Imagn. Pictured: Brian Daboll (left) and Kyle Shanahan.
The full NFL schedule is out and now it is time to dive into the ins and outs for each team. In this article we will look at strength of schedule using a few different factors from win totals to Super Bowl futures to recent playoff success, rest and more.
Let’s dive in.
Explanation: We will start with win totals vs. what many other people tend to use which is 2024 win/loss records. These win totals are updated as of May 14 from a few Las Vegas sportsbooks and these are full season, first half of the season and second half of the season broken down in the search table below. These are the teams average opponent win total in their schedule.
Top 5/Bottom 5:
Win Total SOS – Hardest | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Giants |
9.1 | ||||
2. Browns |
9.1 | ||||
3. Lions |
9.0 | ||||
4. Vikings |
8.9 | ||||
5. Ravens |
8.9 |
Win Total SOS – Easiest | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 49ers |
7.7 | ||||
2. Patriots |
7.9 | ||||
3. Saints |
8.1 | ||||
4. Falcons |
8.2 | ||||
5. Jaguars |
8.3 |
All 32 Teams:
Explanation: Next is by Super Bowl future odds entering the 2025 season. These are updated as of May 14 and represent an average in odds and these are full season, first half of the season and second half of the season broken down in the search table below.
Top 5/Bottom 5:
Super Bowl Futures SOS – Hardest | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Giants |
+4674 | ||||
2. Lions |
+4982 | ||||
3. Browns |
+5003 | ||||
4. Vikings |
+5315 | ||||
5. Ravens |
+5494 |
Super Bowl Futures SOS – Easiest | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Patriots |
+10412 | ||||
2. 49ers |
+10394 | ||||
3. Falcons |
+8709 | ||||
4. Saints |
+8662 | ||||
5. Buccaneers |
+8635 |
All 32 Teams:
Explanation: This one is a bit different. This is strength of schedule based on some recent playoff success. Here are the five criteria: (one) made playoffs last year, (two) playoff appearances last three and five years and (three) playoff wins last three and five years.
It is a weighted system, giving a score of 0-10 to each team based on these factors. For 2025, the Chiefs are at the top with a 10, while the Cowboys are the middle man at 16th with a 2.3 and any team who hasn’t made the playoffs last five years with a zero and so on.
Top 5/Bottom 5:
Playoff Rating SOS – Hardest | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Lions |
4.5 | ||||
2. Eagles |
4.3 | ||||
3. Giants |
4.1 | ||||
4. Bears |
4.0 | ||||
5. Ravens |
3.8 |
Playoff Rating SOS – Easiest | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. 49ers |
1.9 | ||||
2. Saints |
2.2 | ||||
3. Buccaneers |
2.4 | ||||
4. Patriots |
2.6 | ||||
5. Jaguars |
2.6 |
All 32 Teams:
Explanation: Now we are looking at strength of schedule based on simply the teams rest advantage entering each matchup compared to their opponent.
For example, in Week 4 the Dolphins face the Jets on Monday Night Football. The Dolphins are coming off a Thursday Night Football game the week before, while the Jets played on a normal Sunday. The Dolphins score a +3 for this game, while the Jets score a -3.
Below, a positive rest differential is good, while a negative one is bad.
Top 5/Bottom 5:
Positive Rest Differential | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Lions |
+12 | ||||
2. Dolphins |
+11 | ||||
3. Rams |
+10 | ||||
4. 49ers |
+9 | ||||
5. Seahawks |
+7 |
Negative Rest Differential | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Raiders |
-19 | ||||
2. Saints |
-14 | ||||
3. Commanders |
-13 | ||||
4. Bills |
-8 | ||||
5. Browns |
-7 |
All 32 Teams:
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