Checking in with my weekly look at Strength of Schedule, and the Falcons, Chargers and Saints stand out the most. Thus far they’ve played two of the hardest schedules in the league, and they project two of the easiest schedules the rest of the way.

Starting with what teams have seen so far, the Texans, Giants and Steelers have played the hardest schedules through Week 8. Houston in particular has played the league’s hardest schedule, with its eight opponents going 33-21-0 in games against other teams. (That’s setting aside those teams doing 3-5 against the Texans.)

The Chargers, Saints and Falcons are the next three teams are that first group; they’ve tended to play harder schedules so far.

The Ravens, Seahawks and Jaguars so far have played the league’s easiest schedules. Baltimore’s seven opponents have gone only 19-27-1 against other teams.

The complete list …

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, Wins (Weeks 1-8)
TeamWLTPct
Houston33210.611
NY Giants25171.593
Pittsburgh26182.587
San Diego31220.585
New Orleans25191.567
Atlanta28221.559
Green Bay25200.556
Cincinnati29240.547
Kansas City25220.532
Chicago27240.529
Minnesota23220.511
Oakland26250.510
Buffalo26251.510
Washington25260.490
Miami22232.489
Tampa Bay22231.489
Philadelphia22231.489
Dallas21222.489
New England25272.481
Indianapolis26280.481
Detroit25271.481
Carolina21231.478
Denver25281.472
San Francisco19232.455
Tennessee24290.453
Cleveland23282.453
Arizona23280.451
Los Angeles19242.444
NY Jets21283.433
Jacksonville20270.426
Seattle19260.422
Baltimore19271.415

Setting aside the first eight weeks and instead looking at the next eight weeks, the Dolphins, Falcons, Saints and Chargers project to play the easiest schedules through Week 16. That’s ignoring Week 17, which doesn’t factor into most leagues.)

Denver, Jacksonville, Indianapolis and Carolina project to play the hardest schedules in Weeks 9-16. With the Colts and Panthers currently sitting with losing records, I’ll take that as evidence those teams aren’t necessarily likely to get back into the playoff picture.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, Wins (Weeks 9-16)
TeamWLTPct
Miami23371.385
Atlanta21281.430
New Orleans25331.432
San Diego23300.434
Buffalo22282.442
Pittsburgh23291.443
Houston23291.443
New England23281.452
NY Giants27321.458
Cincinnati24280.462
Dallas27311.466
Chicago24271.471
Tennessee25280.472
Los Angeles28301.483
San Francisco26271.491
Minnesota30292.508
Arizona25242.510
Seattle30281.517
Oakland28260.519
NY Jets27250.519
Washington26241.520
Green Bay31282.525
Cleveland27241.529
Tampa Bay31271.534
Baltimore31271.534
Detroit27230.540
Philadelphia31253.551
Kansas City34270.557
Carolina33252.567
Indianapolis31220.585
Jacksonville38240.613
Denver32200.615

—Ian Allan