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Quality opponents

Steelers have won six in a row against non-losing teams

In measuring these 12 playoff teams, we can look at how they play against quality opposition. That is, who cares if a team wins against Washington, Tampa Bay or Jacksonville? It’s wins against capable, functioning opposition that count.

In the regular season, it was the Broncos and Steelers that did the best in such games.

Denver went 9-3 in games against teams that didn’t finish with losing record (that is, 12 games against teams that went at least 8-8). The Steelers had the best percentage, going 6-1 against relevant opponents.

The Ravens and Panthers were the worst in these games. Baltimore went only 2-6, while the Panthers went just 1-5-1.

Here’s the team-by-team breakdowns, with scores of games against opponents that went at least 8-8 in the regular season.

Arizona(6-4)
San Diegowin18-17
San Franciscowin23-14
at Denverloss20-41
Philadelphiawin24-20
at Dallaswin28-17
Detroitwin14-6
at Seattleloss3-19
Kansas Citywin17-14
Seattleloss6-35
at San Franciscoloss17-20
Baltimore(2-6)
Cincinnatiloss16-23
Pittsburghwin26-6
at Indianapolisloss13-20
at Cincinnatiloss24-27
at Pittsburghloss23-43
San Diegoloss33-34
at Miamiwin28-13
at Houstonloss13-25
Carolina(1-5-1)
Detroitwin24-7
Pittsburghloss19-37
at Baltimoreloss10-38
at Cincinnatitie37-37
at Green Bayloss17-38
Seattleloss9-13
at Philadelphialoss21-45
Cincinnati(4-4)
at Baltimorewin23-16
at New Englandloss17-43
at Indianapolisloss0-27
Baltimorewin27-24
at Houstonwin22-13
Pittsburghloss21-42
Denverwin37-28
at Pittsburghloss17-27
Dallas(4-3)
San Franciscoloss17-28
Houstonwin20-17
at Seattlewin30-23
Arizonaloss17-28
Philadelphialoss10-33
at Philadelphiawin38-27
Indianapoliswin42-7
Denver(9-3)
Indianapoliswin31-24
Kansas Citywin24-17
at Seattleloss20-26
Arizonawin41-20
San Franciscowin42-17
San Diegowin35-21
at New Englandloss21-43
Miamiwin39-36
at Kansas Citywin29-16
Buffalowin24-17
at San Diegowin22-10
at Cincinnatiloss28-37
Detroit(2-4)
Green Baywin19-7
Buffaloloss14-17
Miamiwin20-16
at Arizonaloss6-14
at New Englandloss9-34
at Green Bayloss20-30
Green Bay(4-3)
at Seattleloss16-36
at Detroitloss7-19
at Miamiwin27-24
Philadelphiawin53-20
New Englandwin26-21
at Buffaloloss13-21
Detroitwin30-20
Indianapolis(4-5)
at Denverloss24-31
Philadelphialoss27-30
Baltimorewin20-13
at Houstonwin33-28
Cincinnatiwin27-0
at Pittsburghloss34-51
New Englandloss20-42
Houstonwin17-10
at Dallasloss7-42
New England(7-4)
at Miamiloss20-33
at Kansas Cityloss14-41
Cincinnatiwin43-17
at Buffalowin37-22
Denverwin43-21
at Indianapoliswin42-20
Detroitwin34-9
at Green Bayloss21-26
at San Diegowin23-14
Miamiwin41-13
Buffaloloss9-17
Pittsburgh(6-1)
at Baltimoreloss6-26
Houstonwin30-23
Indianapoliswin51-34
Baltimorewin43-23
at Cincinnatiwin42-21
Kansas Citywin20-12
Cincinnatiwin27-17
Seattle(7-3)
Green Baywin36-16
at San Diegoloss21-30
Denverwin26-20
Dallasloss23-30
at Kansas Cityloss20-24
Arizonawin19-3
at San Franciscowin19-3
at Philadelphiawin24-14
San Franciscowin17-7
at Arizonawin35-6

—Ian Allan

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