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Strength of schedule

Patriots projects to play league's hardest schedule

Bad news for those who like to bitch and moan that the Patriots benefit from easy schedules. For the 2020 season, New England projects to play the hardest schedule in the entire league.

That’s what the numbers indicate anyway. We have the win-loss records for the just-completed season. We know the opponents for next year. Plug those two together, and the Patriots’ opponents clock in at 137-118-1. That’s not notoriously difficult (when compared against a typical most-difficult schedule) but it’s the best combined record.

This is not based on the AFC East being particularly feared. But the Patriots finished in first place in their division, ensuring they’ll play the AFC’s other first-place teams (Baltimore, Houston, Kansas City). And the AFC East in the NFC divisional rotation picks up the NFC West, which is arguably the best division in the league, with the 49ers, Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals.

The 2nd- and 3rd-hardest schedules also belong to AFC East teams: Jets and Dolphins.

The projected easiest schedule for 2020 instead goes to the Baltimore Ravens. Their 16 games will be played against teams that went a combined 112-144 last year, finishing with a combined 5 fewer wins than any other schedule.

The eight easiest schedules all project to go to teams in the AFC North and NFC East. Those two divisions struggled, and they’re going to meet each other.

These are all just preliminary numbers, of course. A whole bunch of teams that were bad last year are going to be good. And versa vice. But that’s where we start.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (2020 season)
TeamWLTPct
Baltimore1121440.438
Pittsburgh1171390.457
Dallas1171381.459
Cleveland1181380.461
Washington1181362.465
NY Giants1191361.467
Cincinnati1221340.477
Philadelphia1241311.486
New Orleans1251301.490
LA Chargers1261300.492
Jacksonville1261291.494
Las Vegas1271290.496
Tennessee1271281.498
Carolina1271272.500
Kansas City1281280.500
Indianapolis1281271.502
Tampa Bay1281271.502
Green Bay1281262.504
Chicago1291252.508
Seattle1291252.508
Denver1311250.512
LA Rams1311232.516
Minnesota1311232.516
Arizona1321231.518
Houston1321231.518
Atlanta1341211.525
Buffalo1341211.525
Detroit1341211.525
San Francisco1341202.527
Miami1351201.529
NY Jets1361191.533
New England1371181.537

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index