I suspect they'll lose some games we'll expect they'll win, and vice versa because that happens every year, but yeah that seven game stretch coming out of the bye looks much more daunting than the first three.
The key to me when looking at the schedule as a whole is going to be playing great run defense every week. It seems like almost every week presents a new challenge with the opponent's running attack, beginning with week 1 against arguably the best back in the NFL, and also drawing Shady McCoy, Charles, of course Lynch and Gore twice, Murray, a possibly rejuvenated Doug Martin, Ellington twice, Ryan Mathews played much better last year, Alfred Morris. Even a guy like Montee Ball could ruin our day if the whole focus is on Manning, and Oakland went out and got MJD, whose best years are behind him but could still do some damage.
Some of the teams they play have a power run blocking scheme, some play a zone. Some play with quick elusive backs and some play with big bruisers, and some have freakish hybrid guys. But from week to week stopping those backs is going to be paramount.
