Looking at the remaining schedules, three teams pop out. Jacksonville, Kansas City and Baltimore. I think all three of those are going to benefit from playing easy schedules the rest of the way.

The Jaguars are 6-3, and with the league’s easiest remaining schedule, I don’t think they’re going away. They’ve still got five games left against the Browns, Cardinals, Colts, Texans and 49ers. A flawed team, but Jacksonville is going to the playoffs.

Similarly with the Ravens, who are an underwhelming 4-5. This is a flawed, middle-of-the-pack team. But they play good defense, and given the opponents they’ll be facing the rest of the way, I think Baltimore will be a wild-card team. They’ve got a game against Pittsburgh, but they’re other remaining games are against teams that are currently 19-36. They might win all of those.

Kansas City has lost three of its last four, but with its schedule getting a lot easier, I expect it will get things turned around and start cranking out wins.

At the other end of scale, two teams contending for playoff berths have the hardest remaining schedules: Falcons and Rams.

Other playoff contenders with difficult closing schedules: Carolina, Seattle, Buffalo and Dallas.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE (Weeks 11-17)
teamWLPct
Jacksonville2342.354
Washington2439.381
Kansas City2439.381
Baltimore2638.406
LA Chargers2836.438
Denver2836.438
Pittsburgh2835.444
Detroit2835.444
Chicago2935.453
Cincinnati2934.460
Tennessee3134.477
Houston3134.477
Philadelphia3132.492
Cleveland3132.492
Indianapolis2727.500
Green Bay3231.508
Oakland3330.524
Arizona3330.524
New Orleans3430.531
New England3329.532
Minnesota3429.540
Dallas3429.540
Buffalo3428.548
NY Giants3528.556
Seattle3628.563
Carolina3124.564
Miami3627.571
San Francisco3123.574
NY Jets3222.593
Tampa Bay3725.597
LA Rams3925.609
Atlanta3924.619

—Ian Allan