Who has the toughest schedule to date? (uhm, guess)

[OzDawg]

old saying, "To be the best, you have to compete against the best"

[Tobalaz]

Originally Posted by OzDawg

old saying, "To be the best, you have to compete against the best"

In contrast, let's look at the Pittsburgh version of that old saying:
"To be the best, you have to buy off the refs."

[OzDawg]

lol.. touche

[DawgFan]

Originally Posted by BrownieBorAndRaised

right now were 3rd in the division by 3 games with 8 games to go. And out of the Rat birds, Stoolers, and Browns our remaining games look like a little easier road.

Cleveland: Jets, @ Jags, Panters, @ Dolphins, @ Bills, @ Bengals, Ratbirds, Stoolers
(note dolphins suck at home this year)

Pitt: Pats, Raiders, @ Bills, @ Ratbirds, Bengals, Jets, @ Panthers, @ Brownies
(only thing going for Pitt is 3 of there 5 tougher games are at home)

Balt: @ Falcons, @ Panthers, Bucs, Stoolers, @ Texans, Saints, @ Brownies, Bengals
(toughest remaining outta the 3 teams imo)

We've played well the last two weeks against really good football teams. And I know going on 7-8 game winning streak isn't likely, but as long as we don't have multiple letdowns against teams that we "SHOULD" beat.... We could be in the thick of the division race with those two big games at the end of the year.

If I had to guess based on those games:
Browns: 10-6 or 9-7....likely 9-7
Steelers: 11-5 or 10-6....likely 11-5
Ratbirds: 10-6 or 9-7...likely 10-6

we will show well, but I dont see playoffs this year.

However, talk about setting it up for next year!!! Young team, core O and D in place...and a system that shows it works.

[Riceloft]

We've had the most difficult schedule to date according to the Football Outsiders stat method as well. Thankfully our future schedule ranks something like 20th in difficulty!

[OconRecon]

NFL Power Poll



"Hello Colt, welcome to Cleveland and the NFL. We'll start you after a few games against 4 of the 5 most powerfull teams. Anyway, your locker is over there. Good luck kid. We're all pulling for you, and by the way, the fans around here are starving for a winner."


NFL Power Poll

Week 10 Power Poll
Week ten in the NFL is almost here and things have taken quite a turn in the NFL. Would anyone have thought that the Cleveland Browns would have beaten the New England Patriots in the manner that they did? Would anyone have figured that the San Diego Chargers would continue to climb out of the hole that they dug themselves into to start the season? It’s definitely been a hard to predict season and it appears as if it’s getting much more difficult to predict how things may end up.
Let’s take a look at this week’s poll and find out where your favorite team is at after Week Nine’s action.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers-(LW 3, 6-2) The Steelers climb back up into the top spot in our poll this week thanks to a win over the Bengals and some solid defensive play over the past eight weeks. This team is really doing it with defense and this defense is a big reason why the Steelers are in the spot that they are in right now. Their offense is very good as well but it’s their defense that has helped them win six games so far this season.

2. New York Jets-(LW 4, 6-2) The Jets barely escaped with a win in their game against Detroit and have some things that they need to take a look at. Their offense hasn’t been the best over the past few games and they need to figure out what’s happening there and how they can fix that. Their defense also gave up quite a few points in this game and may need some attention from Head Coach Rex Ryan in order to get better.

3. Baltimore Ravens-(LW 5, 6-2) The Ravens ended the Dolphins non-home winning streak and are again being looked upon as one of the better teams in the AFC once again. This team has a ton of talent on offense but has struggled somewhat on defense thanks to some of the issues with their secondary but they are compensating for that with good play from their linebackers. Can this team make the playoffs and get to the Super Bowl? It’s definitely not out of the question.

4. New England Patriots-(LW 1, 6-2) The Patriots are no longer in the top spot this week thanks to the loss given to them by Cleveland Browns. New England was “handled” pretty rough by the Browns and were exposed pretty badly. The Patriots will surely go back to the drawing board and try to see what they can do to recover from this and not lose another game like this in 2010.

