuries limiting their effectiveness.
3) Cinncinnati - It remains to see what happens with them. The lead the league with 8 people being arrested during the season. It was so bad that the league had to step in. They also lost promising ILB Daniel Pollack to what could be a career ending injury. They lost Odell Thurman to suspension.
4) Pittsburgh - Cowher is reported to be leaving and who knows what other sort of shake-up that will cause in the Pittsburgh Coaching staff. Roethlingsberger hit bottom and there are all sorts of questions on this Pittsburgh team.
5) N.Y. Giants - Tiki Barber has announced that he is going to retire at the end of the season. The Giants limped into the play-offs. Eli Manning looks more like Tim Couch out there than he does Peyton Manning. Coughlin is on the hot-seat and a coaching change won't necessarily help them. They have issues at WR and on their O-line to boot.
6) The Colts - As long as they have Peyton, Marvin, and Reggie Wayne, they are dangerous. Addai has stepped up, so far, and shown he can replace Edgerrin James. The problem is the Colts defense. They tried to shaft Corey Simon because of his injury. Dwight Freeney and Rashead Mathis are good book ends, but without Simon, the middle of their line is a running back wet dream. Their LBs leave a lot to be desired. Bob Sanders is small and his stature seems to have hurt him this year as he can't seem to stay healthy. The Colts could have issues at WR if Harrison decides to hang them up if the Colts are 1 and done again this year.
7) Philadelphia - Hank Baskett, Donte Stallworth and Reggie Brown are a good trio to have. The dynamic Brian Westbrook helps to keep defenses off guard. The problem is under center. McNabb was doing great and then plummetted again before going out to injury, yet again. With there being 3 coaching vacancies right now, and potentially 2-3 more, there is a good chance that the Eagles loose Jim Johnson or Marty Mohrenwig.
8) Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens are another team with some coaches that are on the short list. Rex Ryan is rumored to be the biggest name. If the Ravens were to lose him and Adalius Thomas, that would be a huge blow to them. I am not sure where they stand on the cap or with their free agents other than Thomas. What I do know is that they will be a tough team again next year.
So, while it looks like a tough schedule now, there is no telling how it will end up.
P.S. The Pats schedule looked to be a relative cakewalk this year and it ended up beign pretty tough.
