It appears to be a notable year for schedules. The two South divisions were the weakest in the league last year, and by luck of the draw, those teams all play each other. So unusually easy schedules for those teams – historically easy.
I’ve got all of the schedules for the last 10 years in front of me (2006-2015). Of those 320 schedules, seven of the 15 easiest schedules come from this year, with the Falcons, Colts and Texans leading the way.
The only “south” team not getting in this party is Jacksonville, which is seven games back at 118-137-1. Unlike the Colts and Texans (in the same division) the Jaguars don’t get the benefit of playing two games against themselves. And their schedule is harder then the Titans because they’re playing 3rd-place teams in their at-large games (while Tennessee has last-place teams).
EASIEST SCHEDULES OF THE LAST 10 YEARS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | W | L | T | Pct |
2008 | New England | 99 | 157 | 0 | .387 |
2015 | Atlanta | 104 | 150 | 2 | .410 |
2009 | Chicago | 105 | 149 | 2 | .414 |
2015 | Indianapolis | 106 | 149 | 1 | .416 |
2015 | Houston | 106 | 148 | 2 | .418 |
2009 | Minnesota | 107 | 148 | 1 | .420 |
2008 | San Diego | 108 | 148 | 0 | .422 |
2015 | Tampa Bay | 108 | 146 | 2 | .426 |
2009 | Green Bay | 109 | 146 | 1 | .428 |
2015 | New Orleans | 109 | 145 | 2 | .430 |
2014 | Indianapolis | 110 | 146 | 0 | .430 |
2013 | Denver | 110 | 146 | 0 | .430 |
2015 | Carolina | 111 | 145 | 0 | .434 |
2009 | Pittsburgh | 110 | 144 | 2 | .434 |
2015 | Tennessee | 111 | 144 | 1 | .436 |
2014 | Tennessee | 112 | 144 | 0 | .438 |
2009 | Baltimore | 111 | 143 | 2 | .438 |
2008 | Oakland | 112 | 144 | 0 | .438 |
2014 | Houston | 113 | 143 | 0 | .441 |
2011 | Arizona | 113 | 143 | 0 | .441 |
2009 | Arizona | 113 | 143 | 0 | .441 |
Two heavyweight divisions also go toe-to-toe – the AFC North and the NFC West – and those teams tend to have the hardest schedules. It’s not as glaring, but of the 25 hardest schedules in the last 10 year, 2015 is represented six times.
HARDEST SCHEDULES OF THE LAST 10 YEARS | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | W | L | T | Pct |
2008 | Pittsburgh | 153 | 103 | 0 | .598 |
2009 | Miami | 152 | 104 | 0 | .594 |
2008 | Indianapolis | 152 | 104 | 0 | .594 |
2009 | Carolina | 151 | 104 | 1 | .592 |
2009 | New England | 151 | 105 | 0 | .590 |
2009 | Atlanta | 150 | 105 | 1 | .588 |
2009 | Tampa Bay | 148 | 107 | 1 | .580 |
2015 | Pittsburgh | 147 | 107 | 2 | .578 |
2014 | Oakland | 148 | 108 | 0 | .578 |
2014 | Denver | 146 | 110 | 0 | .570 |
2009 | Buffalo | 146 | 110 | 0 | .570 |
2009 | NY Jets | 145 | 110 | 1 | .568 |
2014 | St. Louis | 144 | 111 | 1 | .564 |
2015 | Cincinnati | 144 | 112 | 0 | .563 |
2014 | San Diego | 144 | 112 | 0 | .563 |
2014 | San Francisco | 144 | 112 | 0 | .563 |
2015 | San Francisco | 143 | 112 | 1 | .561 |
2014 | Seattle | 143 | 112 | 1 | .561 |
2015 | Seattle | 142 | 112 | 2 | .559 |
2014 | Kansas City | 143 | 113 | 0 | .559 |
2008 | Jacksonville | 143 | 113 | 0 | .559 |
2015 | Arizona | 142 | 113 | 1 | .557 |
2009 | New Orleans | 142 | 113 | 1 | .557 |
2011 | Carolina | 142 | 114 | 0 | .555 |
2015 | St. Louis | 141 | 114 | 1 | .553 |
2008 | Minnesota | 141 | 115 | 0 | .551 |
2008 | Baltimore | 141 | 115 | 0 | .551 |
—Ian Allan