Updating some of my charts (I do a lot of that at this time of year) I am reminded that the Jets really made a mess of things last year. On the one hand, they had a nice season, winning more games and scoring more points than anyone realistically had expected. But on the other, they fell short of the playoffs, failing to take advantage of a ridiculously easy schedule.

With strength of schedule, I have one huge file where I store all of this stuff. I’ve got all of the numbers for over 20 years – expected strength of schedule, and how it actually played out. And on this front, New York’s schedule played out unusually well.

The 16 opponents of the Jets went 107-133 in their other games (that’s after they went 6-10 against the Jets themselves). In the last 13 years, only 12 teams have played easier schedules.

The Dolphins and Jaguars also had easy schedules this year, and they both also failed to do much with them.

EASIEST SCHEDULES SINCE 2003
YearTeamWLTPct
2007Seattle981420.408
2010Kansas City1001400.417
2007Arizona1011390.421
2007Cleveland1031370.429
2003Kansas City1041360.433
2012Atlanta1051350.438
2008San Francisco1051341.440
2012Cincinnati1061340.442
2010St. Louis1061340.442
2009New Orleans1061340.442
2007San Francisco1061340.442
2004Atlanta1061340.442
2015NY Jets1071330.446
2008Buffalo1071330.446
2006Chicago1071330.446
2005Seattle1071330.446
2004Seattle1071330.446
2003St. Louis1071330.446
2014Houston1071321.448
2013Detroit1061304.450
2012San Diego1081320.450
2012Indianapolis1081320.450
2012Oakland1081320.450
2010Jacksonville1081320.450
2010Arizona1081320.450
2009Arizona1081320.450
2009Green Bay1081320.450
2007Cincinnati1081320.450
2006Atlanta1081320.450
2004Arizona1081320.450
2004Chicago1081320.450
2013Green Bay1081311.452
2013Kansas City1091310.454
2009Minnesota1091310.454
2008Denver1091310.454
2007Pittsburgh1091310.454
2006Seattle1091310.454
2003Carolina1091310.454
2003Cincinnati1091310.454
2015Miami1101300.458
2015Jacksonville1101300.458
2014Dallas1101300.458
2013Philadelphia1091292.458
2011Houston1101300.458
2011New Orleans1101300.458
2010NY Giants1101300.458
2010San Diego1101300.458
2006Dallas1101300.458
2005Miami1101300.458
2005Carolina1101300.458
2005Tampa Bay1101300.458
2003Minnesota1101300.458

—Ian Allan