32EBoozer Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25066031/2015-nfl-strength-of-schedule-steelers-at-no-1-falcons-at-no-32 Dan Quinn picked a good year to take over in Atlanta. Based on 2014 records, the Falcons will play the easiest schedule in the NFL next season. Of the 16 regular season games Atlanta will play in 2015, only four of those will come against opponents who finished 2014 with a winning record. The Falcons can thank their horrible division for their "easy" strength of schedule: Every team in the NFC South finished the 2014 season with a losing record. The Falcons strength of schedule for 2015 is .409, which beat out the Colts (.417) for the easiest strength of schedule next season. On the other hand, there's the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are going to have to navigate through a difficult schedule if they want to return to the playoffs for the second year in a row. Based on 2014 records, the Steelers will play the toughest schedule in the NFL next season. The Steelers will play a total of nine games against 2014 playoff teams, plus games against the Chiefs and Chargers, who both finished with winning records, but didn't make the playoffs. That means the Steelers will play a total of 11 games next season against teams who finished 2014 with a winning record. Again, the Falcons will only have to play four. The Steelers strength of schedule for 2015 is .579, which beat out the Bengals (.563) for the toughest strength of schedule. Now you might be wondering: Does strength of schedule actually mean anything? It probably does if you ask the Raiders. Going into the 2014 season, the Raiders were slated to have the toughest strength of schedule based on their opponents' combined 2013 record of 148-108, a winning percentage of .578. After all 256 regular season games were played, it turned out that the Raiders did have the toughest strength of schedule (their opponents combined to go 146-110) and Oakland finished 3-13. Although this is the Raiders we're talking about, so it's possible they would have gone 3-13 with the easiest schedule. The Jets weren't helped by their strength of schedule either. Going into the 2014 season, New York was supposed to have the ninth toughest schedule based on their opponents' 2013 records, but after all the the games were played, the Jets played the second toughest schedule in the NFL. The Jets went from 8-8 in 2013 to 4-12 in 2014. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Dallas Cowboys, who were supposed to have the 18th most difficult schedule going into 2014, based on their opponents' 2013 records. However, after all the games were played in 2014, Dallas ended up having the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL, playing against teams that combined to go 114-142 (.445). Of the 12 teams that made the playoffs in 2014, only four of those teams had a strength of schedule over .500. That means the other eight playoff teams got into the postseason in due part to playing a weaker schedule. After all was said and done, Dallas, Detroit, Houston and Pittsburgh played the four weakest schedules in 2014. Three of those teams made the playoffs and the one that didn't -- Houston -- finished with a winning record. Anyway, here's the 2015 strength of schedule for each NFL team (Combined 2014 record of all 16 opponents, combined winning percentage) 1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 147-107-2, .579 2. Cincinnati Bengals: 144-112, .563 3. San Francisco 49ers: 143-112-1, .561 4. Seattle Seahawks: 142-112-2, .559 5. Arizona Cardinals:142-113-1, .557 6. St. Louis Rams: 141-114-1, .553 T-7. Oakland Raiders: 139-116-1, .545 T-7. Kansas City Chiefs: 139-116-1, .545 9. Cleveland Browns: 138-116-2, .543 10. Denver Broncos: 138-117-1, .541 11. Baltimore Ravens: 137-117-2, .539 12. Minnesota Vikings: 138-118, .539 13. Chicago Bears: 136-120, .531 14. Green Bay Packers: 135-120-1, .529 15. Detroit Lions: 135-121, .527 16. San Diego Chargers: 132-123-1, .518 17. Miami Dolphins: 126-130, .492 18. New York Jets: 125-131, .488 19. Buffalo Bills: 124-131-1, .486 T-20. Washington Redskins: 122-133-1, .478 T-20. New York Giants: 122-133-1, .478 22. New England Patriots: 122-134, .477 23. Philadelphia Eagles: 121-134-1, .475 24. Dallas Cowboys: 119-136-1, .467 25. Jacksonville Jaguars: 118-137-1, .463 26. Tennessee Titans: 111-144-1, .435 27. Carolina Panthers: 111-145, .434 28. New Orleans Saints: 109-145-2, .429 29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 108-146-2, .425 30. Houston Texans: 106-148-2, .417 31. Indianapolis Colts: 106-149-1, .417 32. Atlanta Falcons: 104-150-2, .409 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patriot Killa Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25066031/2015-nfl-strength-of-schedule-steelers-at-no-1-falcons-at-no-32 Dan Quinn picked a good year to take over in Atlanta. Based on 2014 records, the Falcons will play the easiest schedule in the NFL next season. Of the 16 regular season games Atlanta will play in 2015, only four of those will come against opponents who finished 2014 with a winning record. The Falcons can thank their horrible division for their "easy" strength of schedule: Every team in the NFC South finished the 2014 season with a losing record. The Falcons strength of schedule for 2015 is .409, which beat out the Colts (.417) for the easiest strength of schedule next season. On the other hand, there's the Pittsburgh Steelers, who are going to have to navigate through a difficult schedule if they want to return to the playoffs for the second year in a row. Based on 2014 records, the Steelers