Seattle’s offense has been a pleasant surprise thus far, averaging 3 touchdowns per week. But the upcoming schedule suggests it should be falling off that clip.
The Seahawks’ next five games are against Jacksonville, Houston, Washington, Arizona and the Rams. Those teams currently are allowing an average of 18.6 points – over 2 points less than all but two other teams. So I don’t know that Sam Darnold will be putting together another 4-touchdown came soon (though the opponent he faces on Sunday tends to stop the run, forcing teams to pass).
Only two other teams will be their next five games against teams that currently (as a group) are allowing less than 21 points – Jacksonville and Tennessee.
If looking for teams likely to get a boost from scheduling, perhaps the Browns and Bears. Those are the only teams whose next five are against opponents that currently are allowing over 27 points per game.
Cleveland’s next five are against the Steelers, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets and Ravens. Not that the Browns will be putting up monster numbers, but I like the look of Quinshon Judkins (as in, this guy looks like a top-10 back).
The Bears’ next five are against the Commanders, Saints, Ravens, Bengals and Giants. I think they’ll be scoring points and gaining yards in that stretch.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, POINTS (next 5) | |
---|---|
Team | Points |
Cleveland | 28.1 |
Chicago | 27.4 |
Carolina | 26.4 |
Cincinnati | 26.1 |
Minnesota | 26.1 |
New England | 25.4 |
Denver | 25.2 |
Washington | 25.0 |
Miami | 24.7 |
Baltimore | 24.7 |
LA Rams | 24.5 |
Green Bay | 24.3 |
Buffalo | 24.2 |
New Orleans | 24.0 |
LA Chargers | 23.8 |
Philadelphia | 23.5 |
Las Vegas | 23.4 |
NY Jets | 23.1 |
Pittsburgh | 22.8 |
Indianapolis | 22.6 |
Detroit | 22.2 |
Tampa Bay | 22.2 |
NY Giants | 22.1 |
Arizona | 22.0 |
Kansas City | 22.0 |
Atlanta | 21.8 |
Dallas | 21.3 |
Houston | 21.1 |
San Francisco | 21.1 |
Jacksonville | 20.4 |
Tennessee | 19.5 |
Seattle | 18.6 |
We can look also not at points allowed but wins and losses. Using that method, the Broncos project to have the easiest schedule for the next five weeks (next five games for each team). The Cardinals (who might have to play without Kyler Murray this week) have the hardest upcoming schedule.
Only three teams rank among the six easiest using both systems (Browns, Bears, Panthers). Only one team ranks in the bottom six using both wins/losses and scoring defense – the Texans.
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, WINS (next 5 G) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Team | W | L | T | Pct |
Denver | 7 | 18 | 1 | .288 |
Cleveland | 8 | 16 | 0 | .333 |
Chicago | 9 | 17 | 0 | .346 |
New England | 9 | 15 | 0 | .375 |
Baltimore | 9 | 14 | 0 | .391 |
Carolina | 9 | 13 | 2 | .417 |
Dallas | 11 | 14 | 0 | .440 |
NY Jets | 11 | 14 | 0 | .440 |
Buffalo | 11 | 13 | 0 | .458 |
Miami | 11 | 13 | 0 | .458 |
Indianapolis | 11 | 12 | 0 | .478 |
LA Chargers | 11 | 12 | 0 | .478 |
Jacksonville | 12 | 13 | 0 | .480 |
Cincinnati | 10 | 10 | 1 | .500 |
Las Vegas | 12 | 12 | 1 | .500 |
Green Bay | 13 | 12 | 0 | .520 |
LA Rams | 13 | 12 | 0 | .520 |
San Francisco | 13 | 12 | 0 | .520 |
Tennessee | 13 | 12 | 0 | .520 |
Pittsburgh | 12 | 11 | 1 | .521 |
Philadelphia | 12 | 10 | 2 | .542 |
Minnesota | 14 | 11 | 0 | .560 |
Seattle | 14 | 11 | 0 | .560 |
Washington | 13 | 10 | 1 | .563 |
New Orleans | 14 | 10 | 0 | .583 |
Detroit | 15 | 10 | 0 | .600 |
Kansas City | 15 | 10 | 0 | .600 |
Houston | 15 | 10 | 0 | .600 |
Atlanta | 16 | 9 | 0 | .640 |
Tampa Bay | 16 | 9 | 0 | .640 |
NY Giants | 15 | 8 | 1 | .646 |
Arizona | 15 | 7 | 2 | .667 |
—Ian Allan