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Schedule strength means a lot when it comes to deciding who gets a postseason berth in the NFL. An easy schedule didnt hand the Carolina Panthers a playoff spot, but it was a big reason they went 15-1 last year. An easy schedule kept the New York Jets in playoff contention until the end of the season, and it helped propel the Washington Redskins to a surprise NFC East crown. So its important to know which teams are going to get a schedule boost in 2016.Weve crunched the numbers using our projections of Football Outsiders DVOA ratings, which account for general statistical trends and specific personnel changes. The numbers here come from an updated set of projections that account for preseason injuries and suspensions. For major injuries that dont have a definite timetable, we assumed Tony Romo would be back by Week 12 with a 50 percent chance of returning between Week 8 and Week 11, and we assumed Justin Houston would return to the Kansas City Chiefs sometime between Week 7 and Week 10.Of course, the strongest projected schedule for 2016 is only about half as strong as the hardest schedule from 2015, because our team projections are naturally conservative. Going into a new season, no team is guaranteed to be as good as last years best team or as bad as last years worst team.Here are all 32 teams ranked in order from the hardest projected schedule to the easiest. You can read the full file or skip directly to your team using the links below.ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAC | KC | LA | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | OAK | PHI | PIT | SD | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WAS1. San Francisco 49ersAverage projected DVOA of opponents: 4.5 percent Hardest schedule stretch: Weeks 1-3 (Rams, at Panthers, at Seahawks)This is what happens when you play in a division with the two of the best teams in the NFL. In fact, Seattle and Arizona are the two best teams going into 2016, according to our projections, and the Rams are about average. It doesnt help that the two teams the 49ers play by virtue of finishing last in 2015, Dallas and Chicago, are both expected to improve this season. At least the 49ers game against the Cowboys comes in Week 4, long before Tony Romo has any hope of returning. Bruce Smith Jersey . - Goaltender Philippe Desrosiers of the Rimouski Oceanic has broken a shutout record that was only three months old in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. Doug Flutie Jersey . PAUL, Minn. http://www.shoptheofficialbills.com/Elite-OJ-Simpson-Bills-Jersey/ . Tuesdays surgery at Atlantas Piedmont Hospital was performed by Dr. Xavier Duralde and Hawks team physician Dr. Michael Bernot. Buffalo Bills Jerseys . Booth picked up 65 caps after making her national team debut in 2002 at the age of 17. She most recently played for Sky Blue FC of the National Womens Soccer League. "It just felt like it was my time to move on," she said in a phone interview from her hometown of Burlington, Ont. Custom Buffalo Bills Jerseys . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. LOS ANGELES -- Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to pitch Friday at Miami after spending more than two months on the disabled list with a herniated disk.Manager Dave Roberts says Kershaw wont have a specific pitch count, but the team will be looking at the big picture with the playoffs coming up next month. The Dodgers lead the NL West by two games over San Francisco.Kershaw dominated in his lone rehab start at Class A Rancho Cucamonga on Saturday night. The left-hander allowed only an infield hit, struck out five and walked none. He threw 35 pitches in the game and another 15 in the bullpen to reach his 50-pitch limit for the night.Clayton texted me a couple of times and told me hes excited, Roberts said Sunday. It will be a big lift for the guys.Kershaws impending return, along with Kenta Maeda starting Monday against Arizona and two solid starts by Rich Hill, gives the Dodgers tattered rotation a major boost.We can put our toop three with any in baseball, but it starts with Clayton, Roberts said.ddddddddddddKershaw was 11-2 with a 1.79 ERA before getting injured in late June.Fridays game is the start of a 10-game road trip that includes three games against the Yankees.Still on the disabled list are pitchers Hyun-Jin Ryu, Brett Anderson, Scott Kazmir, Brandon McCarthy and Alex Wood.Anderson followed Kershaw in Saturdays game, but was again bothered by a blister and was to meet Sunday with the teams medical staff.Ryu appears out for the season because of a left elbow injury. Wood could be back in a bullpen role.McCarthy was to pitch Sunday at Rancho Cucamonga. Kazmir will start Wednesday at Triple-A Oklahoma City, throwing six innings with a 90-pitch limit. Roberts said Kazmir is likely to start one of the three games at New York. ' ' '