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) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | Pct | |
Washington | 23 | 41 | 0 | .359 |
Kansas City | 29 | 51 | 0 | .363 |
Arizona | 32 | 47 | 1 | .406 |
Minnesota | 27 | 37 | 0 | .422 |
San Diego | 34 | 46 | 0 | .425 |
NY Giants | 34 | 46 | 0 | .425 |
Denver | 35 | 45 | 0 | .438 |
Tennessee | 35 | 45 | 0 | .438 |
Indianapolis | 35 | 44 | 1 | .444 |
Jacksonville | 35 | 44 | 1 | .444 |
Tampa Bay | 30 | 34 | 0 | .469 |
Dallas | 38 | 41 | 1 | .481 |
Carolina | 31 | 33 | 0 | .484 |
Chicago | 39 | 41 | 0 | .488 |
Atlanta | 39 | 40 | 1 | .494 |
St. Louis | 39 | 40 | 1 | .494 |
Buffalo | 40 | 40 | 0 | .500 |
Philadelphia | 41 | 39 | 0 | .513 |
New England | 42 | 38 | 0 | .525 |
New Orleans | 42 | 38 | 0 | .525 |
Oakland | 43 | 37 | 0 | .538 |
Cleveland | 43 | 37 | 0 | .538 |
Baltimore | 43 | 37 | 0 | .538 |
Seattle | 43 | 36 | 1 | .544 |
NY Jets | 44 | 36 | 0 | .550 |
Green Bay | 35 | 28 | 1 | .555 |
Pittsburgh | 36 | 28 | 0 | .563 |
Houston | 45 | 34 | 1 | .569 |
Miami | 46 | 34 | 0 | .575 |
Detroit | 46 | 34 | 0 | .575 |
Cincinnati | 46 | 34 | 0 | .575 |
San Francisco | 52 | 27 | 1 | .656 |
FIRST FIVE WEEKS (points allowed) | |
---|---|
Pts | |
Washington | 25.9 |
Arizona | 25.0 |
Denver | 24.7 |
Kansas City | 24.4 |
San Diego | 24.2 |
NY Giants | 24.0 |
Tampa Bay | 23.7 |
Chicago | 23.4 |
Miami | 23.2 |
Jacksonville | 23.1 |
Oakland | 23.0 |
Atlanta | 22.8 |
New England | 22.8 |
Seattle | 22.5 |
Tennessee | 22.4 |
Buffalo | 22.3 |
NY Jets | 22.2 |
Philadelphia | 22.2 |
St. Louis | 22.2 |
Cleveland | 22.1 |
Dallas | 22.0 |
Green Bay | 21.8 |
Minnesota | 21.8 |
Baltimore | 21.8 |
Carolina | 21.6 |
Indianapolis | 21.5 |
Detroit | 21.1 |
San Francisco | 20.6 |
New Orleans | 20.6 |
Cincinnati | 20.3 |
Pittsburgh | 19.7 |
Houston | 19.1 |
--Ian Allan