Looking at strength of schedule, the Detroit Lions look like the most notable team. So far they have played the league’s easiest schedule, helping them to a 9-4 record. But they will project the 2nd-hardest schedule from here on out, hurting their chances of winning their division.

Detroit’s final three games are on the road against the Giants and Cowboys and at home against the Packers. They might lose all three of those.

The Seahawks, Falcons, Steelers and Texans, meanwhile, are notable teams that have really easy closing schedules.

The Broncos, meanwhile, have the hardest closing schedule (New England, Kansas City, Oakland). Unlikely they’ll be able to overcome that to make the postseason.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 15-17)
TeamWLTPct
Seattle10281.269
Atlanta11280.282
Buffalo12270.308
Pittsburgh12261.321
Houston14241.372
Los Angeles14232.385
Minnesota16230.410
Washington17220.436
Arizona17211.449
Baltimore18201.474
Tennessee19200.487
Oakland19200.487
Indianapolis19200.487
Green Bay19200.487
Cleveland19200.487
San Diego20190.513
New England20190.513
Kansas City20190.513
Jacksonville20190.513
San Francisco20181.526
Tampa Bay21180.538
Miami21180.538
NY Giants21171.551
New Orleans21171.551
Chicago21171.551
Dallas22170.564
Cincinnati22170.564
Carolina23151.603
NY Jets25140.641
Philadelphia27120.692
Detroit27120.692
Denver3180.795

Here’s the list of what teams have played so far. Houston, Oakland and Pittsburgh tie for having played the hardest schedules so far. This is using team’s current win-loss records, and also subtracting out their own wins and losses. That is, I don’t want to penalize teams for winning games. New England has played an easy schedule, with opponents going 67-86-3. That schedule becomes a ridiculously soft 69-97-3 if you include that the Patriots are 11-2 themselves.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 1-14)
TeamWLTPct
Detroit66891.426
Miami66873.433
New England67863.439
NY Jets70833.458
Arizona71841.458
Tennessee72840.462
San Francisco71823.465
Seattle73830.468
Dallas73803.478
Tampa Bay75792.487
Baltimore75792.487
NY Giants76782.494
Indianapolis77790.494
Cincinnati77790.494
Carolina76782.494
Chicago78780.500
Denver78771.503
Buffalo77763.503
Los Angeles78762.506
Minnesota80742.519
Jacksonville81750.519
New Orleans82731.529
Cleveland81723.529
Philadelphia81714.532
Kansas City83730.532
San Diego84720.538
Green Bay83712.538
Atlanta83712.538
Washington84711.542
Pittsburgh84702.545
Oakland85710.545
Houston85710.545

—Ian Allan