Tag: strength of schedule

Previewing the 2020 Dolphins’ strength of schedule

The Miami Dolphins’ 2020 opponents are set — what does their strength of schedule add up to be based on the 2019 season?

We’ve known the Miami Dolphins 2020 opponents for several weeks now, but how does the Dolphins’ strength of schedule forecast to next season based on the records of the teams in 2019?

Here are Miami’s finalized opponents for the 2020 NFL season.

Home games:

  • New England (12-4)
  • Buffalo (10-6)
  • New York Jets (7-9)
  • Cincinnati (2-14)
  • Kansas City (12-4)
  • Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)
  • Los Angeles Rams (9-7)
  • Seattle Seahawks (11-5)

Road games:

  • New England (12-4)
  • Buffalo (10-6)
  • New York Jets (7-9)
  • Arizona (5-10-1)
  • Denver (7-9)
  • Jacksonville (6-10)
  • Las Vegas (7-9)
  • San Francisco (13-3)

In all, the Dolphins’ opposition combined for a schedule of 135-120-1, good for a strength of schedule of 0.529. Compared to the Dolphins’ 2019 schedule? Miami’s 2019 schedule finished with a strength of schedule of 0.484 — so at this point in time the Dolphins’ 2020 schedule forecasts to be a bit more challenging than this year.

The good news? Miami should be significantly better and the team was two plays away from finishing the 2019 season at 7-9. The bad news? The quarterback gauntlet Miami will face figures to be a challenge. The Dolphins will need to play Patrick Mahomes and Russell Wilson next season — plus whatever the likes of Tom Brady and Philip Rivers choose to do.

Every team in the league will look notably different next season, but it is too soon to tell exactly who will be better or worse. It’ll be fun to see how Miami shifts their own roster to brace for the coming storm.

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Broncos will have 12th-hardest strength of schedule during 2020 NFL season

The Broncos will face the 12th-hardest strength of schedule in the NFL next season.

Offseason strength of schedule percentages should always be taken with a grain of salt because they are based on a team’s record the previous season. Every NFL roster changes each spring so a team never looks exactly the same as the previous year.

With that said, though, it’s always interesting in the offseason to look at a team’s strength of schedule for the upcoming season. In 2019, the Denver Broncos had the second-hardest strength of schedule in the league based on records from the 2018 season.

The Broncos finished the year with a 7-9 record, missing out on the playoffs. Denver won four of their last five games, though, so there is optimism for the 2020 season with quarterback Drew Lock entering his second year.

Next season, the Broncos will have the 12th-hardest strength of schedule based on 2019 records. Here’s a look at each team’s strength of schedule, courtesy of Nick Wojton of Bills Wire:

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)

The NFL is expected to announce its 2020 schedule in April. We already know the Broncos’ opponents for next season, just not the dates.

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Bills 2020 strength of schedule among NFL’s toughest

Buffalo Bills 2020 NFL strength of schedule.

The Bills had a 10-6 record in 2019. The lone playoff team Buffalo defeated was the Tennessee Titans, but with a massive asterisk.

The Titans turned things around thanks to quarterback Ryan Tannehill. Marcus Mariota started against the Bills. To some NFL observers, the Bills never defeated a team with much merit. Although others would agree there’s the Cowboys and Steelers to consider.

Anywho, basing things on the ol’ strength of schedule via records, the Bills will certainly have a chance to prove themselves next season, the way things currently sit.

Heading into the 2020 offseason, the Bills will have the fifth-hardest schedule facing them next season. Buffalo is in a three-way tie for fifth, along with the Lions and Falcons. Looking back on the season that was, Buffalo’s opponents gave them the NFL’s 26th hardest schedule to navigate.

Again, the Bills can only play the hand they’re dealt. So in 2019, 26th doesn’t mean much. Buffalo handled their business and got into the postseason. But their cards in 2020, as of now, appears much more difficult.

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

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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