NFL's Easiest And Toughest Schedules Of 2011

Which teams in the NFL have the best schedules heading into the 2011 season? I've broken it down into 2 categories passing yards allowed and rushing yards allowed in 2010 for each team. Rather than attempt to predict defensive production for the 2011 season (which has a high rate of error), last season's schedule was deemed as good a measure as any. Yes, I should have downgraded Oakland's passing defense and upgraded Philly's pass defense based on the Asomogua signing, but alas I did not. He is one man. The strength of schedule lists below are intended for use in ranking players for fantasy football drafts, not determining the probability a team wins a specific number of games.

The results are that Indy, Philly, and Pittsburgh have the best schedules in terms of the pass defense of their opponents, while Kansas, Denver, and Chicago have the worst. Miami, Tennessee, and San Diego face the worst rushing defenses, while Arizona, Cleveland, and Baltimore face the toughest run defenses. When you combine rushing and passing, Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and Indianapolis have the best schedules.

Best Schedules For Passing Yards: Rank based on the sum passing yards allowed in 2010 for each team's 2011 opponents.

1. Indianapolis
2. Pittsburgh
3. Philadelphia
4. Cincinnati
5. Arizona
6. San Francisco
7. Cleveland
8. NY Giants
9. Seattle
10. St. Louis
11. Tennessee
12. Baltimore
13. Dallas
14. Tampa Bay
15. Carolina
16. Buffalo
17. Jacksonville
18. Washington
19. NY Jets
20. Miami
21. New Orleans
22. Houston
23. Atlanta
24. San Diego
25. Oakland
26. Minnesota
27. Green Bay
28. Detroit
29. New England
30. Chicago
31. Denver
32. Kansas City

Best Schedules For Rushing Yards: Rank based on the sum rushing yards allowed in 2010 for each team's 2011 opponents.

1. Miami
2. Tennessee
3. San Diego
4. NY Jets
5. Minnesota
6. Chicago
7. Carolina
8. Dallas
9. Atlanta
10. NY Giants
11. San Francisco
12. Oakland
13. Kansas City
14. New England
15. Cincinnati
16. New Orleans
17. Pittsburgh
18. Houston
19. Green Bay
20. Philadelphia
21. Washington
22. Denver
23. St. Louis
24. Tampa Bay
25. Indianapolis
26. Detroit
27. Buffalo
28. Jacksonville
29. Seattle
30. Baltimore
31. Cleveland
32. Arizona

Best overall schedules combining passing and rushing.

1. Pittsburgh
2. Tennessee
3. Indianapolis
4. Cincinnati
5. San Francisco
6. NY Giants
7. Philadelphia
8. Dallas
9. Miami
10. NY Jets
11. Carolina
12. St. Louis
13. San Diego
14. New Orleans
15. Atlanta
16. Houston
17. Seattle
18. Tampa Bay
19. Washington
20. Arizona
21. Cleveland
22. Baltimore
23. Minnesota
24. Oakland
25. Buffalo
26. Jacksonville
27. Chicago
28. New England
29. Green Bay
30. Kansas City
31. Detroit
32. Denver