Tag: strength of schedule

Where Oklahoma ranks in strength of schedule among the Big 12 Conference

A look at the Big 12 Conference in terms of strength of schedule and where Oklahoma ranks.

There is a lot of expectations surrounding the Oklahoma Sooners football team as we march towards the kickoff of the 2021 season. While there are more than three months until the start, that hasn’t hindered any of the discussions.

With the rankings and preseason power rankings constantly putting Lincoln Riley’s squad near the top, it is hard not to think of what could be. Is this the season that the fifth-year head coach can finally put it all together? Can Riley and company avoid the early season letdowns of the last several years and make a run at No. 1 in the country?

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Year in and year out ESPN has released their Football Power Index rankings for all 130 teams in FBS. Many factors go into these FPI rankings including the strength of schedule (SOS). According to the latest edition, the Big 12 Conference as a whole has the toughest SOS in college football. All 10 teams rank in the top 20.

A full breakdown of every team’s strength of schedule and where they rank nationally:

ESPN College Football Power Index: Big 12 strength of schedule rankings

Big 12 teams flooded ESPN’s FPI rankings in regards to strength of schedule for the 2021 college football season.

The Big 12 conference is in stable shape and should field several competitive football programs in 2021. Continue reading “ESPN College Football Power Index: Big 12 strength of schedule rankings”

Panthers have NFL’s seventh-easiest schedule based on 2020 win %

According to the NFL, Carolina has the seventh-easiest strength of schedule this year based on their opponents’ combined win percentage last season.

Posting a losing record can have silver linings. Teams that do wind up with higher draft picks and tend to have an easier schedule the next season. The Carolina Panthers are in that position heading into 2021.

According to the NFL, Carolina has the seventh-easiest strength of schedule this year based on their opponents’ combined win percentage last season.

The traditional strength of schedule metric is of course a bit outdated. Using projected win totals is a bit more accurate, at least.

If we go based on the Vegas projections, the Panthers are right in the middle of the pack. According to Warren Sharp, the team ranks No. 15 in strength of schedule based on forecasted win totals.

via Sharp Football Analysis

Any way you want to look at the opponents on their schedule, it gets a lot harder after Week 8, and Carolina’s final four games of the year are especially brutal.

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Jaguars have the 18th most difficult schedule in 2021

Jacksonville won’t have a particularly difficult schedule in 2021 for rookie quarterback Trevor Lawrence to navigate through.

Jacksonville certainly has an uphill climb to get back into position to compete for a playoff spot. Coming off an 1-15 season that saw the team land the first overall pick, the Jags will need Trevor Lawrence to have a similar effect to the one Andrew Luck had on the Indianapolis Colts when he took them to the playoffs as a rookie.

Luckily for the Jaguars, they won’t have to face a particularly difficult schedule to do it. Based on the final 2020 standings, Jacksonville’s schedule ranks just 18th in the NFL in terms of difficulty. It was a big winner from the league’s decision to expand to 17 regular-season games, as that dropped its strength-of-schedule seven spots from 11th.

In addition to their usual divisional opponents, the Jaguars face every team in the NFC West and AFC East, and they also have matchups against the Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons. Their average opponent win percentage from last season is .491.

Though this is just a projection and there’s no way to know how difficult Jacksonville’s schedule will end up being, it seems like it could be conducive to a major step forward for the team in 2021.

ESPN ranks Chiefs strength of schedule among NFL’s toughest in 2021

The good news is that two AFC West teams have it tougher.

The Kansas City Chiefs finished the 2020 regular season with a 14-2 record, winning the AFC West and securing the No. 1 seed in the AFC conference. They had a middling strength of schedule that year, fresh off of a Super Bowl victory. This time around things could be a bit more difficult when it comes to securing wins in the regular season.

Shortly after the conclusion of the 2021 NFL draft, ESPN’s Mike Clay created a strength of schedule projection based on current rosters in the NFL. The Chiefs, of course, drew one of the toughest schedules in the league, coming in at No. 25 in Clay’s projections.

A difficult schedule is to be expected as a division winner because the NFL schedules teams to play the previous year’s division winners from their conference. The rest is really just luck of the draw. In total, the Chiefs will face seven playoff teams from the 2020-2021 postseason during the 2021 regular season. Typically, those playoff teams are going to be the ones that are considered to have the most talented players.

