Week 15 is in the books, and we can take another look at strength of schedules. Which teams have the easiest remaining schedules? And which teams have played the hardest schedules.
The Rams and Seahawks have the easiest remaining schedules. They’ll both play their final two against San Francisco and Arizona. Average of 27 points per game for those schedules. Those come in just ahead of Atlanta and Tampa Bay, who’ll be seeing New Orleans and Carolina the final two weeks.
The Eagles have the hardest remaining schedule, followed by the Packers, Jets and Dolphins. All of this, of course, is setting aside the possibility of teams resting starters.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Points) Weeks 16-17\ | |
---|---|
Team | Points |
Los Angeles | 27.0 |
Seattle | 27.0 |
Atlanta | 26.6 |
Tampa Bay | 26.6 |
Indianapolis | 24.8 |
San Diego | 24.4 |
Carolina | 24.3 |
New Orleans | 24.3 |
Buffalo | 24.0 |
New England | 24.0 |
Pittsburgh | 24.0 |
Jacksonville | 23.6 |
Minnesota | 23.6 |
Tennessee | 23.3 |
Cleveland | 22.9 |
NY Giants | 22.9 |
Kansas City | 22.3 |
Houston | 22.0 |
Denver | 21.8 |
Chicago | 21.5 |
Detroit | 21.4 |
Oakland | 21.3 |
Dallas | 20.9 |
Washington | 20.4 |
Baltimore | 20.3 |
Arizona | 20.1 |
San Francisco | 20.1 |
Cincinnati | 19.9 |
Miami | 19.5 |
NY Jets | 19.5 |
Green Bay | 19.4 |
Philadelphia | 18.1 |
Based on what we’ve seen so far, Washington, Cleveland, Green Bay and Pittsburgh have played the hardest schedules (through Week 15). All of those teams have played opponents (on average) allowing about 21 points per game.
The Seahawks, Arizona, Kansas City and Denver have played the easiest schedules. Their opponents on average have allowed about 24 points per game. So no excuses for the offenses of Kansas City and the Broncos – they just haven’t gotten it done despite playing softer opponents.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Points) Weeks 1-15 | |
---|---|
Team | Points |
Washington | 21.0 |
Cleveland | 21.2 |
Green Bay | 21.3 |
Pittsburgh | 21.4 |
Philadelphia | 21.5 |
Indianapolis | 21.8 |
Cincinnati | 21.8 |
Jacksonville | 22.0 |
Dallas | 22.2 |
Buffalo | 22.2 |
New England | 22.2 |
NY Giants | 22.3 |
New Orleans | 22.4 |
NY Jets | 22.6 |
Minnesota | 22.6 |
Atlanta | 22.6 |
Detroit | 22.7 |
Chicago | 22.7 |
Houston | 22.7 |
Oakland | 22.7 |
Baltimore | 22.8 |
San Diego | 22.8 |
Tennessee | 22.8 |
San Francisco | 22.9 |
Miami | 23.1 |
Los Angeles | 23.1 |
Tampa Bay | 23.5 |
Carolina | 23.5 |
Denver | 23.7 |
Arizona | 23.8 |
Kansas City | 23.9 |
Seattle | 24.2 |
—Ian Allan