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Strength of schedule tidbits

Eagles, Lions, Seahawks have easiest schedules

With most teams now having played four games, Strength of Schedule starts becoming meaningful. Which teams have benefited from easy schedules? Which teams have been hurt? And what do the schedules look like the rest of the way? Ian Allan has the answers

For starters, notice the difference between two of the surprise teams, Kansas City and Miami.

Kansas City hasn't played anybody. It's taken care of business, with home wins against the Giants and Cowboys. It won at Philadelphia, and it got a gimme win over Jacksonville. But those teams are a combined 3-13. So even setting aside the KC games, so teams are a combined 3-9. Not impressive.

Miami, on the other hand, has played against some legit teams. No shame in losing at 4-0 New Orleans. The Dolphins beat Atlanta, won at Indianapolis (which is 3-1), and won at 2-2 Cleveland. Relative to games played, the Dolphins have been more impressive than Kansas City.

(Now, Ryan Tannehill needs to stop taking so many sacks and hang onto the ball.)

Houston and Atlanta are two other teams that have played hard schedules.

St. Louis and Washington are the two other teams that have played easy schedule. That's bad. When you can't win against the lesser opposition, you're headed for a long season.

Strength of Schedule (Points) Weeks 5-17
TeamWLPct
Kansas City39.250
St. Louis39.250
Washington38.273
Denver48.333
Green Bay36.333
Cincinnati47.364
Chicago57.417
Dallas57.417
Detroit57.417
Indianapolis57.417
Minnesota57.417
Oakland57.417
Pittsburgh57.417
Tennessee57.417
Carolina45.444
Seattle56.455
Arizona66.500
Cleveland66.500
New England66.500
New Orleans66.500
San Diego66.500
Buffalo74.636
NY Giants74.636
San Francisco74.636
Baltimore84.667
Jacksonville84.667
NY Jets84.667
Philadelphia84.667
Tampa Bay84.667
Atlanta93.750
Houston93.750
Miami93.750

There are 13 weeks left, of course. Those are more important. According to wins and losses (I did points a few days ago), it looks like the Iggles, Lions, Seahawks and Bears have the easiest remaining schedules.

The Rams, Colts, Broncos and Patriots seem to have the hardest schedules left. With both Rams and Broncos, note that they're schedules thus far have been on the soft side.

Numbers will change. I'll check back on these in a week or two (or both). But that's how scheduling is shaping up.

Strength of Schedule (Points) Weeks 5-17
TeamWLPct
Philadelphia1631.340
Detroit1630.348
Seattle1929.396
Chicago1927.413
Green Bay2230.423
San Francisco2027.426
Dallas2126.447
NY Giants2126.447
Washington2226.458
Atlanta2124.467
Minnesota2124.467
Baltimore2324.489
Cleveland2324.489
Carolina2626.500
Arizona2423.511
Miami2423.511
Tennessee2523.521
New Orleans2422.522
Tampa Bay2422.522
NY Jets2522.532
Buffalo2622.542
Cincinnati2622.542
Houston2622.542
Oakland2622.542
Pittsburgh2621.553
Jacksonville2721.563
Kansas City2721.563
San Diego2721.563
New England2720.574
Denver2820.583
Indianapolis2820.583
St. Louis2819.596

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