Happy New Year. We’ve reached 2015, and while there are still 11 playoff games to be played, we now know the matchups for the 256 regular season games in the upcoming season.
Each team plays six games inside its division, four against a division from the same conference and four against a division in the other conference. The final two games for each opponent are against the remaining two teams in its conference that finished in the same spot in its division. (The Steelers, for example, won the AFC North, so they’re guaranteed to play the other three first-place teams in that conference – Broncos, Patriots and Colts).
Using 2014 records, the Falcons, Colts and Texans project to play the easiest schedules in 2015. Atlanta’s schedule is unusually soft, with opponents going a combined 104-150-2 last yer.
The Steelers, Bengals and 49er project to play the hardest schedule. Pittsburgh is notable, because it benefitted in 2014 from playing one of the easiest schedules.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (2015) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | Pct |
Atlanta | 104 | 150 | 2 | .410 |
Indianapolis | 106 | 149 | 1 | .416 |
Houston | 106 | 148 | 2 | .418 |
Tampa Bay | 108 | 146 | 2 | .426 |
New Orleans | 109 | 145 | 2 | .430 |
Carolina | 111 | 145 | 0 | .434 |
Tennessee | 111 | 144 | 1 | .436 |
Jacksonville | 118 | 137 | 1 | .463 |
Dallas | 119 | 136 | 1 | .467 |
Philadelphia | 121 | 134 | 1 | .475 |
New England | 122 | 134 | 0 | .477 |
Washington | 122 | 133 | 1 | .479 |
NY Giants | 122 | 133 | 1 | .479 |
NY Jets | 125 | 131 | 0 | .488 |
Buffalo | 124 | 131 | 1 | .486 |
Miami | 126 | 130 | 0 | .492 |
San Diego | 132 | 123 | 1 | .518 |
Detroit | 135 | 121 | 0 | .527 |
Green Bay | 135 | 120 | 1 | .529 |
Chicago | 136 | 120 | 0 | .531 |
Minnesota | 138 | 118 | 0 | .539 |
Denver | 138 | 117 | 1 | .541 |
Baltimore | 137 | 117 | 2 | .539 |
Oakland | 139 | 116 | 1 | .545 |
Kansas City | 139 | 116 | 1 | .545 |
Cleveland | 138 | 116 | 2 | .543 |
St. Louis | 141 | 114 | 1 | .553 |
Arizona | 142 | 113 | 1 | .557 |
Seattle | 142 | 112 | 2 | .559 |
San Francisco | 143 | 112 | 1 | .561 |
Cincinnati | 144 | 112 | 0 | .563 |
Pittsburgh | 147 | 107 | 2 | .578 |
—Ian Allan