There's strength of schedule, and then there's the here and now. Nice to have those easy games early in the year -- November and December are a long way off. And in the first five weeks of the season, Washington, Kansas City and Arizona project to play the easiest schedules.

Here's strength of schedule with a twist. I'm not looking at overall strength of schedule -- just what's coming up in the first five weeks of the season. This kind of trend could help teams come out of the gate strong.

November, December -- we'll worry about those months later.

And for early scheduling, Washington, Arizona and Kansas City project to face the easiest slates.

Washington and Arizona in those first five weeks play against opponents that allowed over 25 points per game last season (on average).

Washington and Kansas City play teams (again, on average) play in those first five weeks teams with a combined winning percentage under .400.

If form holds, San Francisco, Cincinnati, Detroit and Miami will play the hardest schedules early (via winning percentage).

Pittsburgh, Houston and Cincinnati tend to face the toughest defenses out of the blocks.

FIRST FIVE WEEKS (winning percentage)
WLTPct
Washington23410.359
Kansas City29510.363
Arizona32471.406
Minnesota27370.422
San Diego34460.425
NY Giants34460.425
Denver35450.438
Tennessee35450.438
Indianapolis35441.444
Jacksonville35441.444
Tampa Bay30340.469
Dallas38411.481
Carolina31330.484
Chicago39410.488
Atlanta39401.494
St. Louis39401.494
Buffalo40400.500
Philadelphia41390.513
New England42380.525
New Orleans42380.525
Oakland43370.538
Cleveland43370.538
Baltimore43370.538
Seattle43361.544
NY Jets44360.550
Green Bay35281.555
Pittsburgh36280.563
Houston45341.569
Miami46340.575
Detroit46340.575
Cincinnati46340.575
San Francisco52271.656
FIRST FIVE WEEKS (points allowed)
Pts
Washington25.9
Arizona25.0
Denver24.7
Kansas City24.4
San Diego24.2
NY Giants24.0
Tampa Bay23.7
Chicago23.4
Miami23.2
Jacksonville23.1
Oakland23.0
Atlanta22.8
New England22.8
Seattle22.5
Tennessee22.4
Buffalo22.3
NY Jets22.2
Philadelphia22.2
St. Louis22.2
Cleveland22.1
Dallas22.0
Green Bay21.8
Minnesota21.8
Baltimore21.8
Carolina21.6
Indianapolis21.5
Detroit21.1
San Francisco20.6
New Orleans20.6
Cincinnati20.3
Pittsburgh19.7
Houston19.1

--Ian Allan