If Kansas City is going to turn things around, it will need to do so despite a difficult schedule. It’s next six games are against teams that are a combined 31-13 – best in the league. That works against the idea that Patrick Mahomes and company will simply turn it on and get rolling again.

I try to do a weekly check-in with strength of schedule, which can help in identifying offenses that might be about to heat up (or cool off). Normally I look at all of the remaining games. But this time around, I’m going with a shorter-term view, looking only at the next six games for each club.

Washington has the easiest schedule coming up, with its next six games against teams that currently are a combined 12-36. Other teams with easy schedules on the horizon: Houston, Miami, Jets and Baltimore.

Kansas City has the hardest schedule over the next six weeks. Others with more difficult schedules: Jacksonville, Chicago, Rams, Falcons and Seahawks.

NEXT SIX OPPONENTS (winning percentage)
TeamWLPct
Washington1236.250
Houston1630.348
Miami1629.356
NY Jets1828.391
Baltimore1927.413
Indianapolis1926.422
Philadelphia1926.422
Arizona2026.435
Tampa Bay2025.444
Pittsburgh2024.455
LA Chargers2125.457
Buffalo2124.467
Carolina2224.478
Denver2223.489
Tennessee2223.489
Las Vegas2324.489
Dallas2322.511
Minnesota2320.535
Green Bay2521.543
New England2521.543
Detroit2521.543
Cleveland2420.545
Cincinnati2420.545
NY Giants2520.556
San Francisco2620.565
New Orleans2519.568
Seattle2720.574
Atlanta2619.578
LA Rams2719.587
Chicago2618.591
Jacksonville2718.600
Kansas City3113.705

If you prefer to use points rather than wins and losses, Washington still comes out on top – by a lot. It’s next six are against teams currently allowing 28.4 points per game (remarkably, over 2 more points per week than any other team).

Getting kicked while they’re down, the Lions project to face the toughest defenses over the next six weeks, followed by the Chargers, 49ers and Patriots.

NEXT SIX (points)
TeamPts
Washington28.4
Miami26.2
Houston26.0
Las Vegas25.3
Denver25.0
NY Giants24.7
Indianapolis24.6
Pittsburgh24.3
Minnesota24.1
New Orleans24.0
Philadelphia23.9
Buffalo23.8
Dallas23.8
Seattle23.7
Cleveland23.6
Baltimore23.5
Arizona23.5
Green Bay23.3
NY Jets23.3
Tennessee23.2
Carolina23.1
Tampa Bay23.0
LA Rams22.8
Jacksonville22.7
Chicago22.4
Kansas City22.3
Atlanta22.3
Cincinnati22.2
New England22.2
San Francisco21.8
LA Chargers21.5
Detroit20.7

—Ian Allan