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Strength of schedule

Seahawks, Patriots both benefited from easy schedules

I saw that Earl Thomas was popping off about the Patriots, complaining that they didn’t play anybody out in the AFC East. Stick them in the NFC West, Thomas opined, and that would pull them back with the rest of the league.

Huh?

The NFC West was one of the weaker divisions in 2016. The Rams and 49ers were terrible, going a combined 6-26, and the Cardinals had an off years – 7-8-1. Even the Seahawks weren’t as good as usual, going just 10-5-1.

To me, those playing six games against those opponents looks pretty comparable to six against the Jets-Bills-Dolphins.

I totaled up the numbers. Seattle, as luck would have it, played the league’s easiest schedule in 2016.

For the numbers here, you’re looking at wins and losses against other teams. That is, New England’s opponents went 111-142-3 – 2-14 against the Patriots, and 109-128-3 against the rest of the league.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, 2016
TeamWLTPct
Seattle1071321.448
Arizona1091292.458
Miami1091283.460
New England1091283.460
Tennessee1121270.469
Buffalo1131243.477
Detroit1141251.477
San Francisco1131234.479
Los Angeles1151204.490
Dallas1161203.492
Atlanta1171212.492
Indianapolis1181210.494
Minnesota1171192.496
Tampa Bay1181202.496
Baltimore1181193.498
NY Giants1181183.500
NY Jets1201173.506
Pittsburgh1201173.506
Chicago1201171.506
Houston1211171.508
Carolina1211163.510
Jacksonville1221170.510
Cincinnati1241160.517
Oakland1251150.521
Washington1241141.521
Green Bay1231132.521
Cleveland1241133.523
New Orleans1241132.523
Kansas City1261140.525
San Diego1281120.533
Denver1331061.556
Philadelphia1321034.561

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index