Strength Of Schedule

**COJOMAY** · 09-20-2007, 04:17 PM

I know that you play each team in your division twice per season but I thought the rest of the season was based on where you finished in the overall standings. The higher you finished, the tougher the schedule. Maybe I'm wrong.
Anyway, I was looking at the strength of schedule for all the teams at this website:
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10236651
According to it the Bears have the second easiest schedule in the NFL. The Lions have the toughest schedule in the NFC north, the Vikes second, the Packers third and the Bears last. Almost opposite of the way they ended up the season.
Can someone explain this to me?

**cajunvike** · 09-20-2007, 04:21 PM

6 games against your division
4 games against another NFC division (AFC if you are AFC)
4 games against an AFC division (NFC if you are AFC)
2 games against the teams from the other two NFC divisions that finished the same as you did last season (AFC if you are AFC)

16 games total

The NFC and AFC divisions rotate on a three-year schedule...so that you play the same divisions every three years.

**cajunvike** · 09-20-2007, 04:22 PM

Bears only have the easiest because they play US, GB and Det...all who had worse records than they did last year.

**NodakPaul** · 09-20-2007, 04:25 PM

14 out of 16 games are part of a pre-determined formula.

* 2 games with each div oppp (6 games)
* 4 games with each team in a rotating NFC division (3 year rotation for other NFC teams, 4 year rotation for AFC teams)
* 4 games with each team in a rotating AFCdivision (4 year rotation for other NFC teams, 3 year rotation for AFC teams)
The remaining two games are determined by where you finish in your division.
You play the teams that finish the same in the remaining divisions in your conference.
First place plays first place, etc.

EDIT: Dang it.
Caj beat me to the post! ;D

**COJOMAY** · 09-20-2007, 04:27 PM

So only TWO GAMES are determined by your finish? Hummmm, I always thought the games from ALL OPPONENTS other than your division opponents were based on your finish. In other words your other NFC and AFC opponents were chosen by your finish.
Guess I was wrong.

**cajunvike** · 09-20-2007, 04:51 PM

"COJOMAY" wrote:

So only TWO GAMES are determined by your finish? Hummmm, I always thought the games from ALL OPPONENTS other than your division opponents were based on your finish. In other words your other NFC and AFC opponents were chosen by your finish.
Guess I was wrong.

Nope...14 of the game opponents are predetermined YEARS in advance!

**cajunvike** · 09-20-2007, 04:52 PM

"NodakPaul" wrote:

14 out of 16 games are part of a pre-determined formula.

* 2 games with each div oppp (6 games)
* 4 games with each team in a rotating NFC division (3 year rotation for other NFC teams, 4 year rotation for AFC teams)
* 4 games with each team in a rotating AFCdivision (4 year rotation for other NFC teams, 3 year rotation for AFC teams)
The remaining two games are determined by where you finish in your division.
You play the teams that finish the same in the remaining divisions in your conference.
First place plays first place, etc.

EDIT: Dang it.
Caj beat me to the post! ;D

Yours is more accurate...but you probably looked it up, eh?

**The Dropper** · 09-20-2007, 04:59 PM

"COJOMAY" wrote:

I know that you play each team in your division twice per season but I thought the rest of the season was based on where you finished in the overall standings. The higher you finished, the tougher the schedule. Maybe I'm wrong.
Anyway, I was looking at the strength of schedule for all the teams at this website:
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10236651
According to it the Bears have the second easiest schedule in the NFL. The Lions have the toughest schedule in the NFC north, the Vikes second, the Packers third and the Bears last. Almost opposite of the way they ended up the season.
Can someone explain this to me?

The simplest way to explain it is to recall that the Bears don't have to play themselves, whereas we do have to play the Bears. If you assume that the Bears are better than us (based on last year), then it is clear that the Bears have the easier schedule.

The same follows for the Lions. Being that they finished last in the division last year, but have to play all of the teams that were ranked better twice, they are going to have a tougher-looking schedule than the team at the top who plays all of the teams beneath them twice. Capisce?

**jkjuggalo** · 09-20-2007, 05:25 PM

On a related note, I am surprised that the Vikings were lucky enough to have one of their toughest games after the by week.
This gives them an extra week to prepare for the Bears at Chicago.