NFL strength of schedule 2020: Colts have easiest road, Falcons the toughest
Looking at the 2020 NFL strength of schedule rankings to see, based on projected win totals, which teams have the toughest and which have the easiest roads.
When you look at most NFL strength of schedule rankings, there is a common theme. For the most part, these rankings use the records from the previous season to determine the strength of schedule. However, as we approach the upcoming season, there has to be a better way to do the 2020 NFL strength of schedule rankings.
Thanks to Jared Dubin of CBS Sports, we can look at the road ahead for the 2020 season for all 32 teams based on win projections, not based on records from last year. With this metric, Philip Rivers and the Indianapolis Colts have the easiest road ahead. However, it’s also worth noting that Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens still have a top-five easiest schedule.
As for the other end of the spectrum, the Atlanta Falcons, led by Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, will have a tough time bouncing back from their recent woes with the toughest schedule in the NFL. The two New York teams and their young quarterbacks, Daniel Jones and Sam Darnold, will have a tough time as their right behind the Falcons.
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So with that, here are the NFL strength of schedule rankings from easiest to hardest.
1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Tennessee Titans
T-3. Baltimore Ravens
T-3. Chicago Bears
T-3. Cleveland Browns
T-3. Los Angeles Chargers
7. Detroit Lions
T-8. Kansas City Chiefs
T-8. Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Dallas Cowboys
T-11. Miami Dolphins
T-11. Seattle Seahawks
T-11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
14. Minnesota Vikings
15. San Francisco 49ers
T-16. Arizona Cardinals
T-16. Green Bay Packers
T-16. Houston Texans
T-16. Jacksonville Jaguars
T-20. New England Patriots
T-20. Philadelphia Eagles
T-22. Buffalo Bills
T-22. Cincinnati Bengals
T-22. New Orleans Saints
T-22. Washington Redskins
26. Los Angeles Rams
27. Las Vegas Raiders
T-28. Carolina Panthers
T-28. Denver Broncos
30. New York Jets
31. New York Giants
32. Atlanta Falcons
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At the end of the day, preseason projections and rankings don’t mean anything until these teams get on the field. And in terms of NFL strength of schedule rankings, the quality of the team might be the most important factor. But even still, this is a good estimate of the road ahead for all 32 teams in the league.