5. New Orleans Saints-(LW 6, 6-3) The Saints really took it to the Carolina Panthers this Sunday beating them 34-3 in a game that the Saints really needed to win. They are now just below the Falcons for the lead in the NFC South and will be in good position to overtake the lead if the Falcons should falter. Quarterback Drew Brees looked very good and the defense was excellent in this game. We should see much better play out of the Saints as the season goes on.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by OconRecon

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/ranking/strength-of-schedule-by-team

NFL Team Strength of Schedule Power Rating

Date: 11/9 Division: Team:

Rank Team Rating High Low Last

1 Cleveland (3-5) 27.6 1 31 17

This is why I NEVER look at the schedule and predict a record off of it any more. The first 3 weeks of the season, I kept getting told in debate we were losing to cruddy teams. Well, just how cruddy is TB, KC and Atlanta? And then, Cleveland beat a Cincy team that went undefeated in the AFC North last year but they only have 2 wins this year. So who projected Cincy as easiest game in that cluster?

This team and coaching staff are working very well together considering we're already on QB #3. Before the staff gets blasted for waiting as long as they did before turning to McCoy - it WAS Holmgren announcing that McCoy would most likely be red shirted for 2010. Watching how McCoy is playing behind a pretty good oline - maybe Coach Holmgren is better suited to be Front Office Holmgren today. His last season as a Head Coach was 4-12 when he started QB equivalents to Seneca Wallace within the environment (surrounding talent level) of a team in transition. Tell you what though, as Mel Kiper said earlier in the year - that McCoy selection might go down as the steal of the draft. Holmgren gets a TON of credit for that. See what happens when one listens to the pre draft and/or heavy metal world according to Riffer X? Crank up the volume and that could be you too or U2! Either way it splits the uprights folks!
- Tom F.

[Vegasdogg]

Originally Posted by OconRecon

1. Pittsburgh Steelers-(LW 3, 6-2) The Steelers climb back up into the top spot in our poll this week thanks to a win over the Bengals and some solid defensive play over the past eight weeks. This team is really doing it with defense and this defense is a big reason why the Steelers are in the spot that they are in right now. Their offense is very good as well but it’s their defense that has helped them win six games so far this season.

2. New York Jets-(LW 4, 6-2) The Jets barely escaped with a win in their game against Detroit and have some things that they need to take a look at. Their offense hasn’t been the best over the past few games and they need to figure out what’s happening there and how they can fix that. Their defense also gave up quite a few points in this game and may need some attention from Head Coach Rex Ryan in order to get better.

3. Baltimore Ravens-(LW 5, 6-2) The Ravens ended the Dolphins non-home winning streak and are again being looked upon as one of the better teams in the AFC once again. This team has a ton of talent on offense but has struggled somewhat on defense thanks to some of the issues with their secondary but they are compensating for that with good play from their linebackers. Can this team make the playoffs and get to the Super Bowl? It’s definitely not out of the question.

4. New England Patriots-(LW 1, 6-2) The Patriots are no longer in the top spot this week thanks to the loss given to them by Cleveland Browns. New England was “handled” pretty rough by the Browns and were exposed pretty badly. The Patriots will surely go back to the drawing board and try to see what they can do to recover from this and not lose another game like this in 2010.

5. New Orleans Saints-(LW 6, 6-3) The Saints really took it to the Carolina Panthers this Sunday beating them 34-3 in a game that the Saints really needed to win. They are now just below the Falcons for the lead in the NFC South and will be in good position to overtake the lead if the Falcons should falter. Quarterback Drew Brees looked very good and the defense was excellent in this game. We should see much better play out of the Saints as the season goes on.

We've beaten two of the five top teams, and have an opportunity to beat all five. I am still high after the Pats win so of course I think my team is better than they are, but sure as shit I think the Browns can beat the Jets. Everyone is talking about the Jets and their run D shutting down Hillis. Really? We'll see, because this team is jacked up about running the football. Get some!

[damajuki]

Agreed, Veg'. Let 'em come and get it.

That's what I like about Mangini and the team identity he's developing: there is no question about what we're trying to do. He talks about "imposing your will" on the opponent enough that it's clearly his go-to line.

And I think "GET SOME" is a great motto for the mentality.

Come GET SOME, NYJ!!!

[OconRecon]

Not that there's much additional to say, but for what its worth...

19 minutes ago - The Browns have played the toughest schedule in the NFL. Their opponents boast a combined 52-29 record. Including Sunday foe Jacksonville, nine of their 10 opponents have a winning record and six are leading or tied for the top of their respective divisions.
- Twitter feed via CBS Browns RapidReports