The Eagles have been one of the season’s most disappointing teams (especially on Sunday against Seattle). But let’s not give up on them just yet. Their schedule is about to get a whole lot easier.
Philadelphia plays the Dolphins, Giants and Washington in their next three. That gives them a nice opportunity to get a lot of things right before they play Dallas in Week 16, likely with the NFC East title on the line. Then they’ve got the Giants again in Week 17.
For the final five weeks of the season, that makes for a composite record of 14-41-0, by far the easiest in the league.
Other teams with easy schedules over the final five weeks include the Browns, Packers and Dolphins.
Four notable teams, on the other hand, will play the hardest schedules during the final five weeks: the 49ers, Bills, Titans and Ravens.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, WINS (Weeks 13-17) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | Pct |
Philadelphia | 14 | 41 | 0 | .255 |
Cleveland | 18 | 36 | 1 | .336 |
Green Bay | 20 | 34 | 1 | .373 |
Miami | 21 | 34 | 0 | .382 |
NY Giants | 22 | 33 | 0 | .400 |
Jacksonville | 23 | 32 | 0 | .418 |
Tampa Bay | 23 | 31 | 1 | .427 |
Oakland | 24 | 31 | 0 | .436 |
New England | 24 | 31 | 0 | .436 |
NY Jets | 25 | 30 | 0 | .455 |
Washington | 26 | 29 | 0 | .473 |
Dallas | 26 | 29 | 0 | .473 |
Cincinnati | 26 | 29 | 0 | .473 |
Denver | 27 | 27 | 1 | .500 |
LA Chargers | 28 | 27 | 0 | .509 |
Kansas City | 28 | 27 | 0 | .509 |
Indianapolis | 28 | 27 | 0 | .509 |
Detroit | 28 | 27 | 0 | .509 |
Houston | 29 | 26 | 0 | .527 |
Carolina | 29 | 26 | 0 | .527 |
Pittsburgh | 29 | 25 | 1 | .536 |
Minnesota | 29 | 25 | 1 | .536 |
New Orleans | 30 | 25 | 0 | .545 |
Atlanta | 32 | 23 | 0 | .582 |
Arizona | 32 | 23 | 0 | .582 |
LA Rams | 31 | 22 | 2 | .582 |
Seattle | 32 | 22 | 1 | .591 |
Chicago | 32 | 22 | 1 | .591 |
Baltimore | 33 | 22 | 0 | .600 |
Tennessee | 35 | 20 | 0 | .636 |
Buffalo | 35 | 20 | 0 | .636 |
San Francisco | 36 | 19 | 0 | .655 |
Wins and losses, of course, pertain more to the league in general (playoff positioning, and whatnot). Looking more at scoring, the Jaguars, Giants, Eagles and Washington project to see the softest defenses for the next month.
Jacksonville’s next four games are against defenses that have allowed a combined 123 touchdowns. With four teams each playing 11 games, that works out to 2.8 per week. (On this chart, unlike the other, I’m focusing just on Weeks 13-16 – most fantasy leagues conclude before Week 17).
The four hardest schedules all belong to AFC teams that would be in the playoffs if the season ended today: Bills, Texans, Ravens and Patriots.
Buffalo in particular faces an uphill struggle. It’s next four games are against defenses that have allowed 73 touchdowns – 10 fewer than any other schedule. The 73 touchdowns (30 rushing, 43 passing) work out to just 1.7 per week.
REMAINING TOUCHDOWNS (Weeks 13-16) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | Run | Pass | Total | Per G |
Jacksonville | 34 | 89 | 123 | 2.80 |
NY Giants | 43 | 78 | 121 | 2.75 |
Philadelphia | 43 | 76 | 119 | 2.70 |
Washington | 55 | 64 | 119 | 2.70 |
Miami | 46 | 70 | 116 | 2.64 |
Seattle | 36 | 80 | 116 | 2.64 |
Indianapolis | 41 | 74 | 115 | 2.61 |
Tampa Bay | 37 | 76 | 113 | 2.57 |
Denver | 37 | 76 | 113 | 2.57 |
Chicago | 45 | 65 | 110 | 2.50 |
Pittsburgh | 36 | 73 | 109 | 2.48 |
Tennessee | 28 | 81 | 109 | 2.48 |
Oakland | 43 | 65 | 108 | 2.45 |
NY Jets | 39 | 69 | 108 | 2.45 |
Carolina | 37 | 71 | 108 | 2.45 |
Minnesota | 44 | 64 | 108 | 2.45 |
Cleveland | 34 | 72 | 106 | 2.41 |
LA Chargers | 33 | 73 | 106 | 2.41 |
Atlanta | 47 | 58 | 105 | 2.39 |
New England | 42 | 62 | 104 | 2.36 |
Green Bay | 35 | 68 | 103 | 2.34 |
Cincinnati | 35 | 67 | 102 | 2.32 |
Arizona | 34 | 68 | 102 | 2.32 |
San Francisco | 36 | 66 | 102 | 2.32 |
LA Rams | 33 | 65 | 98 | 2.23 |
Detroit | 27 | 68 | 95 | 2.16 |
New Orleans | 28 | 66 | 94 | 2.14 |
Dallas | 39 | 54 | 93 | 2.11 |
Baltimore | 35 | 55 | 90 | 2.05 |
Houston | 26 | 59 | 85 | 1.93 |
Kansas City | 30 | 53 | 83 | 1.89 |
Buffalo | 30 | 43 | 73 | 1.66 |
—Ian Allan