Among the 12 teams in the postseason, the Saints played the hardest schedule (followed by the Seahawks, 49ers and Panthers). The Packers, Eagles and Kansas City played the easiest schedules.
This is based on wins and losses, and doesn't include teams own games. That is, Denver's opponents went 120-136 -- 3-13 against the Broncos, and 117-123 against the rest of the league.
To make for more of an apples-to-apples comparison, the chart below looks at just the "other" games (otherwise all teams with really good records will tend to look like they played easy schedules, and teams with losing records will appear to be victims of bad luck).
Overall, the Lions had the easiest schedule, which is proof they really underachieved this year. No way a team with that talent and that schedule should be home during the postseason. The Bucs, Rams and Cardinals played the hardest schedules.
One can argue that Arizona is more deserving of a playoff berth than the Packers and Eagles. The Cardinals went 10-6 while playing a tough schedule (opponents went 130-110 against other teams). Green Bay went only 8-7-1 against opponents going a combined 108-131-1.
Below are the final numbers (with playoff teams in bold).
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, FINAL | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Win | Loss | Tie | Pct |
Detroit | 106 | 130 | 4 | .450 |
Green Bay | 108 | 131 | 1 | .452 |
Kansas City | 109 | 131 | 0 | .454 |
Philadelphia | 109 | 129 | 2 | .458 |
Chicago | 109 | 127 | 4 | .463 |
Pittsburgh | 111 | 127 | 2 | .467 |
Baltimore | 115 | 123 | 2 | .483 |
Dallas | 115 | 123 | 2 | .483 |
Denver | 117 | 123 | 0 | .488 |
Jacksonville | 117 | 123 | 0 | .488 |
New England | 117 | 123 | 0 | .488 |
NY Jets | 117 | 123 | 0 | .488 |
Cincinnati | 117 | 121 | 2 | .492 |
Indianapolis | 119 | 121 | 0 | .496 |
Washington | 118 | 120 | 2 | .496 |
Cleveland | 119 | 119 | 2 | .500 |
San Diego | 120 | 120 | 0 | .500 |
Tennessee | 120 | 120 | 0 | .500 |
Minnesota | 120 | 119 | 1 | .502 |
Oakland | 122 | 118 | 0 | .508 |
Carolina | 122 | 117 | 1 | .510 |
San Francisco | 122 | 117 | 1 | .510 |
Seattle | 122 | 117 | 1 | .510 |
Buffalo | 123 | 117 | 0 | .513 |
NY Giants | 123 | 115 | 2 | .517 |
Miami | 126 | 114 | 0 | .525 |
New Orleans | 127 | 113 | 0 | .529 |
Houston | 129 | 111 | 0 | .538 |
Atlanta | 129 | 110 | 1 | .540 |
Arizona | 130 | 110 | 0 | .542 |
St. Louis | 132 | 108 | 0 | .550 |
Tampa Bay | 135 | 105 | 0 | .563 |
--Ian Allan