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Based on the current formulas used to calculate strength of schedule, it would appear that the Tennessee Titans’ 2021 slate isn’t too bad — but when you take a deeper dive, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
One way to calculate strength of schedule is using the 2020 records of the Titans’ 2021 opponents, which is normally our least-favorite way to do it since that avenue doesn’t factor in moves made during the offseason.
If we use that formula, the Titans are tied for the 13th-toughest schedule, according to CBS Sports’ John Breech.
The other way to calculate strength of schedule is by using the projected 2021 win totals from Las Vegas for each team, which we normally consider a better way to do this — but again, it isn’t full-proof, either.
Using this formula, Tennessee has the 13th-easiest schedule in the league in 2021, according to football analyst Warren Sharp.
In this instance, basing strength of schedule on projected win totals for the coming season has failed us, and instead the former method gives us a more accurate reading on the Titans’ upcoming slate of opponents.
However, even that doesn’t do the difficulty of the Titans’ schedule justice. That’s because Tennessee’s slate is loaded with good teams.
For starters, you have eight 2020 playoff teams among the Titans’ 14 opponents, including the Colts, Bills, Chiefs, Dolphins, Seahawks, Rams, Saints and Steelers, all of whom figure to at least be in the mix again in 2021.
Adding to those squads, there are five other teams on the Titans’ schedule in the Cardinals, 49ers, Jets, Jaguars and Patriots who figure to at least be tougher outs than they were in 2020.
The only team on Tennessee’s docket that we can unequivocally say will stink as bad, if not worse than last year is the Texans, and even then divisional games are never easy.
Don’t get it twisted: the Titans have one of the most difficult schedules in the NFL in 2021, and nobody can tell us differently.
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