Checking in with the weekly look at Strength of Schedule. I’m going with wins and losses this time, and they indicate that when it comes to playoff spots, two teams to keep an eye on are Kansas City and Washington.
Kansas City has the league’s easiest remaining schedule, with its remaining five opponents currently sporting a combined record of 19-36. That puts them in the driver’s seat, I think for an AFC wild card spot.
Washington is just a game back, and that might help win the NFC East. Note that the other 5-6 team in that division, has the league’s third-hardest schedule the rest of the way.
Atlanta currently is 6-5, but that team looks done. It is 1-5 in its last six games, and it plays the hardest remaining schedule. The Eagles also stand out as a team with a difficult remaining schedule.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 13-16) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | Pct |
Kansas City | 14 | 30 | .318 |
Washington | 17 | 27 | .386 |
Seattle | 18 | 26 | .409 |
New England | 18 | 26 | .409 |
Miami | 18 | 26 | .409 |
Jacksonville | 18 | 26 | .409 |
Detroit | 18 | 26 | .409 |
Buffalo | 18 | 26 | .409 |
Tampa Bay | 19 | 25 | .432 |
San Francisco | 20 | 24 | .455 |
NY Jets | 20 | 24 | .455 |
Indianapolis | 20 | 24 | .455 |
Cincinnati | 20 | 24 | .455 |
Green Bay | 21 | 23 | .477 |
Chicago | 21 | 23 | .477 |
Carolina | 21 | 23 | .477 |
Baltimore | 22 | 22 | .500 |
Houston | 23 | 21 | .523 |
Denver | 23 | 21 | .523 |
Dallas | 23 | 21 | .523 |
Arizona | 23 | 21 | .523 |
St. Louis | 24 | 20 | .545 |
San Diego | 24 | 20 | .545 |
New Orleans | 24 | 20 | .545 |
Cleveland | 24 | 20 | .545 |
Oakland | 25 | 19 | .568 |
Minnesota | 25 | 19 | .568 |
Tennessee | 26 | 18 | .591 |
Pittsburgh | 28 | 16 | .636 |
Philadelphia | 29 | 15 | .659 |
NY Giants | 29 | 15 | .659 |
Atlanta | 31 | 13 | .705 |
If you’re in a league going all the way to Week 17, it looks like this …
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 13-17) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | Pct |
Kansas City | 19 | 36 | .345 |
Washington | 20 | 35 | .364 |
New England | 22 | 33 | .400 |
Indianapolis | 22 | 33 | .400 |
Detroit | 23 | 32 | .418 |
San Francisco | 24 | 31 | .436 |
Jacksonville | 24 | 31 | .436 |
Cincinnati | 24 | 31 | .436 |
Buffalo | 24 | 31 | .436 |
NY Jets | 25 | 30 | .455 |
Chicago | 25 | 30 | .455 |
Denver | 26 | 29 | .473 |
Carolina | 26 | 29 | .473 |
St. Louis | 27 | 28 | .491 |
Seattle | 27 | 28 | .491 |
Houston | 27 | 28 | .491 |
Miami | 28 | 27 | .509 |
Dallas | 28 | 27 | .509 |
Green Bay | 29 | 26 | .527 |
Arizona | 29 | 26 | .527 |
Tampa Bay | 30 | 25 | .545 |
Pittsburgh | 30 | 25 | .545 |
New Orleans | 30 | 25 | .545 |
Cleveland | 30 | 25 | .545 |
Oakland | 31 | 24 | .564 |
Baltimore | 31 | 24 | .564 |
Tennessee | 32 | 23 | .582 |
Minnesota | 32 | 23 | .582 |
San Diego | 33 | 22 | .600 |
NY Giants | 33 | 22 | .600 |
Philadelphia | 34 | 21 | .618 |
Atlanta | 35 | 20 | .636 |
—Ian Allan