The good news here is that the Chiefs’ schedule is only the second-toughest schedule among AFC West teams based on Clay’s projections. The Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders come in at No. 26 and No. 27 respectively. The Denver Broncos have the easiest schedule among AFC West teams, coming in at No. 8 in Clay’s projections.

Strength of schedule has its issues as a predictor for team success. Look no further than the 2019 season, when the Chiefs drew the fifth-toughest schedule in the league. They ended up going 12-4 and winning Super Bowl LIV.

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Bills’ 2021 strength of schedule ranks in the bottom half of the NFL

Buffalo Bills 2021 strength of schedule as of their 16-game schedule.

The Buffalo Bills should be a highly-motivated bunch in 2021. After a massively successful campaign this past season, the Bills will want to prove that was no flash in the pan. This team here to stay, right?

Well in doing so, the Bills will actually… have an easier road? According to numbers recently calculated by Steelers Wire, the Bills’ 2021 schedule is tied for the 23rd easiest in 2021. In Buffalo’s breakout campaign this past year, the Bills were in a tie for the fifth-toughest slate at the start of the year.

En route for the Bills is a cross-conference showdown with the NFC South, plus their rotation to non-divisional AFC games vs. the AFC South.

In addition, of their upcoming opponents, six of them were in the playoffs this past season, including both participants from Super Bowl LV, the Chiefs and Bucs.

Here’s the full breakdown of the NFL’s strength of schedule in 2021:

1. Pittsburgh Steelers: 143-111-2 (.563)
2. Baltimore Ravens: 142-112-2 (.559)
3. Chicago Bears: 141-114-1 (.553)
4. Detroit Lions: 138-116-2 (.543)
5. Cincinnati Bengals: 138-118-0 (.539)
6. Minnesota Vikings: 137-118-1 (.537)
7. Las Vegas Raiders: 134-120-2 (.527)
8. Green Bay Packers: 133-122-1 (.521)
9. Cleveland Browns: 132-122-2 (.520)
10. Houston Texans: 132-124-0 (.516)
11. Jacksonville Jaguars: 129-126-1 (.506)
12. Los Angeles Rams: 129-127-0 (.504)
T13. San Francisco 49ers: 128-127-1 (.502)
T13. New York Jets: 128-127-1 (.502)
T15. Los Angeles Chargers: 126-128-2 (.496)
T15. Arizona Cardinals: 127-129-0 (.496)
T15. Seattle Seahawks: 127-129-0 (.496)
T15. New England Patriots: 127-129-0 (.496)
T19. Tennessee Titans: 126-130-0 (.492)
T19. Kansas City Chiefs: 125-129-2 (.492)
21. Carolina Panthers: 124-131-1 (.486)
22. Washington Football Team: 123-131-2 (.484)
T23. Buffalo Bills: 123-133-0 (.480)
T23. Denver Broncos: 122-132-2 (.480)
25. Atlanta Falcons: 122-133-1 (.479)
26. Miami Dolphins: 122-134-0 (.477)
27. New Orleans Saints: 120-135-1 (.471)
T28. New York Giants: 118-136-2 (.465)
T28. Indianapolis Colts: 119-137-0 (.465)
30. Dallas Cowboys: 115-139-2 (.453)
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 115-140-1 (.451)
32. Philadelphia Eagles: 115-141-0 (.449)

** Subject to change pending 17-game season in 2021.

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Falcons have favorable strength of schedule in 2021

After having one of the NFL’s toughest schedules in 2020, the Atlanta Falcons may finally catch a break in 2021.

After having one of the NFL’s toughest schedules in 2020, the Atlanta Falcons may finally catch a break in 2021.

Allison Koehler of Steelers Wire calculated the strength of schedule for each team next season and the Falcons’ opponents have the 25th-ranked winning percentage (.479). Atlanta plays four playoff teams — Tampa Bay (twice), New Orleans (twice), Buffalo and Washington — in Arthur Smith’s first year in charge.

Fellow NFC South rivals will also see favorable competition in 2021. The Buccaneers’ strength of schedule is ranked 31st in the league, while the Saints aren’t too far behind (27th). Lastly, the Carolina Panthers (21st) have the toughest schedule in the division.

The NFC South could look quite different in 2021. As the Saints move forward without Drew Brees, the Falcons and Panthers will look to challenge Tampa Bay for the divisional crown next season.

