Deshaun Watson and the Texans have been lighting it up, and the upcoming schedule indicates they’ll keep it rolling. Into December, they project to see the weakest defenses in the league.
That run begins with a game against Indianapolis on Sunday, and runs through Week 14, with a home game against the 49ers. Those teams currently rank last and next-to-last in scoring defense. In between they’ll see the Rams, Cardinals, Ravens and Titans.
Hardly seems fair. Houston’s next six games are against opponents allowing an average of 24.7 points per game – a point more than any other schedule.
The Giants and 49ers come in next in line in degree of easiness (but neither one of those offenses seems to have quite enough sizzle to put up good production against anyone).
Again, this is just the next six games for each team. I’m not paying much attention to Weeks 15-17 on this one.
At the other end of the schedule, a trio of notable offenses could be slowed down by harder schedules, including Washington, New England and Atlanta. With the schedules those teams are going to play, reasonable to expect their offenses will get worse rather than better.
I pay attention to this kind of stuff, and these observations are worked into the revised player rankings that are going out later today.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (next 6 games) | |
---|---|
Team | Points |
Houston | 24.7 |
NY Giants | 23.7 |
San Francisco | 23.6 |
Jacksonville | 23.4 |
Baltimore | 23.4 |
Tennessee | 23.2 |
Pittsburgh | 23.1 |
Buffalo | 23.1 |
Chicago | 22.9 |
Seattle | 22.9 |
Tampa Bay | 22.4 |
LA Rams | 22.3 |
Arizona | 22.2 |
Oakland | 22.1 |
Miami | 21.9 |
Dallas | 21.8 |
Denver | 21.6 |
Green Bay | 21.6 |
Detroit | 21.5 |
LA Chargers | 21.4 |
Minnesota | 21.4 |
Kansas City | 21.3 |
Carolina | 21.2 |
Philadelphia | 21.0 |
New Orleans | 20.9 |
Cincinnati | 20.7 |
NY Jets | 20.4 |
Atlanta | 20.2 |
Indianapolis | 20.2 |
New England | 20.2 |
Washington | 20.1 |
Cleveland | 19.9 |
—Ian Allan