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.

But another thing that stands out when looking at the 2016 schedule is that 14 of the Cowboys’ 16 opponents were below average pass defenses in 2015 as measured by their defensive passer rating. The table below shows the Cowboys' 2016 schedule, including each team’s defensive passer rating. Note that the NFL average defensive passer rating last year was 88.4.

Week Opponent CMP ATT YDS CMP% YPA TD INT Rating 1 New York Giants 423 638 4,920 66.3% 7.7 31 15 95.9 2 @ Washington Redskins 354 566 4,392 62.5% 7.8 30 11 96.1 3 Chicago Bears 322 513 3,830 62.8% 7.5 31 8 99.1 4 @ San Francisco 49ers 375 549 4,375 68.3% 8.0 21 9 98.1 5 Cincinnati Bengals 415 646 4,264 64.2% 6.6 18 21 78.9 6 @ Green Bay Packers 321 551 3,898 58.3% 7.1 20 16 80.1 7 Bye Week 8 Philadelphia Eagles 394 633 4,516 62.2% 7.1 36 15 92.8 9 @ Cleveland Browns 322 511 4,169 63.0% 8.2 34 11 101.8 10 @ Pittsburgh Steelers 402 625 4,661 64.3% 7.5 29 17 90.9 11 Baltimore Ravens 350 545 3,957 64.2% 7.3 30 6 99.6 12 Washington Redskins 354 566 4,392 62.5% 7.8 30 11 96.1 13 @ Minnesota Vikings 359 561 4,042 64.0% 7.2 24 13 90.0 14 @ New York Giants 423 638 4,920 66.3% 7.7 31 15 95.9 15 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 378 541 4,072 69.9% 7.5 31 11 102.3 16 Detroit Lions 360 528 4,065 68.2% 7.7 27 9 100.9 17 @ Philadelphia Eagles 394 633 4,516 62.2% 7.1 36 15 92.8

14 games against below average pass defenses is a heck of a lot. The Giants are the only other team in the league to face the same amount of below average opponents, and as you'd expect, there are some significant differences between the schedules of all teams: Denver and San Diego have their job cut out for them, as they'll only face six teams each with below average pass defenses.

In principle, this should bode well for the Cowboys' passing game. Last year, the 16 opponents on the Cowboys' 2016 schedule combined for a defensive passer rating of 94.2, the second worst value in the league only to the Giants' 16 opponents (94.3). Other categories in which the Cowboys opponents didn't look too good.

Completions allowed: 31st

Passing Yards allowed: 31st

Completion percentage allowed: 31st

Yards allowed per attempt: 31st

Passing TDs allowed: 32nd

Today, winning in the NFL is all about passing efficiency. The best offenses are those that pass the ball the most effectively, the best defenses are those that prevent their opponents from passing it effectively.

Provided the Cowboys offense stays relatively healthy, and with the possible added boost of playing against some of he weaker pass defenses in the league, the Cowboys should reasonably be expected to have one of the more efficient passing offenses in the league this year.

The Cowboys defense on the other hand finished last year with a defensive passer rating of 94.2, which ranked them 20th in the league. To get the most out of their anticipated offensive production, the Cowboys need to figure out a way to improve their own defensive passer rating. Because the best teams in the league are good at both: The best teams in the league are those that pass the ball the most effectively and that prevent their opponents from passing it effectively.

Here is the full list of the combined defensive passer rating for each Team's 2016 opponents. The table is sortable, just click on the blue column headers to sort.