Pats vs. Chargers strength of schedule?

[Patsguy05]

Some homer on cbs sportsline was saying this morning that the chargers will win this weekend because their strength of schedule was tougher this year than ours. Does anyone have a comparison?

 

[Keegs]

I think the Pats schedule was tougher. Thus, i think the pats will win this weekend. There, it's even now, you don't have to worry about it anymore

 

[chrisfx811]

Wow, that is shocking since SD went 2-3 against teams that made the playoffs.
That includes 1 win against the Titans who were questionable at best.

The Pats were 6-0 against playoff teams.
The Jets & Dolphins drag down our SOS so much it's ridiculous, but as many have said, when you get down to teams that are 5-11, 4-12, and even 6-10, they all pretty much suck.

 

[Patsguy05]

I think the Pats schedule was tougher. Thus, i think the pats will win this weekend. There, it's even now, you don't have to worry about it anymore

I don't recall saying that I was worried about it but regardless I do have a great sense of peace now Keegs. Thanks!

 

[BelichickFan]

They would be close if not Indy being ahead because they played a 16-0 team

As others have said SoS isn't that important - strength of victory and record vs. above .500 teams says more.

 

[Buchanty]

The Bolts faced 5 teams with a winning record and won 2 of them, the most famous one against the Colts when PM thought Cromartie was one of his WRs.
The other win was in Tennessee against the Titans in overtime.

The SOS card is in my mind always suspicious because it is taken as an absolute based on strong or weak divisions played. The Chargers did play the NFC North (second strongest in the NFC after the East) and the AFC South (the strongest in the AFC). However that seem anomalous with the fact that NE had a supposed weaker schedule (NFC East - the strongest, and the AFC North - second in the AFC) yet still played against 7 teams with a winning record.

Much has been made of the fact that they beat the Colts twice, but in each case it was more the ponies throwing the game away than the Bolts dominating it. I dont understand either Wade Phillips or Dungy not calling a single running play in the last 2 minutes in both of their divisional games.

One good thing to come out of the SOS perception though is the overconfidence the Chargers will bring to Foxboro. Let them think they have played better against a stronger schedule for as long as possible.

 

[alamo]

Pats final SOS = 120-136 .469
SD final SOS = 128-128 .500

So yes, the Pats schedule (as calculated by strength of schedule) was easier. But of course that by itself is relatively meaningless, especially since the SOS calculation does not take into account which teams you beat and which teams you lost to. I haven't found a source for "strength of victory" and don't feel like calculating it. Except for the Patriots, I am pretty sure their Strength of Victory is .469

 

[xmarkd400x]

Well, the Pats contribute 16 of those 128 wins.

 

[Brady'sButtBoy]

cold hard football facts track quality wins - check it out, Pats lead with 7, next best was Dallas with 4, SD came in with 2.

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/Articles/2_987_Quality_Standings.html

this was for regular season only...

 

[alamo]

Well, the Pats contribute 16 of those 128 wins.

Yes, but the Chargers contribute 11, and even backing out each other the Chargers' SOS is still more difficult.

 

[BelichickFan]

Yes, but the Chargers contribute 11, and even backing out each other the Chargers' SOS is still more difficult.

Your post made me calculate Strength of Victory.

Counting regular season only, of course, we are .469. The Chargers are .432. So, as expected, our Strength of Victory is a good bit better. Both teams would go up if I added in the playoffs, the Chargers a little more as they've won two playoff games to our one.

The best point, though, is the only playoff teams SD has beaten are Indy (two good wins for sure) and two against the Titans who were selected by the Colts to make the playoffs.

 

[hambone1818]

Does it matter? The Pats played more playoff teams and won more of their games against the playoff teams. The Atlanta's and Miami's of the world mean NOTHING.

 

[bolts_fan]

Much has been made of the fact that they beat the Colts twice, but in each case it was more the ponies throwing the game away than the Bolts dominating it. I dont understand either Wade Phillips or Dungy not calling a single running play in the last 2 minutes in both of their divisional games.

This is such bull...

Why is it that when the Chargers beat the Colts twice that it wasn't because their corners played excellent or that their defense was dominating, but that it was the Colts throwing away the game? The one-handed interception Cromartie made in the first game was all him as an example. The one-handed grab by Eric Weddle at the 2 yard line with a 300 pound lineman in his face was all Weddle.

Face it, the Chargers dominated the Colts and plainly beat them. Get your homer glasses off because they're making you look really stupid.

 

[MiChargers]

This is such bull...

Why is it that when the Chargers beat the Colts twice that it wasn't because their corners played excellent or that their defense was dominating, but that it was the Colts throwing away the game? The one-handed interception Cromartie made in the first game was all him as an example. The one-handed grab by Eric Weddle at the 2 yard line with a 300 pound lineman in his face was all Weddle.

Face it, the Chargers dominated the Colts and plainly beat them. Get your homer glasses off because they're making you look really stupid.

When we barely beat Indy in SD, it was because Manning threw 6 INTs and they had a shell of a team based on their injuries. This time, we beat them in their house, in playoff atmosphere, with our backups, and refs in Indy's favor and it's STILL that Indy's dropped the ball, not that SD simply outplayed them. This mentality is nationwide, not just here. But it's absurd.

 

[Buchanty]

This is such bull...

Why is it that when the Chargers beat the Colts twice that it wasn't because their corners played excellent or that their defense was dominating, but that it was the Colts throwing away the game? The one-handed interception Cromartie made in the first game was all him as an example. The one-handed grab by Eric Weddle at the 2 yard line with a 300 pound lineman in his face was all Weddle.

Face it, the Chargers dominated the Colts and plainly beat them. Get your homer glasses off because they're making you look really stupid.

Now which one are you, pot or kettle? And what optical lens were you using to say the Bolts won the first game with a dominating defense. I'll give you the Cromartie catch which was outstanding, but as for the other five picks Manning made some very bad decisions. He didnt even have a lot of pressure, other than Marvin was down hurt and his first option was gone. It was one ugly game, with Rivers trying to make sure that you lost. It was finally won when Adam V missed a sitter..... Defense domination - only a homer would say that.

On the second game the Colts could have advanced the ball with some runs, especially as the Bolts were in pass coverage for the last 3 minutes. So I think the word "throwing it away" is appropriate.

Finally as a visitor please refrain from calling people with a different opinion "stupid" as it tends to raise a mirror to the accuser.