Tag: strength of schedule

Washington starts 2020 season with 12th toughest strength of schedule

Though Washington is improved from last year, a tough schedule with a few brutal stretches should keep expectations low for another year.

With less than a week away until the 2020 NFL season kicks off for Washington, it’s time to delve back into the schedule and look towards the future.

While Washington is expected to be a bit better than they were last year, their schedule doesn’t get easier, with a brutal stretch of games to open up the season. Right off the bat, Washington starts with games against the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, and Los Angeles Rams. A couple of winnable games are mixed into the middle of the season, but a finishing stretch of games again, the Dallas Cowboys, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, and Seattle Seahawks is a rough way to finish the season.

With all of this being said, Washington has the 12th hardest SOS entering 2020, based on Football Outsider’s DVOA. Here’s how our friends over at USA TODAY’s Touchdown Wire broke it all down.

Average Opponent DVOA: 0.1%

Ron Rivera has navigated quite the road in his new job as the head coach of the Washington Football Team. Scandal continues to rock Washington, with owner Dan Snyder under the microscope for a culture of sexual harassment that goes all the way to his desk.

On the field, Washington looks to continue the development of second-year quarterback Dwayne Haskins, recently named the starter. Games against Dallas and Philadelphia will be tough tests, as will dates with the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Pittsburgh Steelers, all teams rated highly by DVOA.

We’ll see if Washington can manage the tough stretches and pick up some easy wins when they are available. but it might be smart to keep your expectations low for yet another season.

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There’s no better time than 2020 for the Pittsburgh Steelers to hoist their 7th Lombardi Trophy

The window is closing on the Steelers’ chances to bring another Super Bowl win to Pittsburgh.

There are plenty of factors that play into why there’s no better time than the 2020 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers to get one for the other thumb.

The 2021 Steelers won’t be the same

The Steelers will look like a drastically different team next season. Several familiar faces will (likely) no longer be sporting the Black and Gold in 2021. Among potential salary-cap casualties are James Conner, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Bud Dupree, Alejandro Villaneuva and Mike Hilton. Cam Heyward is even in danger of becoming a free agent.

Big Ben has a fire under him

Ben Roethlisberger won’t be any more hungry than he will be in 2020. He’s coming off a severe injury that kept him watching teammates play from the sidelines. Big Ben has plenty of doubters as to whether he can return to form — what better way than to show them up with a Super Bowl win?

Roethlisberger said this week that he has some “really good” years in him but, let’s be realistic; even the most elite quarterbacks have started to show the effect of age (ahem, Tom Brady).

“I’m not saying that I have 10 years left in me, but I definitely feel like I’ve got some really good years in me,” Roethlisberger said on Monday. “That was definitely a motivating factor, coming back and showing I still have it in the tank. I still have a lot to give this team. I still have a lot to give to fans. I still want to win Lombardis. I say that with a plural on the end.”

If Ben wants to win multiple Super Bowls, he’d best start right away. His current contract expires after next season, the offensive line isn’t getting any younger, and the defense is stacked for a limited time.

Easy schedule?

According to 2019 win-loss records, the Steelers have a pretty cake schedule ahead of them. That needs to be taken advantage of. The Steelers had one of the toughest schedules in 2019 and 2018, and they missed the playoffs both seasons.

The AFC North will only get tougher

After years of ho-hum Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and even Baltimore Ravens teams, the AFC North is about to get more competitive. Their quarterbacks are all 25 and younger. Lamar Jackson already has MPV written all over him. I doubt we’ve seen the best Baker Mayfield has to offer. And rookie Joe Burrow aims to continue is winning ways. We may even see the division turn out to be one of the best in the league in the next season or two.

The last time the Steelers played in the Super Bowl was in 2011 versus the Green Bay Packers. Personally, I erased it from my memory and had to look it up.

It’s been nearly a decade. The Steelers need to bring back another Lombardi trophy to Pittsburgh, and there’s no better time than 2020. The window is closing, and who knows when it’ll open up again.