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Cowboys Week 17 Rooting Guide: Setting up playoff matchup, draft order

Everything is on table from No. 7 pick to best playoff matchup for the #Cowboys. Here’s how you should be watching the bottom scroll for the best possible situation for the Cowboys come Monday. The final rooting guide of the season.

It’s not a tale of two cities, but there are two competing destinies when it comes to Week 17 for the Dallas Cowboys. On one hand, there’s the very fun and previously unrealistic pursuit of a playoff spot. If the Cowboys win and the Washington Football Team loses, a team that started 2-7 and 3-9 will be the No. 4 seed in the dance.

On the other hand, if the Cowboys don’t make the playoffs, they could end up drafting anywhere between No. 7 and No. 15, depending on the results of their game and others. So here’s a helpful menu of Sunday’s action, with the potential impact on the fortune of that big, dumb team of ours we love so almost unconditionally.

Bills’ remaining strength of schedule heading into bye

How the Buffalo Bills’ remaining strength of schedule looks heading into their bye week.

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The Buffalo Bills will not play in Week 11. Unfortunately their last-second loss to the Arizona Cardinals, 32-30, is going to stick in their minds for awhile. Still, the Bills (7-3) earned their rest.

Once Week 12 rolls around, the Bills will have six more games to get after it. Regardless of how the Miami Dolphins (6-3) do in Week 11 while  Buffalo isn’t playing, it’s still going to be a tight race for the AFC East from here on out. Should be fun.

So now onto the all important question, how difficult is the Bills’ remaining strength of schedule once they do get back to the gridiron? Just two weeks ago, the Bills had the fourth-hardest schedule left. Now that number has dropped to the middle of the pack.

According to Tankathon, the Bills have the 13th hardest remaining strength of schedule. But the downside is that the Dolphins unfortunately have a bit easier ride with the 20th spot locked up.

Here’s the full rankings of the NFL’s remaining strength of schedule based on opponent records:

1. Falcons (.677)
2. Jaguars (.661)
3. Broncos (.600)
4. Jets (.471)
5. Eagles (.571)
6. Texans (.532)
7. Chiefs (.531)
8. Giants (.528)
9. 49ers (.527)
10. Colts (.524)
11. Lions (.516)
12. Bucs (.509)
13. Bills (.509)
14. Titans (.508)
15. Packers (.508)
16. Rams (.508)
17. Cardinals (.500)
18. Panthers (.491)
19. Chargers (.484)
20. Dolphins (.477)
21. Steelers (.477)
22. Bengals (.469)
23. Washington (.462)
24. Ravens (.461)
25. Vikings (.459)
26. Patriots (.453)
27. Browns (.445)
28. Raiders (.444)
29. Bears (.443)
30. Saints (.421)
31. Seahawks (.377)
32. Cowboys (.375)

Note: Vikings, Bears calculated prior to Week 10’s Monday Night Football meeting.

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Which teams have the easiest, toughest remaining schedules in the NFL

Which teams have the easiest and the hardest remaining schedules in the NFL based on Tankathon’s rankings halfway through the season.

The NFL is approaching the halfway point in the season with the Week 9 matchups just days away.

There is a ton of football still to be played (and bye weeks to be had) so at the mid-way point of the year, it’s time to take a look at which teams have the easiest and hardest schedules left to play.

The Seahawks, with a win over the Bills in Buffalo, are hoping to get to a 7-1 start for the second time under coach Pete Carroll. According to the rankings from Tankathon, Seattle’s second half of the season is one of the easiest in the NFL. Atlanta has the most difficult slate of them all.

Below are Tankathon’s ratings from toughest to easiest.

1. Falcons (.644)
2. Jaguars (.615)
3. 49ers (.610)
4. Bills (.579)
5. Rams (.576)
6. Panthers (.569)
7. Broncos (.522)
8. Colts (.540)
9. Titans (.538)
10. Cardinals (.529)
11. Eagles (.525)
12. Jets (.517)
13. Giants (.517)
14. Texans (.508)
15. Packers (.507)
16. Bengals (.500)
17. Chiefs (.492)
18. Vikings (.485)
19. Chargers (.478)
20. Bucs (.475)
21. Dolphins (.470)
22. Lions (.470)
23. Saints (.464)
24. Football Team (.464)
25. Steelers (.456)
26. Ravens (.455)
27. Cowboys (.450)
28. Seahawks (.450)
29. Bears (.429)
30. Raiders (.424)
31. Patriots (.418)
32. Browns (.398)

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