Writers of Pro Football Prospectus 2008

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14 Nov 2017

ESPN: Schedule Strength for Playoff Contenders

Here's the annual look at the hardest and easiest second-half schedules for playoff contenders. In case you didn't realize how imbalanced the conferences are this year, the hardest schedules are all in the NFC, and the easiest schedules are all in the AFC, with Jacksonville and Kansas City way ahead of everyone else. It's nearly impossible for the Jaguars to miss the playoffs at this point.

Posted by: Aaron Schatz on 14 Nov 2017

4 comments, Last at 14 Nov 2017, 4:31pm by Aaron Schatz

Comments

1
by dmstorm22 :: Tue, 11/14/2017 - 3:47pm

Think there's an error on the article.

The winning percentages don't reflect their place. It has the Jaguars playing opponents with a .596 winning percentage as being the 'easiest' and the Rams with a .469 being the toughest.

Were they switched?

2
by dmstorm22 :: Tue, 11/14/2017 - 3:50pm

Scratch that, I think I understood it now. The .596 for Jacksonville is an average team's expected winning percentage against that schedule.

All makes sense now. That's what I get for skimming the intro of the piece.

4
by Aaron Schatz :: Tue, 11/14/2017 - 4:31pm

Right. I do the schedule strength in this fashion so that, unlike average DVOA of opponent, it will reflect home/away splits for the rest of the season.

3
by dmstorm22 :: Tue, 11/14/2017 - 3:51pm

deleted double post