2013 Strength of Schedule vs. Power Rankings part 1

So, every year there is a pretty standard set schedule in the NFL. Due to the unique 16 team Conferences (AFC / NFC) with 4 team Divisions (North / South / East / West) and 16 game seasons we get a 4 year rotation. Every team plays a Division in the opposite Conference (AFC West plays NFC West etc) taking turns each year along with a Division in their own Conference. Then they play Interdivision rivarlies twice a piece. The last two games are teams that finished in the same place in their own respective Division in the last two remaining Divisions in the same Conference.

Did you get that? Good.

This Schedule is an attempt at making the NFL fair and balanced over a long term. However, before a single season starts it gives an edge to certain teams and piles on a more difficult schedule. Sometimes entire Divisions aren't as great as others. Sometimes life just isn't fair. I know. I'm a Lions fan.

This is Strength of Schedule. A Pre-season guesstamation at what kinda difficulty a team might be facing in the coming year based on a previous year finishing record.

The 2013 SOS: This will be from most difficult to easiest.


The Panthers have the most difficult anticipated schedule. Last year the Panthers finished 7-9.


The Detroit Lions, finished 4-12, will be another big cat trying to claw its way out of a paper bag. This is my team. I love them. I just have a hard time imagining the Lions being better than 9-7 at best. If you gave me the over under @ 9.5 I would take the under.


The Saints also finished 7-9 along with the Panthers and in fact they are in the same Division (NFC South.) I really believe that the Saints have a chance to rebound. More than the Lions or the Panthers. Last year they were rocked by the bounty scandal and their awesome head coach Peyton was suspended. I think his presence on the sideline was greatly missed. The Saints open the season against another interdivision rival in the Falcons.


The Saint Louis Rams 7-8-1 got new head coach Jeff Fisher to rebound a really poor Rams team in one year. They went toe to toe with the 49ers both times last year. They got a steep hill to climb bc now they have the Seahawks as well to contend with in the same Division NFC West.


Ahhhh NFL parity. Gotta love it. The Ravens 10-6 won the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl! They have the 5th most unappealing schedule in 2013. The formula isn't perfect but a SB winning team should face a tough year. Good. Fuck them. And Joe Flacco is overrated. He got lucky. He got hot. They are a run first team with an emphasis on defense. They lost Boldin. Good luck.

 
Credit to the Packer fan who drew this. I don't wanna steal anyones stuff. Nor the NFL's. Packers finished 11-5 and again got kicked to the playoff curb.


No Carson Palmer won't save you. Finished 5-11 with a ceiling of probably 7-9 this next year.

  Yes, this is the new Dolphins logo. His head is turned up as if he expects to have a better than 7-9 record like last year.


49ers, the Super Bowl runner up, with a 9th difficult schedule after going 11-4-1. They open the season against the Packers. Again. This time tho it's at home for the 9ers. They beat the Pack in Lambeau last year. I would put my money on the 49ers to at least finish with 11 wins again.

 Another Logo change. I can see why they reinvented this one!  Vikings are a team to watch. I think they have a chance of repeating 10-6 I just do not agree that Adrian Peterson will be repeating his record breaking rushing yards season. He is healthy. The entire NFL knows it. They will need to win with Ponders arm. With guys like Rudolph and Patterson I think they can start to do that. I don't know if they needed to get rid of Percy Harvin but I guess he was a headache. *rim shot*