Checking in with my weekly look at Strength of Schedule, and the Falcons, Chargers and Saints stand out the most. Thus far they’ve played two of the hardest schedules in the league, and they project two of the easiest schedules the rest of the way.
Starting with what teams have seen so far, the Texans, Giants and Steelers have played the hardest schedules through Week 8. Houston in particular has played the league’s hardest schedule, with its eight opponents going 33-21-0 in games against other teams. (That’s setting aside those teams doing 3-5 against the Texans.)
The Chargers, Saints and Falcons are the next three teams are that first group; they’ve tended to play harder schedules so far.
The Ravens, Seahawks and Jaguars so far have played the league’s easiest schedules. Baltimore’s seven opponents have gone only 19-27-1 against other teams.
The complete list …
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, Wins (Weeks 1-8) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | Pct |
Houston | 33 | 21 | 0 | .611 |
NY Giants | 25 | 17 | 1 | .593 |
Pittsburgh | 26 | 18 | 2 | .587 |
San Diego | 31 | 22 | 0 | .585 |
New Orleans | 25 | 19 | 1 | .567 |
Atlanta | 28 | 22 | 1 | .559 |
Green Bay | 25 | 20 | 0 | .556 |
Cincinnati | 29 | 24 | 0 | .547 |
Kansas City | 25 | 22 | 0 | .532 |
Chicago | 27 | 24 | 0 | .529 |
Minnesota | 23 | 22 | 0 | .511 |
Oakland | 26 | 25 | 0 | .510 |
Buffalo | 26 | 25 | 1 | .510 |
Washington | 25 | 26 | 0 | .490 |
Miami | 22 | 23 | 2 | .489 |
Tampa Bay | 22 | 23 | 1 | .489 |
Philadelphia | 22 | 23 | 1 | .489 |
Dallas | 21 | 22 | 2 | .489 |
New England | 25 | 27 | 2 | .481 |
Indianapolis | 26 | 28 | 0 | .481 |
Detroit | 25 | 27 | 1 | .481 |
Carolina | 21 | 23 | 1 | .478 |
Denver | 25 | 28 | 1 | .472 |
San Francisco | 19 | 23 | 2 | .455 |
Tennessee | 24 | 29 | 0 | .453 |
Cleveland | 23 | 28 | 2 | .453 |
Arizona | 23 | 28 | 0 | .451 |
Los Angeles | 19 | 24 | 2 | .444 |
NY Jets | 21 | 28 | 3 | .433 |
Jacksonville | 20 | 27 | 0 | .426 |
Seattle | 19 | 26 | 0 | .422 |
Baltimore | 19 | 27 | 1 | .415 |
Setting aside the first eight weeks and instead looking at the next eight weeks, the Dolphins, Falcons, Saints and Chargers project to play the easiest schedules through Week 16. That’s ignoring Week 17, which doesn’t factor into most leagues.)
Denver, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Carolina project to play the hardest schedules in Weeks 9-16. With the Colts and Panthers currently sitting with losing records, I’ll take that as evidence those teams aren’t necessarily likely to get back into the playoff picture.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, Wins (Weeks 9-16) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | Pct |
Miami | 23 | 37 | 1 | .385 |
Atlanta | 21 | 28 | 1 | .430 |
New Orleans | 25 | 33 | 1 | .432 |
San Diego | 23 | 30 | 0 | .434 |
Buffalo | 22 | 28 | 2 | .442 |
Pittsburgh | 23 | 29 | 1 | .443 |
Houston | 23 | 29 | 1 | .443 |
New England | 23 | 28 | 1 | .452 |
NY Giants | 27 | 32 | 1 | .458 |
Cincinnati | 24 | 28 | 0 | .462 |
Dallas | 27 | 31 | 1 | .466 |
Chicago | 24 | 27 | 1 | .471 |
Tennessee | 25 | 28 | 0 | .472 |
Los Angeles | 28 | 30 | 1 | .483 |
San Francisco | 26 | 27 | 1 | .491 |
Minnesota | 30 | 29 | 2 | .508 |
Arizona | 25 | 24 | 2 | .510 |
Seattle | 30 | 28 | 1 | .517 |
Oakland | 28 | 26 | 0 | .519 |
NY Jets | 27 | 25 | 0 | .519 |
Washington | 26 | 24 | 1 | .520 |
Green Bay | 31 | 28 | 2 | .525 |
Cleveland | 27 | 24 | 1 | .529 |
Tampa Bay | 31 | 27 | 1 | .534 |
Baltimore | 31 | 27 | 1 | .534 |
Detroit | 27 | 23 | 0 | .540 |
Philadelphia | 31 | 25 | 3 | .551 |
Kansas City | 34 | 27 | 0 | .557 |
Carolina | 33 | 25 | 2 | .567 |
Indianapolis | 31 | 22 | 0 | .585 |
Jacksonville | 38 | 24 | 0 | .613 |
Denver | 32 | 20 | 0 | .615 |
—Ian Allan