In 2016, the Dallas Cowboys play 14 games against defenses that had a 90+ defensive passer rating last season. A reason for optimism?
Each year, the league's annual schedule release prompts players, fans and coaches alike to debate which team has the toughest road to navigate through the course of the season. Using strength-of-schedule calculations like opponent win percentage, scoring differential, or number of playoff teams on the schedule, we annually try to figure out which teams have the toughest toughest schedules, and which teams have the softest.
When we did that exercise in January this year, we found that the Cowboys have the fifth "easist" schedule this year, meaning their 2016 opponents combined for the fifth lowest winning percentage in 2015.