Colt McCoy isn’t taking the reins of Washington’s offense at a great time. It’s a team that’s riddled with injuries (with both starting guards on injured reserve) and the schedule indicates the schedule will be one of the hardest in the league over the next month.

I try to look at strength of schedule once per week at this time of year. This time, I’m looking at the average production allowed by opponents during the next five weeks of the season (through Week 16).

Washington projects to face the league’s stingiest defenses. Their next five games are against opponents allowing an average of only 2.2 touchdowns per game. That’s defense only (setting aside kick returns and defensive scores).

The Giants, Dolphins and Colts also have difficult upcoming schedules.

The Ravens, Panthers and Broncos, meanwhile project to play the league’s easiest schedules. They’re next five games are against opponents that collectively have allowed over 3 TDs per game.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, TOUCHDOWNS (Weeks 12-16)
TeamRunPassTotal
Baltimore1.082.063.14
Carolina1.181.943.12
Denver1.002.023.02
New Orleans.942.022.96
Cleveland.922.002.92
Arizona.891.932.82
Cincinnati1.021.782.80
Chicago.851.912.78
Dallas.921.842.76
Oakland.941.802.74
LA Chargers1.041.702.74
Pittsburgh.761.942.70
San Francisco.801.882.68
Seattle.761.922.68
Minnesota.801.862.66
Buffalo.781.842.64
Atlanta.941.702.64
Tampa Bay.741.802.54
LA Rams.781.752.53
Green Bay.841.662.52
Houston.881.582.48
Kansas City.751.732.48
New England.801.622.44
Tennessee.781.562.38
Philadelphia.711.652.38
Detroit.751.632.38
NY Jets.721.642.36
Jacksonville.781.562.34
Indianapolis.761.522.30
Miami.701.562.26
NY Giants.601.622.22
Washington.761.422.20

For passing projection, Washington again ends up at the bottom. They’re next five are against defenses that so far allowed an average of 257 passing yards per game, with a league-low 1.42 TD passes per game. Using standard fantasy scoring, that grades out as slightly worse than Miami, Indianapolis and New England.

Baltimore, Carolina and Cleveland have the most passer-friendly remaining schedules. With the Ravens, however, they played run-oriented Lamar Jackson at quarterback last year. No amount of easy scheduling will help him finish with average passing numbers.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, PASSING (Weeks 12-16)
TeamYardsTDPPoints
Baltimore2852.0640.9
Carolina2891.9440.6
Cleveland2802.0040.0
Dallas2881.8439.8
Denver2742.0239.5
New Orleans2742.0239.5
Pittsburgh2711.9438.8
Seattle2701.9238.6
Arizona2681.9338.4
Cincinnati2771.7838.3
Oakland2741.8038.2
San Francisco2661.8837.8
Chicago2601.9137.5
Minnesota2611.8637.2
LA Chargers2691.7037.1
Houston2751.5837.0
Buffalo2581.8436.8
LA Rams2631.7536.8
Tampa Bay2591.8036.7
NY Giants2701.6236.7
Philadelphia2651.6536.4
Green Bay2611.6636.0
Atlanta2551.7035.7
Kansas City2471.7335.0
Tennessee2571.5635.0
Jacksonville2561.5634.9
NY Jets2501.6434.8
Detroit2471.6334.5
New England2481.6234.5
Indianapolis2521.5234.3
Miami2491.5634.3
Washington2571.4234.2

For rushing production, the Bengals, Broncos and Ravens project to play the easiest schedules in Weeks 12-16.

The Giants, Bucs and Dolphins project to play the hardest run schedules.

Seattle also shows up near the bottom in schedule difficulty for rushing. The Seahawks famously have run for over 150 yards in seven straight games. They’re leading the league in rushing right now. But given their schedule, they should have rely more on the pass in their upcoming games.

STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE, RUSHING (Weeks 12-16)
TeamYardsTDRPoints
Cincinnati1291.0219.1
Denver1261.0018.6
Baltimore1211.0818.6
LA Chargers1211.0418.4
Carolina1111.1818.2
Cleveland126.9218.1
Oakland119.9417.5
Arizona121.8917.4
Minnesota123.8017.1
Chicago120.8517.0
Buffalo121.7816.8
Houston112.8816.5
Atlanta108.9416.4
New Orleans106.9416.2
Green Bay111.8416.1
Kansas City115.7516.0
Pittsburgh114.7616.0
New England111.8015.9
Indianapolis114.7615.9
LA Rams111.7815.8
San Francisco108.8015.6
Tennessee109.7815.6
Jacksonville109.7815.5
Dallas99.9215.4
Washington106.7615.2
Detroit107.7515.1
NY Jets107.7215.0
Philadelphia106.7114.9
Seattle103.7614.8
Miami104.7014.6
Tampa Bay94.7413.8
NY Giants96.6013.2

—Ian Allan