The Dolphins have quietly won 9 of their last 10 games, clinching a playoff berth. Getting their running game has been a big plus (with Jay Ajayi going over 200 yards three times), but that club has also benefited from an easy schedule.
Miami is 10-5, but four of the wins have come against pretty bad Buffalo and New York teams. They’ve also picked up wins over Cleveland, Los Angeles and San Francisco
Totaling up the wins and losses for each club, Miami’s opponents have gone a combined 88-119-3 in their other games. That’s pretty bad.
The Patriots, Titans and Seahawks also show up as teams that have benefited from easy schedules.
Denver, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Pittsburgh, meanwhile, have played the league’s hardest schedules.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 1-16) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
team | W | L | T | Pct |
Miami | 88 | 119 | 3 | .426 |
New England | 92 | 115 | 3 | .445 |
Tennessee | 97 | 113 | 0 | .462 |
Seattle | 97 | 112 | 1 | .464 |
Detroit | 98 | 111 | 1 | .469 |
San Francisco | 97 | 110 | 3 | .469 |
Arizona | 98 | 110 | 2 | .471 |
Los Angeles | 101 | 106 | 3 | .488 |
Atlanta | 102 | 106 | 2 | .490 |
Buffalo | 102 | 105 | 3 | .493 |
Dallas | 102 | 105 | 3 | .493 |
Houston | 104 | 105 | 1 | .498 |
NY Giants | 104 | 104 | 2 | .500 |
Chicago | 105 | 104 | 1 | .502 |
Carolina | 105 | 102 | 3 | .507 |
NY Jets | 105 | 102 | 3 | .507 |
Washington | 106 | 103 | 1 | .507 |
Baltimore | 106 | 102 | 2 | .510 |
Green Bay | 106 | 102 | 2 | .510 |
Indianapolis | 107 | 103 | 0 | .510 |
New Orleans | 106 | 102 | 2 | .510 |
Tampa Bay | 106 | 102 | 2 | .510 |
Cleveland | 106 | 101 | 3 | .512 |
Jacksonville | 108 | 102 | 0 | .514 |
Minnesota | 107 | 101 | 2 | .514 |
Cincinnati | 109 | 101 | 0 | .519 |
Oakland | 110 | 100 | 0 | .524 |
San Diego | 110 | 100 | 0 | .524 |
Pittsburgh | 111 | 96 | 3 | .536 |
Kansas City | 113 | 97 | 0 | .538 |
Philadelphia | 111 | 95 | 4 | .538 |
Denver | 113 | 96 | 1 | .540 |
—Ian Allan