SOS is what it has always been which is one of many measuring sticks used to gauge the quality of a team. What it doesn't include, and never has, is the circumstance for each individual game. The Bills get the same SOS boost for beating a thumbless Brissett led Pats as they did for losing to a Brady led Pats.
The deterioration of the game seems to be multifaceted:
1. The league has gone from 26 to 32 teams. Does that dilute talent? How many elite players, coaches and owners can there possibly be?
2. The league has gone from 14 to 16 games and possibly will go to 18. This is more of an injury issue but does affect what we see on the field. A healthy mediocre team has a better chance to beat a good team dealing with injuries at key positions. (The league needs to start thinking about two bye weeks and if they go to 18 games they need to think about eliminating two preseason games. Two bye weeks one of them taken the week before a TNF game.)
3. The Salary cap. Meant to induce parity but I believe it also added to the divide between good coaching and bad coaching. Teams can no longer spend on quality back up or depth so coaches are left to teach rookies or aging veterans.
4. Over saturation- Football is now on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Thursday games are the worst. (Again, giving each team a bye week before a TNF game would help)
5a. CTE - I'm seeing more kids playing soccer and less kids playing football. Will that affect the quality of the game in the future?
5b. Roger Goodell- Whether it's a 'gate' scandal, CTE cover ups or his ridiculous magic 8 ball punishment system Roger and his 32 kings have tarnished the game.
Would have been interesting to see how these Pats of today would fair back then.
Geez. BB without salary cap limitations would be something to see.