If you’re looking for a team that will start the season strong, the Saints look like the best bet. They’ve got a strong offense, of course, but they’ll also be helped along by an easy schedule.
The Broncos, meanwhile, project to play the hardest schedule early in the year.
The Saints’ first five games are against teams that went a combined 25-54-1 last year, allowing a league-high 26.9 points per game.
The Broncos, meanwhile, are playing teams that went 53-27 last year, allowing a league-low 19.8 points per game.
Also seeing easy schedule early: Giants, Texans, Steelers.
Others facing tough schedules early: Kansas City, San Francisco, Chicago and Baltimore.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, WINS (first 5 games) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | Pct |
New Orleans | 25 | 54 | 1 | .319 |
NY Giants | 26 | 54 | 0 | .325 |
Houston | 28 | 52 | 0 | .350 |
Pittsburgh | 32 | 48 | 0 | .400 |
Buffalo | 34 | 46 | 0 | .425 |
Carolina | 35 | 45 | 0 | .438 |
Washington | 36 | 44 | 0 | .450 |
NY Jets | 36 | 43 | 1 | .456 |
Philadelphia | 37 | 43 | 0 | .463 |
Atlanta | 38 | 41 | 1 | .481 |
Oakland | 39 | 41 | 0 | .488 |
Dallas | 39 | 41 | 0 | .488 |
St. Louis | 39 | 40 | 1 | .494 |
New England | 39 | 40 | 1 | .494 |
Jacksonville | 41 | 39 | 0 | .513 |
San Diego | 41 | 39 | 0 | .513 |
Green Bay | 41 | 38 | 1 | .519 |
Miami | 41 | 38 | 1 | .519 |
Detroit | 41 | 38 | 1 | .519 |
Seattle | 41 | 38 | 1 | .519 |
Cleveland | 42 | 38 | 0 | .525 |
Tampa Bay | 42 | 38 | 0 | .525 |
Indianapolis | 42 | 38 | 0 | .525 |
Minnesota | 42 | 37 | 1 | .531 |
Cincinnati | 43 | 37 | 0 | .538 |
Arizona | 44 | 36 | 0 | .550 |
Tennessee | 45 | 35 | 0 | .563 |
Baltimore | 46 | 34 | 0 | .575 |
Chicago | 46 | 33 | 1 | .581 |
San Francisco | 47 | 33 | 0 | .588 |
Kansas City | 52 | 28 | 0 | .650 |
Denver | 53 | 27 | 0 | .663 |
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, POINTS (first 5 games) | |
---|---|
Team | Points |
New Orleans | 26.9 |
Houston | 26.7 |
Seattle | 26.1 |
NY Jets | 26.0 |
NY Giants | 25.6 |
Buffalo | 24.6 |
Carolina | 24.6 |
Indianapolis | 24.5 |
St. Louis | 24.4 |
Green Bay | 24.4 |
San Francisco | 24.0 |
Jacksonville | 23.9 |
Miami | 23.9 |
Philadelphia | 23.7 |
Arizona | 23.5 |
New England | 23.5 |
Minnesota | 23.5 |
Washington | 23.4 |
Atlanta | 23.3 |
Pittsburgh | 23.0 |
Oakland | 23.0 |
Detroit | 22.8 |
Tennessee | 22.3 |
San Diego | 22.2 |
Cleveland | 22.2 |
Cincinnati | 21.9 |
Dallas | 21.9 |
Kansas City | 21.6 |
Tampa Bay | 21.5 |
Chicago | 21.5 |
Baltimore | 20.7 |
Denver | 19.8 |
—Ian Allan