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Updated strength of schedule

Jaguars, Steelers, Eagles have easiest remaining schedules

Looking at strength of schedule, I think we have to entertain the potential of Jacksonville to make the playoffs. It also looks like the two Pennsylvania teams are in this think for the long haul – strong possibility they’ll be in the conference championship games.

With the Jaguars, their remaining nine games are against teams that are a combined 21-39 – by far the worst record in the league. They’ve got three against the Colts, Browns and 49ers, so it’s almost as if Jacksonville is 7-3 right now.

The Steelers and Eagles have already established themselves as good teams, and they’ve got the 2nd- and 3rd-easiest schedules the rest of the way.

At the other end of the spectrum, there are a lot of playoff hopefuls who’ll play tough schedules during the final nine weeks, with Oakland and Miami leading the way. The Dolphins, most notably, have four games left against New England and Buffalo.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 8-17)
TeamWLPct
Jacksonville2139.350
Philadelphia2534.424
Pittsburgh2634.433
Tennessee2734.443
Detroit3137.456
Baltimore2732.458
Chicago2732.458
Minnesota2732.458
Washington3035.462
Houston3237.464
Kansas City2731.466
Green Bay2832.467
Cincinnati3236.471
Arizona2831.475
LA Chargers3030.500
LA Rams3030.500
New Orleans3232.500
Seattle3333.500
NY Giants3129.517
Cleveland3229.525
Carolina3027.526
Indianapolis3127.534
San Francisco3328.541
Atlanta3529.547
Dallas3729.561
Tampa Bay3628.563
Buffalo3829.567
Denver3829.567
New England3325.569
NY Jets3325.569
Miami3828.576
Oakland3425.576

The other way to look at this is to focus on the games that have been played. And by that measure, New Orleans and Kansas City have been especially impressive. Both of those teams have just two losses, and they’ve managed those good starts despite playing the two hardest schedules in the league.

The Colts and Browns, meanwhile, have managed their lackluster starts despite playing two of the easiest schedules in the league.

The Cowboys and Seahawks have also benefitted thus far from playing lesser schedules.

On these, you’re seeing the combined wins and losses of opponents in their other games. New Orleans’ opponents, for example, are a combined 25-15 – 2-4 against the Saints, and 23-11 against the rest of the league.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 1-7)
TeamWLPct
Indianapolis1526.366
Dallas1322.371
Cleveland1525.375
Seattle1422.389
Denver1420.412
Arizona1722.436
LA Rams1722.436
San Francisco1722.436
Tennessee1722.436
Baltimore1823.439
Cincinnati1519.441
Buffalo1517.469
Houston1718.486
Tampa Bay1718.486
NY Giants1819.486
Pittsburgh2021.488
Detroit1717.500
Oakland2020.500
NY Jets2019.513
Philadelphia2119.525
Miami1816.529
Jacksonville2219.537
LA Chargers2118.538
Chicago2218.550
Carolina2217.564
Minnesota2217.564
Green Bay2116.568
New England2216.579
Atlanta2013.606
Washington2214.611
Kansas City2614.650
New Orleans2311.676

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index