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Saints strength of schedule ranked easiest in the NFC South

The New Orleans Saints have the best strength of schedule for the 2020 season in the NFC South, ahead of Tom Brady’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

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Despite a slate of games against several playoff teams — and both participants in last year’s Super Bowl — the New Orleans Saints project to have one of the easier schedules you’ll see around the NFL. Their opponents have a combined winning percentage of .490 from last season’s results, which places ninth-best in the league.

That looks even better when compared to the rest of the NFC South. Both the Carolina Panthers (.500) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (.502) are settled near the middle of the pack, while the Atlanta Falcons (.525) have one of the NFL’s steepest uphill climbs ahead of them.

Now, sure: this isn’t very informative, given how thoroughly teams change from one year to the next. The Buccaneers and Panthers are proof enough of that, with new quarterbacks under center in Tom Brady and Teddy Bridgewater, and an entirely new coaching staff getting to work in Carolina. But the fact remains that a number of teams playing the Saints this season were not very good last season, which should do a lot to build confidence in New Orleans’ chances of future success.

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Pittsburgh Steelers strength of schedule

The NFL recently compiled their annual strength of schedule and, according to it, the Pittsburgh Steelers have it pretty easy.

It’s fairly meaningless, but the NFL compiles a strength of schedule list every year simply based on the opponents’ combined previous season record. The list doesn’t take into account any changes made to the team via free agency or the draft.

The 2019 strength of schedule showed the Kansas City Chiefs tied for the fifth most difficult schedule, and they went on to win the Super Bowl.

This year, the Steelers land at No. 2 with the second easiest strength of schedule. Their opponents had a combined record of 117-139 in 2019.

Like every other team, Pittsburgh will play four games against a team that finished in first place in 2019, four games against teams that finished in second, four games against teams that finished in third, and four games against teams that finished in last place.

The reason the Steelers’ strength of schedule ranks second is that they only play five teams that reached the NFL playoffs in 2019. AFC South and NFC East opponents had disappointing seasons in 2019 outside of the Tennessee Titans reaching the AFC Championship game.

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Seahawks tied at No. 13 in Touchdown Wire’s list of strength of schedules

The Seattle Seahawks are tied at No. 13 in Touchdown Wire’s look at the weakest to toughest strength of schedules for the 2020 NFL season.

The National Football League revealed the 2020 NFL regular-season schedules last week and the Seattle Seahawks look to make the most of their matchups.

Slated for four prime-time games this year, the Seahawks hope to shine on the national stage to add to their impressive record in the spotlight. Seattle will travel more miles than any team in the league in 2020 and must find a way to stay healthy after an early, Week 6 bye.

Based solely on the record of a team’s opponents in 2019, Barry Werner of Touchdown Wire has put together his list of weakest to toughest strength of schedules. He has Seattle tied at No. 13.

“The Seahawks are a perennial threat, and almost always get to double-digits in wins,” Werner writes. “They figure to be right around that total again in 2020. SOS: .508, 129-125-2.”

Seattle kicks off its regular season on the road against the Falcons in Atlanta on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 10:00 a.m. PT. You can view the Seahawks’ full schedule with score predictions in the gallery below.

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Browns have 3rd-easiest schedule based on projected win total odds

Browns have 3rd-easiest schedule based on projected win total odds

Most of the breakdowns of the 2020 NFL schedule have the Cleveland Browns playing a slate of games that is on the easier side but nearer to the middle of the pack. However, a forward-looking model from NFL analyst Warren Sharp projects the Browns to have one of the easiest schedules in 2020.

Sharp compiled the average win total odds from various sportsbooks and used those 2020 totals to shape his strength of schedule. It ignores the typical system of looking back at how the teams on the schedule performed in 2019, which is the standard way to calculate preseason strength of schedule.

In Sharp’s formula, the Browns wind up with the third-easiest schedule. Only the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans face softer slates in the win-total projection.

Cleveland’s projected win total ranges between 8 and 9.5 depending on the sportsbook.

Check out game-by-game score predictions from around the NFL Wires network:

Buf / Mia / NE / NYJ // Bal / Cin / Cle / Pit // Hou / Ind / Jax / Ten // Den / KC / LV / LAC //// Dal / NYG / Phi / Was // Chi / Det / GB / Min // Atl / Car / NO / TB // Ari / LAR / SF / Sea

Colts have easiest schedule based on 2020 win projections

Colts may have a favorable path to the playoffs.

