Tag: NFL Strength of Schedule

4 storylines for when the Ravens take on the Bills

The Baltimore Ravens venture north this week, a daunting task for any team in December, to take on the Buffalo Bills. The Ravens are 28-22 in the twelfth month of the year since 2008, and it’s safe to say that this December holds the most importance for the Ravens and their fans alike in recent history.

The Baltimore Ravens venture north this week as they take on the Buffalo Bills for Week 14. While the Ravens have been on a roll — winning eight straight coming into this week — the Bills are no slouch either at 9-3. While most experts believe Baltimore will extend their winning streak this week, it’s a potential playoff matchup that will test both teams in the final weeks of a long season.

Before sitting down and watching the game, here are the four storylines you might want to know about the Ravens vs. Bills in Week 14.

Ravens could be playoff bound:

Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images

It’s a pretty rare spot Baltimore is in entering Week 14. They’ve usually had to fight into the final week of the season to get into the playoffs and at times have had to get a little outside help to find a wild card berth. But this week, the Ravens simply need to win and they’ll be guaranteed a place at the table in the AFC.

It gets even better than that though. A win and a little help from the NFC and Baltimore can not only clinch a playoff spot but seal up the AFC North for the second consecutive season. Claiming the division would ensure the Ravens have at least a top-4 seed regardless of how they finish out the final three games. Plus, it also sticks it to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who would be mathematically eliminated from winning the AFC North this season and put the pressure on them to squeak into the playoffs as a wild card.

A win in the NFL is nice but guaranteeing a playoff berth and getting to claim some superiority over a division rival is so much better.

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Jags have the league’s eighth easiest remaining schedule

The Jags may have an uphill battle to endure to make the postseason, but at least their schedule is favorable in the process.

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The Jacksonville Jaguars may currently sit at 4-5 with the No. 10 seed in the AFC playoff picture but it appears the hardest part of their schedule is over with. In fact, as of Week 11, they have the league’s eighth easiest schedule according to the NFL Media Research Department as their opponents combine for a record of 29-36 (.446 percent).

This is great news when considering how the Jags have struggled against opponents with records of .500 or better. As of Week 11, the Jags are 1-5 against opponents who fit the bill. Of course, that one win was against the Tennessee Titans Week 3. Heading forward they will have to face four opponents with records of .500 or better in the Indianapolis Colts (twice), Tennessee Titans and Oakland Raiders. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Chargers, and Tampa Bay Bucs are the teams they face with losing records.

Another plus is that the Jags will have veteran quarterback Nick Foles back to help them navigate through the next two months. Given his résumé during his run with the Philadelphia Eagles, it’s possible he can string some wins together and get the team into the postseason, but only time will tell.

As for the rest of the AFC South, the Titans came in with the third toughest schedule (against a .611 win percentage), while the Houston Texans have the ninth toughest schedule (against a .554 win percentage) and the Colts came in with the 13th (against a .531 win percentage).

Updated look at Bills’ remaining strength of schedule

Buffalo Bills remaining stretch of schedule in 2019.

The Bills sit at 6-3 after their 19-16 loss to the Browns and their 2019 schedule down the stretch is much tougher.

So, how much tougher is it exactly?

Currently the Bills sit dead-center in the NFL.

Buffalo has the 16th hardest schedule remaining in the NFL. Left on Buffalo’s schedule, in order, are the Dolphins, Broncos, Cowboys, Ravens, Steelers, Patriots and Jets.

Combined, those teams are 32-31 overall this year with a .508 winning percentage.

Earlier this season, NFL analysts were critical of the Bills and their opponents. Now the Bills will have a chance to prove they can beat better teams.

With the Bills’ schedule in mind, let’s now compare that with the other teams currently in the AFC Wild Card and playoff picture. If Buffalo doesn’t get it done, things could go bad.

Here’s how the standings currently sit with team records and remaining strength of schedule.

AFC seeding:

  1. New England Patriots (8-1, .469 – 21st hardest)
  2. Baltimore Ravens (7-2, .556 – 7th)
  3. Houston Texans (6-3, .554 – 9th)
  4. Kansas City Chiefs (6-4, .500 – 17th)
  5. Buffalo Bills (6-3, .508 – 16th)
  6. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-4, .383 – 30th)
  7. Oakland Raiders (5-4, .364 – 31st)
  8. Indianapolis Colts (5-4, .531 – 13th)
  9. Tennessee Titans (5-5, .611 – 3rd)
  10. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-5, .446 – 25th)

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