will play the toughest schedule in the NFL next season. The Steelers will play a total of nine games against 2014 playoff teams, plus games against the Chiefs and Chargers, who both finished with winning records, but didn't make the playoffs. That means the Steelers will play a total of 11 games next season against teams who finished 2014 with a winning record. Again, the Falcons will only have to play four. The Steelers strength of schedule for 2015 is .579, which beat out the Bengals (.563) for the toughest strength of schedule. Now you might be wondering: Does strength of schedule actually mean anything? It probably does if you ask the Raiders. Going into the 2014 season, the Raiders were slated to have the toughest strength of schedule based on their opponents' combined 2013 record of 148-108, a winning percentage of .578. After all 256 regular season games were played, it turned out that the Raiders did have the toughest strength of schedule (their opponents combined to go 146-110) and Oakland finished 3-13. Although this is the Raiders we're talking about, so it's possible they would have gone 3-13 with the easiest schedule. The Jets weren't helped by their strength of schedule either. Going into the 2014 season, New York was supposed to have the ninth toughest schedule based on their opponents' 2013 records, but after all the the games were played, the Jets played the second toughest schedule in the NFL. The Jets went from 8-8 in 2013 to 4-12 in 2014. On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Dallas Cowboys, who were supposed to have the 18th most difficult schedule going into 2014, based on their opponents' 2013 records. However, after all the games were played in 2014, Dallas ended up having the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL, playing against teams that combined to go 114-142 (.445). Of the 12 teams that made the playoffs in 2014, only four of those teams had a strength of schedule over .500. That means the other eight playoff teams got into the postseason in due part to playing a weaker schedule. After all was said and done, Dallas, Detroit, Houston and Pittsburgh played the four weakest schedules in 2014. Three of those teams made the playoffs and the one that didn't -- Houston -- finished with a winning record. Anyway, here's the 2015 strength of schedule for each NFL team (Combined 2014 record of all 16 opponents, combined winning percentage) 1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 147-107-2, .579 2. Cincinnati Bengals: 144-112, .563 3. San Francisco 49ers: 143-112-1, .561 4. Seattle Seahawks: 142-112-2, .559 5. Arizona Cardinals:142-113-1, .557 6. St. Louis Rams: 141-114-1, .553 T-7. Oakland Raiders: 139-116-1, .545 T-7. Kansas City Chiefs: 139-116-1, .545 9. Cleveland Browns: 138-116-2, .543 10. Denver Broncos: 138-117-1, .541 11. Baltimore Ravens: 137-117-2, .539 12. Minnesota Vikings: 138-118, .539 13. Chicago Bears: 136-120, .531 14. Green Bay Packers: 135-120-1, .529 15. Detroit Lions: 135-121, .527 16. San Diego Chargers: 132-123-1, .518 17. Miami Dolphins: 126-130, .492 18. New York Jets: 125-131, .488 19. Buffalo Bills: 124-131-1, .486 T-20. Washington Redskins: 122-133-1, .478 T-20. New York Giants: 122-133-1, .478 22. New England Patriots: 122-134, .477 23. Philadelphia Eagles: 121-134-1, .475 24. Dallas Cowboys: 119-136-1, .467 25. Jacksonville Jaguars: 118-137-1, .463 26. Tennessee Titans: 111-144-1, .435 27. Carolina Panthers: 111-145, .434 28. New Orleans Saints: 109-145-2, .429 29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 108-146-2, .425 30. Houston Texans: 106-148-2, .417 31. Indianapolis Colts: 106-149-1, .417 32. Atlanta Falcons: 104-150-2, .409 The super bowl champions**** have an easier schedule than us...wow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PatsFanTX Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 The super bowl champions**** have an easier schedule than us...wow. Thats because the Pats play the Jets twice. If you guys could play yourselves, your schedule would be easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patriot Killa Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Thats because the Pats play the Jets twice. If you guys could play yourselves, your schedule would be easier. That or Goodell is covering up all the cheated victories to come next year with the 22nd ranked schedule. #16and0baby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetster Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Thats because the Pats play the Jets twice. If you guys could play yourselves, your schedule would be easier. I have to admit this is true. Listening to Sirius NFL radio, a fan called in, not a Jet nor Patriot fan & he said the crappy AFC east division has a lot to do with how many Superbowls the Pats have played in. Each year except one having home field advantage throughout the playoffs. He's right. Each year no matter who plays for the Pats defense they get to play either old washed up QBs or young inexperienced ones in the division. In 2010 the Jets played @ Indy @ Patriots @ Steelers! Think about that Payton Manning, Tom Brady, Ben Rothlisburger (all of them Super Bowl winning QB, 6 SBs in all at the time. Pats 2015 home vs Ravens (virtually no secondary to speak of), @ Home vs Indy (good QB, hurt Receiver, average everywhere else) 2 wins & another Super Bowl appearance. They should probably have 6 bowls winning the division & getting home field throughout. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patriot Killa Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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