The Indianapolis Colts will be looking to get back into playoff picture after missing out on the postseason in four of the last five seasons. If their strength of schedule stays relatively the same as CBS Sports’ projections, it might not be too difficult.

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Instead of using 2019 results as a basis for the strength of schedule, CBS Sports did so using 2020 win total projections. For the Colts, they came out holding the easiest strength of schedule across the NFL.

According to the projections at CBS Sports, the Colts and Titans have the easiest strength of schedule because their own division ins’t projected highly and four of their games come against the NFC East.

The two easiest schedules in the league belong to a pair of teams in the AFC South, by virtue of their playing in the worst division in the NFL (the AFC South has a projected combined winning percentage of just 0.461) and playing against the second-worst NFC division (the NFC North has a projected combined winning percentage of 0.516, ahead of only the NFC East). 

When looking at the 2020 schedule, the Colts don’t have a bye until Week 7. The first six games ahead of that feature just one team that finished with a winning record in 2019—the Vikings in Week 2.

It is entirely possible that the Colts get off to an extremely hot start against an easy stretch of games before their second-half schedule truly heats up.

Regardless, the Colts could be walking into a favorable situation as they look to get back to the playoffs for just the second time in six seasons.

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Panthers rank No. 18 in strength of schedule for 2020 season

Based on last year’s win percentages, Carolina’s schedule ranks No. 18 in difficulty.

The NFL will be releasing the 2020 schedule tonight. The Carolina Panthers have some tough games this year, including an early road matchup with the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs. However, overall their strength of schedule is only average compared to the rest of the league.

Based on last year’s win percentages, Carolina’s schedule ranks No. 18 in difficulty. Their opponents went .500 in 2019.

New England has the toughest schedule this year and Baltimore has the easiest. Here’s where all 32 teams rank.

1. New England Patriots: 137-118-1 (.537)
2. New York Jets: 136-119-1 (.533)
3. Miami Dolphins: 135-120-1 (.529)
4. San Francisco 49ers: 134-120-2 (.528)
T5. Buffalo Bills: 134-121-1 (.525)
T5. Detroit Lions: 134-121-1 (.525)
T5. Atlanta Falcons: 134-121-1 (.525)
T8. Arizona Cardinals: 132-123-1 (.518)
T8. Houston Texans: 132-123-1 (.518)
T10. Los Angeles Rams: 131-123-2 (.516)
T10. Minnesota Vikings: 131-123-2 (.516)
12. Denver Broncos: 131-125 (.512)
T13. Seattle Seahawks: 129-125-2 (.508)
T13. Chicago Bears: 129-125-2 (.508)
15. Green Bay Packers: 128-126-2 (.504)
T16. Indianapolis Colts: 128-127-1 (.502)
T16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 128-127-1 (.502)
T18. Carolina Panthers: 127-127-2 (.500)
T18. Kansas City Chiefs: 128-128 (.500)
20. Tennessee Titans: 127-128-1 (.498)
21. Las Vegas Raiders: 127-129 (.496)
22. Jacksonville Jaguars: 126-129-1 (.494)
23. Los Angeles Chargers: 126-130 (.492)
24. New Orleans Saints: 125-130-1 (.490)
25. Philadelphia Eagles: 124-131-1 (.486)
26. New York Giants: 123-132-1 (.482)
27. Cincinnati Bengals: 122-134 (.477)
28. Washington Redskins: 118-136-2 (.465)
29. Cleveland Browns: 118-138 (.461)
30. Dallas Cowboys: 117-138-1 (.459)
31. Pittsburgh Steelers: 117-139 (.457)
32. Baltimore Ravens: 112-144 (.438)

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Redskins 2020 strength of schedule is fifth easiest in NFL

One of the benefits of being bad is an easier SOS the next year, and the Redskins have one of the easiest schedules in the league.

