Team wise 2013 strength of schedule - Panthers=toughest, Broncos=easiest

[thenepatsrule]

Team-by-team strength of schedule for 2013 - NFL.com

I remember creating a thread last year about the Pats having one of the easiest (if not the easiest) SOS, look how that turned out for us, we ended up playing almost all of the PO teams in the regular season.
The past few years have definitely shown that having an easy SOS means next to nothing. That being said with the Broncos having the easiest SOS Manning sure looks a lock for MVP this season

Carolina Panthers
Detroit Lions
New Orleans Saints
St. Louis Rams
Baltimore Ravens
Green Bay Packers
Arizona Cardinals
Miami Dolphins
San Francisco 49ers
Minnesota Vikings
Seattle Seahawks
Cincinnati Bengals
Jacksonville Jaguars
New England Patriots
Atlanta Falcons
Chicago Bears
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Washington Redskins
New York Jets
Philadelphia Eagles
Cleveland Browns
Pittsburgh Steelers
Tennessee Titans
New York Giants
Dallas Cowboys
Buffalo Bills
Houston Texans
Kansas City Chiefs
Oakland Raiders
Indianapolis Colts
San Diego Chargers
Denver Broncos

 

[Jackson 2]

I always jump to look at this sort of stuff as soon as it's posted. Then about a third of the way through the season every year I realize that lots of good teams get lousy and the lousy teams get good. Never, ever fails. Only the identities of the teams change from year to year.

 

[Kontradiction]

Well, you really can't tell a strength of schedule just yet. Last year at this time, we all would have laughed at the NFC West and said, "Well, aside from the Niners, there's not much to worry about here". Instead we went 1-3 against them and the Seahawks turned out to be stronger than anticipated.

 

[Deus Irae]

Well, you really can't tell a strength of schedule just yet. Last year at this time, we all would have laughed at the NFC West and said, "Well, aside from the Niners, there's not much to worry about here". Instead we went 1-3 against them and the Seahawks turned out to be stronger than anticipated.

Seattle caught a break with their QB. While there are both positives and negative surprises every season, most teams end up about where you think they're going to be.

 

[thenepatsrule]

most teams end up about where you think they're going to be.

I thought the Jets would be in the SB this year , actually i had the exact same thought last year too .

 

[Deus Irae]

I thought the Jets would be in the SB this year , actually i had the exact same thought last year too .

They will be..... in August.

 

[jmt57]

It's not just the Broncos; the entire AFC West has four of the five easiest schedules thanks to them being able to play each other six times apiece, and their collectively having such a poor record (26-38) last year.

 

[Deus Irae]

Then about a third of the way through the season every year I realize that lots of good teams get lousy and the lousy teams get good

Since it's snow day, I thought I'd have a look at this.

AFCE
Patriots
Dolphins
Jets
Bills

While some thought the Bills might make a big move, it was always known as a question mark (Fitzpicksix). Outside of that, is there any significant movement?

AFCN
Bengals
Ravens
Steelers
Browns

The Steelers were due for their down year after two straight playoff appearances. It's been their cycle this century. They still went 8-8.

AFCS
Texans
Colts
Titans
Jaguars

The Colts were expected to be better, but not this much better. The rest went chalk.

AFCW
Broncos
Chargers
Raiders
Chiefs

The Chiefs crapped the bed.

So, looking at the AFC, it's really only two teams that were dramatically different from that was thought (Colts/Chiefs), and one team that might have been a fair sized disappointment (Bills). That still leaves 13 of 16 pretty much in line where they were expected, if memory serves.

If someone has a different take on one or more of these teams, let me know and I'll update as justified.

 

[jmt57]

The only slight surprise I might add is the Bengals; many felt it was not possible for a Marvin Lewis coached team to make it to the playoffs in consecutive seasons. Other than that the AFC in 2012 certainly put a dent into the theory of 50% change from year to the next, in regards to what teams are/are not good, and which teams do/do not make the playoffs.

 

[Claremonster]

So, the Donkos get the easiest schedule again?

 

[Sweft]

So, the Donkos get the easiest schedule again?

It's Peyton, of course.

 

[DaBruinz]

They need to just stop with the Strength of Schedule crap. It hasn't mattered since they changed to the rotating schedule where only two teams aren't known from year to year..

 

[YearbookCurfew]

Easy schedule =/= guaranteed playoff spot or winning record.

 

[Tunescribe]

Since it's snow day, I thought I'd have a look at this.

AFCE
Patriots
Dolphins
Jets
Bills

If someone has a different take on one or more of these teams, let me know and I'll update as justified.

I think that even with a new coach (or perhaps because of him), the Bills will finish ahead of the Green Beans. Also, because the Green Beans roster will be decimated by cap problems.

 

[BTTA]

The winning percentage metric is a terrible measure; averaging doesn't tell us much about the difficulty of teams played.

 

[mgteich]

????
Winning is indeed the best measure of how good a team is.

The winning percentage metric is a terrible measure; averaging doesn't tell us much about the difficulty of teams played.