Playing around with the strength of schedule numbers (which I like to do once a week), I see that scheduling could be very good for Baltimore’s offense … and not so good for the offense that used to call Baltimore home.
On this one, I looked at the next seven teams on each team’s schedule. That’s Weeks 8-14 for teams that have already had their bye, and Weeks 8-15 for teams with the bye still in play. I looked at averaged rushing and passing touchdowns allowed by opponents, and looked at the seven-game averages for each offense.
The Ravens project to play the easiest schedule by far. Their next seven games are against defenses allowing an average of over 3 TDs per game. Games against Atlanta and Tampa Bay stand out, but the others aren’t bad either. Good time to be buying stock in Baltimore players.
Other offenses that will see softer defenses in the near future: Arizona, Carolina and Cleveland.
The Colts, on the other hand, will tend to see tougher defenses, with a pair against Jacksonville in their block. The next seven for Indianapolis are against opponents allowing just over 2 TDs per week. Huge difference.
Other offenses that are due to see tougher defenses: Eagles, Titans, Lions.
| STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (next 7 games) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | TDR | TDP | Total |
| Baltimore | 6.9 | 15.6 | 22.5 |
| Arizona | 6.7 | 14.0 | 20.6 |
| Carolina | 5.9 | 14.3 | 20.1 |
| Cleveland | 6.2 | 13.9 | 20.1 |
| LA Chargers | 7.5 | 12.3 | 19.8 |
| Denver | 6.0 | 13.6 | 19.6 |
| Tampa Bay | 6.2 | 13.4 | 19.5 |
| Cincinnati | 6.4 | 13.0 | 19.5 |
| San Francisco | 7.0 | 11.8 | 18.9 |
| New Orleans | 5.4 | 13.3 | 18.7 |
| NY Giants | 5.0 | 13.7 | 18.7 |
| Oakland | 6.2 | 11.9 | 18.2 |
| Washington | 5.3 | 12.9 | 18.1 |
| Minnesota | 4.6 | 13.5 | 18.1 |
| Green Bay | 6.0 | 12.0 | 18.0 |
| LA Rams | 5.2 | 12.5 | 17.7 |
| Seattle | 4.8 | 12.8 | 17.5 |
| New England | 5.2 | 12.3 | 17.5 |
| Buffalo | 4.5 | 12.9 | 17.4 |
| Dallas | 5.6 | 11.8 | 17.4 |
| Miami | 4.6 | 12.8 | 17.4 |
| Atlanta | 7.1 | 10.2 | 17.4 |
| Chicago | 4.9 | 12.3 | 17.2 |
| Kansas City | 6.6 | 10.6 | 17.2 |
| Houston | 6.4 | 10.5 | 17.0 |
| NY Jets | 3.6 | 13.3 | 16.9 |
| Jacksonville | 5.0 | 11.6 | 16.5 |
| Pittsburgh | 6.0 | 10.6 | 16.5 |
| Detroit | 4.0 | 12.1 | 16.2 |
| Tennessee | 4.4 | 11.1 | 15.6 |
| Philadelphia | 5.3 | 10.0 | 15.3 |
| Indianapolis | 4.7 | 9.9 | 14.6 |
—Ian Allan