If Kansas City is going to turn things around, it will do so despite having the hardest remaining schedule in the league. That’s what the current win-loss records show.

KC has already played some quality opponents, of course, including Cleveland, Baltimore, Tennessee, Buffalo and the Chargers. But they’ve got plenty more in their final 10, including the Raiders twice, Chargers, Bengals, Packers and Cowboys. Kansas City’s remaining 10 games are against teams with a combined record of 41-26 – best in the league.

Carolina, Minnesota and Cleveland are the other teams with the hardest remaining schedules.

Philadelphia, Tennessee and Buffalo, meanwhile, have the easiest remaining schedules.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, wins (Wks 8-18)
TeamWLPct
Philadelphia2541.379
Tennessee2541.379
Buffalo2943.403
NY Jets3241.438
Miami2937.439
LA Chargers3342.440
Tampa Bay2936.446
Jacksonville3340.452
Houston3036.455
Arizona3236.471
NY Giants3335.485
Dallas3638.486
New England3233.492
Denver3334.493
Atlanta3536.493
Chicago3333.500
Las Vegas3434.500
Seattle3533.515
Washington3533.515
Cincinnati3432.515
Indianapolis3432.515
LA Rams3432.515
Green Bay3632.529
Detroit3631.537
New Orleans3933.542
Pittsburgh4134.547
Baltimore3829.567
San Francisco4232.568
Cleveland4028.588
Minnesota4330.589
Carolina3927.591
Kansas City4126.612

If we instead look at what’s happened so far, the Bears have played the league’s hardest schedule. By far. Their opponents have gone a combined 28-14 in games against other teams.

The Chargers and Steelers are next in schedule difficulty.

The Falcons, Panthers and Bills, meanwhile, have played the easiest schedules through Week 7.

On this chart, I’ve removed the games involving the teams themselves. That is, Arizona’s opponents have gone 22-24. They’re 22-17 against the rest of the league, but 0-7 against Arizona. To avoid the bias of teams being penalized (or rewarded) for being good or bad themselves, I’ve removed those games.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, wins (Wks 1-7)
TeamWLPct
Chicago2814.667
LA Chargers2213.629
Pittsburgh2213.629
Detroit2317.575
Arizona2217.564
Philadelphia2217.564
Seattle2117.553
Washington2117.553
Kansas City2218.550
Tampa Bay2218.550
Dallas1916.543
NY Giants2118.538
Cleveland2119.525
LA Rams2220.524
Baltimore2120.512
Minnesota1818.500
Cincinnati1920.487
Miami1920.487
Tennessee1920.487
Houston1921.475
Las Vegas1921.475
Jacksonville1719.472
Green Bay1821.462
New Orleans1620.444
San Francisco1620.444
Indianapolis1823.439
Denver1722.436
NY Jets1520.429
New England1523.395
Buffalo1322.371
Carolina1424.368
Atlanta1124.314

—Ian Allan