Buffalo and Kansas City are generally considered to be the big favorites in the AFC – destined to meet in the conference championship game. But I’m wondering if the Ravens can’t crash that party. They’ve looked very good on the road the last two weeks, winning comfortably at Tampa Bay and New Orleans, and they’ve got an awfully favorable remaining schedule – arguably the easiest in the league.
Baltimore’s next seven games are all against teams with losing records. They’re remaining opponents are currently a combined 24-44-0. Strictly by wins and losses, that’s by far the worst record in the league. (Though Kansas City, I notice, also has an easy remaining schedule.)
At 6-3, the Ravens are currently a game behind Buffalo and Kansas City in the pecking order. The Bills have the advantage of having won head-to-head meetings against both teams, but their most important player is dealing with a troubling elbow injury.
On the NFC side, if Green Bay and New Orleans are able to overcome 3-6 starts to make the playoffs, they’ll need to do so despite having the hardest remaining schedules.
The complete numbers after Week 10 …
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 10-18) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | Pct |
Baltimore | 24 | 44 | 0 | .353 |
Atlanta | 29 | 42 | 0 | .408 |
Kansas City | 31 | 43 | 1 | .420 |
Arizona | 30 | 37 | 0 | .448 |
New England | 30 | 37 | 0 | .448 |
Seattle | 30 | 37 | 0 | .448 |
Tampa Bay | 32 | 38 | 0 | .457 |
Pittsburgh | 36 | 42 | 1 | .462 |
Carolina | 32 | 37 | 0 | .464 |
Miami | 31 | 35 | 1 | .470 |
LA Chargers | 35 | 39 | 1 | .473 |
Las Vegas | 35 | 39 | 1 | .473 |
San Francisco | 38 | 41 | 0 | .481 |
Buffalo | 38 | 40 | 0 | .487 |
Tennessee | 37 | 38 | 1 | .493 |
Detroit | 39 | 39 | 0 | .500 |
Minnesota | 38 | 38 | 1 | .500 |
Cleveland | 39 | 38 | 1 | .506 |
LA Rams | 39 | 38 | 0 | .506 |
Denver | 38 | 37 | 0 | .507 |
NY Jets | 36 | 33 | 0 | .522 |
Cincinnati | 35 | 32 | 0 | .522 |
Philadelphia | 41 | 35 | 1 | .539 |
Dallas | 40 | 34 | 2 | .539 |
Houston | 42 | 33 | 1 | .559 |
Chicago | 38 | 29 | 0 | .567 |
Jacksonville | 37 | 28 | 1 | .568 |
Indianapolis | 37 | 26 | 1 | .586 |
NY Giants | 43 | 30 | 2 | .587 |
Washington | 38 | 26 | 1 | .592 |
New Orleans | 41 | 27 | 0 | .603 |
Green Bay | 40 | 26 | 0 | .606 |
—Ian Allan