The Monday night game is in the books, so a good time to take another look at the scheduling. This week I’m looking at the next four games for each team. (For most teams, Weeks 10-13; for those that still have a bye, Weeks 10-14).
Looking solely at touchdowns Miami, Arizona and Kansas City project to play the easiest schedules during the next month. They’re all playing their next four against defenses currently on pace (on average) to allow over 44 touchdowns. (That’s not including defense and special teams.)
Washington and San Francisco project to play the hardest schedules, facing defense that on average should finish the season allowing under 32 touchdowns. Atlanta has the league’s highest-scoring offense right now, but it projects to play the league’s 3rd-hardest schedule.
SCHEDULE, TOUCHDOWNS (next 4 games) | |
---|---|
Team | Avg |
Miami | 2.84 |
Arizona | 2.77 |
Kansas City | 2.75 |
NY Giants | 2.73 |
Baltimore | 2.69 |
Chicago | 2.69 |
Houston | 2.66 |
NY Jets | 2.64 |
Buffalo | 2.60 |
San Diego | 2.56 |
Philadelphia | 2.52 |
Pittsburgh | 2.52 |
New England | 2.52 |
Seattle | 2.47 |
Denver | 2.44 |
Carolina | 2.38 |
Los Angeles | 2.36 |
Oakland | 2.33 |
New Orleans | 2.33 |
Detroit | 2.28 |
Cleveland | 2.28 |
Tampa Bay | 2.25 |
Tennessee | 2.18 |
Minnesota | 2.17 |
Jacksonville | 2.17 |
Indianapolis | 2.14 |
Green Bay | 2.13 |
Dallas | 2.13 |
Cincinnati | 2.11 |
Atlanta | 2.03 |
San Francisco | 1.97 |
Washington | 1.81 |
Ben Roethlisberger and Cam Newton both come off lesser games, but scheduling suggests both will be better in the near future. Pittsburgh, Carolina and Kansas City have the easiest upcoming schedules for passing, with their next four games against defenses that on average are allowing over 276 passing yards per game.
Jacksonville, Atlanta and Washington project to play the hardest schedules during the next month for passing.
SCHEDULE, PASSING (next 4 games) | |
---|---|
Team | Avg |
Pittsburgh | 281.9 |
Carolina | 278.1 |
Kansas City | 276.1 |
Los Angeles | 275.2 |
Chicago | 275.2 |
Philadelphia | 275.0 |
Seattle | 274.8 |
NY Giants | 273.8 |
Cleveland | 270.6 |
Houston | 270.3 |
Buffalo | 269.4 |
Denver | 268.2 |
Baltimore | 264.6 |
Tampa Bay | 264.5 |
NY Jets | 262.3 |
Indianapolis | 262.0 |
San Diego | 261.5 |
Arizona | 258.5 |
Oakland | 257.4 |
Cincinnati | 256.8 |
New England | 256.8 |
New Orleans | 255.8 |
Tennessee | 254.9 |
Miami | 254.7 |
Detroit | 254.6 |
Dallas | 252.3 |
Minnesota | 250.9 |
Green Bay | 245.0 |
San Francisco | 242.9 |
Washington | 240.2 |
Atlanta | 237.8 |
Jacksonville | 235.1 |
The Jets, Cardinals and Bears project to have the easiest rushing schedules in the next month. All are playing schedules against defenses allowing an average of over 125 yards per game.
Washington, Philadelphia and Cleveland project to have the hardest upcoming schedules for rushing
SCHEDULE, RUSHING (next 4 games) | |
---|---|
Team | Avg |
NY Jets | 127.0 |
Arizona | 125.3 |
Chicago | 125.1 |
Baltimore | 121.2 |
New England | 117.7 |
Jacksonville | 117.7 |
NY Giants | 115.7 |
San Diego | 114.2 |
Miami | 113.3 |
Green Bay | 113.3 |
Buffalo | 111.9 |
Carolina | 111.7 |
Denver | 111.6 |
Pittsburgh | 110.4 |
San Francisco | 110.2 |
Oakland | 109.2 |
Atlanta | 108.1 |
Los Angeles | 106.7 |
Tennessee | 105.0 |
Minnesota | 104.9 |
Detroit | 104.8 |
Kansas City | 103.7 |
New Orleans | 103.0 |
Tampa Bay | 102.4 |
Seattle | 100.9 |
Indianapolis | 100.6 |
Houston | 98.2 |
Dallas | 98.2 |
Cincinnati | 96.5 |
Cleveland | 96.4 |
Philadelphia | 95.5 |
Washington | 89.3 |
I saw last week that a reader wanted to see defensive numbers. I will get those posted later in the week, when I have some extra time.
—Ian Allan