While it is downright unbearable to watch your favorite NFL team trudge through a season and finish as one of the worst teams in the league, there are some benefits to it happening as well. The Washington Redskins already reaped one of the biggest rewards from going a measly 3-13 in 2019, as they got to draft DE Chase Young last month, who is undoubtedly the best player in the draft.

Another benefit to being bad is the next year’s strength of schedule, which will have the Redskins cruising through the 2020 season with one of the easiest calendars in the league. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, the Redskins have the fifth easiest SOS in the NFL for the coming season.

Outside of their regular games against the NFC East, the Redskins will face the following teams, in no particular order:

  • Cincinnati Bengals
  • Carolina Panthers
  • Seattle Seahawks
  • Baltimore Ravens
  • Los Angeles Rams
  • Cleveland Browns
  • Pittsburgh Steelers
  • San Francisco 49ers
  • Detroit Lions
  • Arizona Cardinals

Of that group, only three of them were playoff teams in 2019, though some have made some solid roster moves in the past couple of months. The NFL gave the Redskins an easier schedule because they showed last season that they need it to succeed. Hopefully they prove it was worth it this season.

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Chiefs strength of schedule tied for 18th in 2020

The schedule reveal is just around the corner, but we already know the strength of schedule based on the Chiefs’ 2020 opponents.

The Kansas City Chiefs finished the regular season with a 12-4 record in 2019, securing the No. 2 seed in the AFC. It was one of the toughest schedules in the league, ranked fifth-hardest in the NFL based on strength of schedule. In addition to a tough schedule, they dealt with an injury to star QB Patrick Mahomes, yet they still managed to win Super Bowl LIV.

Look no further than the Chiefs’ 2019 team to see how strength of schedule has its faults as a predictor. It’s all based on the records from the previous season and doesn’t take into account the different changes that teams have made in the offseason. Still, it doesn’t exactly hurt to play against teams that have struggled to find success recently.

With the NFL’s schedule reveal around the corner, it’s time to check and see just how difficult the Chiefs’ schedule will be in 2020. Our friend Nick Wojton over at Bills Wire broke down the strength of schedule of all 32 NFL teams. Check out his calculations below:

1. New England Patriots: 137-118-1 (.537)

2. New York Jets: 136-119-1 (.533)

3. Miami Dolphins: 135-120-1 (.529)

4. San Francisco 49ers: 134-120-2 (.528)

T5. Buffalo Bills: 134-121-1 (.525)

T5. Detroit Lions: 134-121-1 (.525)

T5. Atlanta Falcons: 134-121-1 (.525)

T8. Arizona Cardinals: 132-123-1 (.518)

T8. Houston Texans: 132-123-1 (.518)

T10. Los Angeles Rams: 131-123-2 (.516)

T10. Minnesota Vikings: 131-123-2 (.516)

12. Denver Broncos: 131-125 (.512)

T13. Seattle Seahawks: 129-125-2 (.508)

T13. Chicago Bears: 129-125-2 (.508)

15. Green Bay Packers: 128-126-2 (.504)

T16. Indianapolis Colts: 128-127-1 (.502)

T16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 128-127-1 (.502)

T18. Carolina Panthers: 127-127-2 (.500)

T18. Kansas City Chiefs: 128-128 (.500)

20. Tennessee Titans: 127-128-1 (.498)

21. Las Vegas Raiders: 127-129 (.496)

22. Jacksonville Jaguars: 126-129-1 (.494)

23. Los Angeles Chargers: 126-130 (.492)

24. New Orleans Saints: 125-130-1 (.490)

25. Philadelphia Eagles: 124-131-1 (.486)

26. New York Giants: 123-132-1 (.482)

27. Cincinnati Bengals: 122-134 (.477)

28. Washington Redskins: 118-136-2 (.465)

29. Cleveland Browns: 118-138 (.461)

30. Dallas Cowboys: 117-138-1 (.459)

31. Pittsburgh Steelers: 117-139 (.457)

32. Baltimore Ravens: 112-144 (.438)

You can see the Chiefs are tied for the 18th in strength of schedule with the Panthers, so they’re right in the middle of the pack. It’s hard to say this will give them a distinct advantage in their pursuit of becoming repeat Super Bowl champions, but it certainly can’t hurt Kansas City.

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