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

[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
2 Miami (4-4) 27.5 1 14 1
3 Philadelphia (5-3) 27.2 3 27 14
4 Pittsburgh (6-2) 27.2 1 17 5
5 New England (6-2) 27.0 3 22 8
6 Detroit (2-6) 26.7 6 25 6
7 Houston (4-4) 26.6 3 25 4
8 Buffalo (0-8) 26.5 1 16 9
9 Washington (4-4) 26.1 6 29 12
10 Tennessee (5-3) 26.1 4 31 16
11 NY Jets (6-2) 26.0 2 23 20
12 Dallas (1-7) 26.0 2 23 2
13 San Diego (4-5) 25.8 3 28 18
14 Indianapolis (5-3) 25.7 3 24 13
15 Cincinnati (2-6) 25.7 3 30 25
16 Baltimore (6-2) 25.7 1 16 11
17 Denver (2-6) 25.6 2 31 3
18 Atlanta (6-2) 25.3 1 25 24
19 Kansas City (5-3) 25.1 9 29 21
20 Minnesota (3-5) 25.0 1 31 10
21 Green Bay (6-3) 24.6 3 29 19
22 Tampa Bay (5-3) 24.6 3 32 30
23 Jacksonville (4-4) 24.5 14 30 15
24 Seattle (4-4) 24.5 17 30 29
25 Arizona (3-5) 24.5 18 30 23
26 Carolina (1-7) 24.0 1 31 31
27 NY Giants (6-2) 23.7 7 30 7
28 New Orleans (6-3) 23.5 3 32 32
29 Oakland (5-4) 23.4 6 31 26
30 San Francisco (2-6) 23.1 9 32 28
31 St Louis (4-4) 22.8 27 32 27
32 Chicago (5-3) 22.3 7 32 22

[Inspecta]

Man how sweet would that be if we could beat the Jets on Sunday, then go on to roll the Jags, Panthers, Dolphins and Bills. That would put us at 8-5 with 3 divisional games left to play. The Bengals should be a lot easier the 2nd time around with the shit storm they have going on. If they don't improve they will have the TO show on their hands, which will only further hurt them.

But at 8-5 we would be right in the playoff hunt. It would speak volumes about the character, and perseverance of our team with that type of schedule and still be in the playoff hunt.

The crazy thing is that after the NO and NE game, going on a win streak like that against those teams isn't that far fetched.

[BrownieBornAndRaised]

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.

[Inspecta]

How sweet would it be if it came down to the last week of the season and us vs pittsburgh for the division?

That would basically be a playoff game, and man, we haven't had one of those since my 8 year old was in diapers....

[Enigmatic Evil]

Well wasn't the Jacksonville game (or the beer bottle game if you will) a "for the playoffs" kind of game?

I think the fact that we 'mathematically' have the toughest schedule in the NFL and we have played strongly and we are 3-5, a modest record which doesn't tell the whole story of this team. We have played hard, for every game, for the ENTIRE game this season, I can't think of any year where we got that kind of work ethic out of our players like we have this year. I think we have an attitude, a work ethic, we are getting the most out of our supposedly under-talented athletes and we are beating good teams and playing to the end against teams we should beat.

We could be 5-3, we could even be 6-2... hell. I don't want to think about that, but I want us to finish strong, that would be excellent.

[ronald.stratton]

if we can beat pitt. & balt. the final two games.&
finish tied with either one, wouldn't we win the division
based on better record against like opponents?

[Vegasdogg]

If we go 6-10, 7-9, 8-8 and miss the playoffs but play like we are now, I'd be happy. Beating Pit and/or Bal would be icing.

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by Vegasdogg

If we go 6-10, 7-9, 8-8 and miss the playoffs but play like we are now, I'd be happy. Beating Pit and/or Bal would be icing.

Agreed. lets not get too far ahead of ourselves and put unrealistic expectations on this team.

They are vastly improved and showing it. But this is the NFL where the term "any given Sunday" is there for a reason.

I think 7-9 is a realistic goal at this point. But I'll be happy with even 5-11 if they continue to be in every game like they have been almost this whole year.

[Greythan]

I'm with Vegas/Golfer. With the AFC being stacked with 2 loss teams, its highly unlikely we can catch them to get into the playoffs. It will take at least 10-6 to get in this year. So, while mathmatically possible it remains highly unlikely.

So, if we're not in the playoffs then the final number of wins takes a back seat to the team's development.

[Tobalaz]

The AFCN is a killer!
The only way it could get worse is if the Bungles and Colts swapped divisions (and if it was done geographically, you could make the argument to swap them, North to South)!
Really, think about this, every year we've got a minimum of 4 tough games having to play the Ravens and Steelers twice each.
Both teams field vicious defenses and well rounded offenses.
I'm not saying you mark 4 L's in the column before the season starts, but you know every season, barring massive amounts of injuries, those are going to be some hard fought, physical games.

[Sez.EJ]

I am glad we are playing this tough schedule. We are a young team and whether we win 1 more game or 7 more... the learning for a young team like ours.. playing the best teams in the league will help us for years in terms of experience.. I think we CAN get 7 wins.. I think it will be 6-10 when it's all said and done..

[damajuki]

Guys, it's fun to consider how far we could get this year but it's WAY more fun just to enjoy every one of these games, one at a time.

For the first time in a LONG time, I can simply look forward to the next game and not have to be worried about being angry and annoyed after the game. That's plenty good enough for me right now.