Fantasy Index Scheduletron -- strength-of-schedule analysis

The Associated Press is doing a weekly power ranking poll this year. It takes the rankings from 12 observers of the league – Rich Gannon, Chris Berman, Cris Collinsworth and others – and averages them into a poll.

They use the scoring system of 32 points for a first-place vote, 31 for a second-place vote, and so on. (Though to simplify and sharpen the rankings, we changed them to 31 down to 0 points for the last-place vote.)

If you then take those numbers and plug them into a Strength-of-Schedule calculator, the Patriots, Bills and Texans project to play the three easiest schedules in the league. Then there’s a sizeable drop to the next tier of schedules.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Browns, Giants and Cowboys project to play the hardest schedules. And the Ravens (who tied for last in our own version of the power ranking strength of schedule last week), as just a smidge behind the Cowboys, grading out with schedule No. 29.


STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Power rankings)
   Points   
   2414   New England
   2452   Buffalo
   2560   Houston
   2712   NY Jets
   2728   Chicago
   2744   Green Bay
   2771   Miami
   2774   Indianapolis
   2784   San Francisco
   2802   Tennessee
   2873   Jacksonville
   2884   Kansas City
   2889   Detroit
   2913   St. Louis
   2918   Oakland
   2932   Seattle
   2961   Minnesota
   2972   San Diego
   2987   Cincinnati
   3012   Atlanta
   3054   Tampa Bay
   3063   Pittsburgh
   3137   Arizona
   3194   Denver
   3210   Carolina
   3217   Philadelphia
   3316   New Orleans
   3327   Washington
   3381   Baltimore
   3385   Dallas
   3411   NY Giants
   3439   Cleveland


Here’s how the AP’s panel currently grades the teams …

ASSOCIATED PRESS "PRO32" POWER RANKINGS
   Points   
   362   Green Bay
   357   New England
   350   NY Giants
   324   San Francisco
   303   Baltimore
   302   Houston
   296   Pittsburgh
   278   Philadelphia
   260   New Orleans
   259   Denver
   245   Chicago
   245   Detroit
   243   Atlanta
   206   Cincinnati
   205   Dallas
   204   San Diego
   177   NY Jets
   170   Kansas City
   157   Buffalo
   155   Carolina
   150   Tennessee
   125   Seattle
   103   Arizona
   103   Oakland
   89   Washington
   88   Tampa Bay
   52   Miami
   43   St. Louis
   37   Minnesota
   30   Cleveland
   19   Jacksonville
   14   Indianapolis

—Ian Allan

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