It appears to be a notable year for schedules. The two South divisions were the weakest in the league last year, and by luck of the draw, those teams all play each other. So unusually easy schedules for those teams – historically easy.

I’ve got all of the schedules for the last 10 years in front of me (2006-2015). Of those 320 schedules, seven of the 15 easiest schedules come from this year, with the Falcons, Colts and Texans leading the way.

The only “south” team not getting in this party is Jacksonville, which is seven games back at 118-137-1. Unlike the Colts and Texans (in the same division) the Jaguars don’t get the benefit of playing two games against themselves. And their schedule is harder then the Titans because they’re playing 3rd-place teams in their at-large games (while Tennessee has last-place teams).

EASIEST SCHEDULES OF THE LAST 10 YEARS
YearTeamWLTPct
2008New England991570.387
2015Atlanta1041502.410
2009Chicago1051492.414
2015Indianapolis1061491.416
2015Houston1061482.418
2009Minnesota1071481.420
2008San Diego1081480.422
2015Tampa Bay1081462.426
2009Green Bay1091461.428
2015New Orleans1091452.430
2014Indianapolis1101460.430
2013Denver1101460.430
2015Carolina1111450.434
2009Pittsburgh1101442.434
2015Tennessee1111441.436
2014Tennessee1121440.438
2009Baltimore1111432.438
2008Oakland1121440.438
2014Houston1131430.441
2011Arizona1131430.441
2009Arizona1131430.441

Two heavyweight divisions also go toe-to-toe – the AFC North and the NFC West – and those teams tend to have the hardest schedules. It’s not as glaring, but of the 25 hardest schedules in the last 10 year, 2015 is represented six times.

HARDEST SCHEDULES OF THE LAST 10 YEARS
YearTeamWLTPct
2008Pittsburgh1531030.598
2009Miami1521040.594
2008Indianapolis1521040.594
2009Carolina1511041.592
2009New England1511050.590
2009Atlanta1501051.588
2009Tampa Bay1481071.580
2015Pittsburgh1471072.578
2014Oakland1481080.578
2014Denver1461100.570
2009Buffalo1461100.570
2009NY Jets1451101.568
2014St. Louis1441111.564
2015Cincinnati1441120.563
2014San Diego1441120.563
2014San Francisco1441120.563
2015San Francisco1431121.561
2014Seattle1431121.561
2015Seattle1421122.559
2014Kansas City1431130.559
2008Jacksonville1431130.559
2015Arizona1421131.557
2009New Orleans1421131.557
2011Carolina1421140.555
2015St. Louis1411141.553
2008Minnesota1411150.551
2008Baltimore1411150.551

—Ian Allan