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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | Pct |
| Kansas City | 3 | 9 | .250 |
| St. Louis | 3 | 9 | .250 |
| Washington | 3 | 8 | .273 |
| Denver | 4 | 8 | .333 |
| Green Bay | 3 | 6 | .333 |
| Cincinnati | 4 | 7 | .364 |
| Chicago | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Dallas | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Detroit | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Indianapolis | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Minnesota | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Oakland | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Pittsburgh | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Tennessee | 5 | 7 | .417 |
| Carolina | 4 | 5 | .444 |
| Seattle | 5 | 6 | .455 |
| Arizona | 6 | 6 | .500 |
| Cleveland | 6 | 6 | .500 |
| New England | 6 | 6 | .500 |
| New Orleans | 6 | 6 | .500 |
| San Diego | 6 | 6 | .500 |
| Buffalo | 7 | 4 | .636 |
| NY Giants | 7 | 4 | .636 |
| San Francisco | 7 | 4 | .636 |
| Baltimore | 8 | 4 | .667 |
| Jacksonville | 8 | 4 | .667 |
| NY Jets | 8 | 4 | .667 |
| Philadelphia | 8 | 4 | .667 |
| Tampa Bay | 8 | 4 | .667 |
| Atlanta | 9 | 3 | .750 |
| Houston | 9 | 3 | .750 |
| Miami | 9 | 3 | .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 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | W | L | Pct |
| Philadelphia | 16 | 31 | .340 |
| Detroit | 16 | 30 | .348 |
| Seattle | 19 | 29 | .396 |
| Chicago | 19 | 27 | .413 |
| Green Bay | 22 | 30 | .423 |
| San Francisco | 20 | 27 | .426 |
| Dallas | 21 | 26 | .447 |
| NY Giants | 21 | 26 | .447 |
| Washington | 22 | 26 | .458 |
| Atlanta | 21 | 24 | .467 |
| Minnesota | 21 | 24 | .467 |
| Baltimore | 23 | 24 | .489 |
| Cleveland | 23 | 24 | .489 |
| Carolina | 26 | 26 | .500 |
| Arizona | 24 | 23 | .511 |
| Miami | 24 | 23 | .511 |
| Tennessee | 25 | 23 | .521 |
| New Orleans | 24 | 22 | .522 |
| Tampa Bay | 24 | 22 | .522 |
| NY Jets | 25 | 22 | .532 |
| Buffalo | 26 | 22 | .542 |
| Cincinnati | 26 | 22 | .542 |
| Houston | 26 | 22 | .542 |
| Oakland | 26 | 22 | .542 |
| Pittsburgh | 26 | 21 | .553 |
| Jacksonville | 27 | 21 | .563 |
| Kansas City | 27 | 21 | .563 |
| San Diego | 27 | 21 | .563 |
| New England | 27 | 20 | .574 |
| Denver | 28 | 20 | .583 |
| Indianapolis | 28 | 20 | .583 |
| St. Louis | 28 | 19 | .596 |

