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Once again, the Bills have one of the toughest schedules in the league. The good thing is that each of their divisional foes has an even tougher road to travel.
Preseason strength of schedule doesn't really mean much in the days of parity. However, Miami is no better this year and will lose 1t least 13 games. And that fab four of the NFC West is weak and sissy.
Hammertime is when you start hitting that nail with the hammer and you keep on hittin that nail until you can't see the nail any more and its just wood and its all splintered and broke and then you just keep on hittin at the nail.
Preseason strength of schedule doesn't really mean much in the days of parity. However, Miami is no better this year and will lose 1t least 13 games. And that fab four of the NFC West is weak and sissy.
It is interesting to see Miami get hosed after such a horrible 2004. It is also intriguing that the Eagles have the 3rd easiest schedule. There may be parity but you'd think the scheduling system would favor the weak and challenge the elite.
"If I had my way, I'd shuffle off to Buffalo. Sit by the lake and watch the world go by." Fogerty
It is interesting to see Miami get hosed after such a horrible 2004. It is also intriguing that the Eagles have the 3rd easiest schedule. There may be parity but you'd think the scheduling system would favor the weak and challenge the elite.
The scedulers only go by the teams they are supposed to play as set in stone by the scheduling formula
The scedulers only go by the teams they are supposed to play as set in stone by the scheduling formula
I understand. As I mentioned, the question is more with the formula. The new format which runs from 2002-09 puts an emphasis on the division rather than the team. Every team in a division plays 14 common opponents. 6 Divisional games, 4 games against a division within it's conference, and 4 games against a division from outside it's conference. Only 2 games are selected based on the previous years record. It seems to be working just fine as rivalries will start to develop outside of the division. ie Bills vs. Bengals. However, if your team sucks, the scheduling system will not set you up to succeed in the following season.
An example of why this new system was adopted: Miami and Denver played only once between 1983-1997 when Dan Marino and John Elway were in their primes. Just once in 14 years.
"If I had my way, I'd shuffle off to Buffalo. Sit by the lake and watch the world go by." Fogerty
Strenght of Schedule is overated because of the parody in the league. Sure a schedule may look tought in May, just like some monday night games look real good at the end of the year. As the year goes on factors such as injuries, coaching, contribution of rookies, affect how good a team really is. A great example last year was San Diego, this time last year San Diego drafted 1st overall, and were considered a easy game. The rest is history. All it takes is for one player to have career year. or for one person to get injuried (vick). Is the difference between a strong and a weak schedule.
I never worry about strength of schedule. Ultimately, you have to beat the best teams anyway if you aspire to a Super Bowl win.
Should have known, way back in 1960 when we drafted Richie Lucas Number 1, that this would be a long, hard ride. But who could have known it would be THIS bad?
Strenght of Schedule is overated because of the parody in the league. Sure a schedule may look tought in May, just like some monday night games look real good at the end of the year. As the year goes on factors such as injuries, coaching, contribution of rookies, affect how good a team really is. A great example last year was San Diego, this time last year San Diego drafted 1st overall, and were considered a easy game. The rest is history. All it takes is for one player to have career year. or for one person to get injuried (vick). Is the difference between a strong and a weak schedule.
All of the good teams in the league have strong, consistent QB play. It's no coincidence that Brees has a career type break out year and SD makes a playoff run. Look at the bottom 10 teams in the league and consider how their QB position was. Occassionally, a strong defense and run game can make up for some of the lack of offensive leadership as in the case of Buffalo and Baltimore.
Strenght of Schedule is overated because of the parody in the league. Sure a schedule may look tought in May, just like some monday night games look real good at the end of the year. As the year goes on factors such as injuries, coaching, contribution of rookies, affect how good a team really is. A great example last year was San Diego, this time last year San Diego drafted 1st overall, and were considered a easy game. The rest is history. All it takes is for one player to have career year. or for one person to get injuried (vick). Is the difference between a strong and a weak schedule.
Parody may describe some of what goes on in the NFL, but the word you're looking for here is parity.
Should have known, way back in 1960 when we drafted Richie Lucas Number 1, that this would be a long, hard ride. But who could have known it would be THIS bad?
Parody may describe some of what goes on in the NFL, but the word you're looking for here is parity.
Notice that the eleven weakest schedules in the NFL are all NFC teams? There is a simple explanation. In interconference play the NFC was abysmal last season. NFC teams play more NFC teams than AFC teams. Therefore, on paper they are going to have the weakest schedules. It can't be any other way. I also notice that Buffalo has the "weakest" schedule of any team in the AFC East. I guess we don't have any excuses.
Last year before the season started, I believe Buffalo had one of the tougher rated schedules. Once the season played out the teams on their schedule turned out to be not all that good.
I've made up my mind. Don't confuse me with the facts.
I'm the most reasonable poster here. If you don't agree, I'll be forced to have a hissy fit.
.....Last year before the season started, I believe Buffalo had one of the tougher rated schedules. Once the season played out the teams on their schedule turned out to be not all that good.
You are absolutely correct. Several of the teams on the Bills' schedule last season played well below the level that they were expected to play:
Seattle was a chic pick to play for the NFC title, but suffered a lot of injuries, their defense fell apart and the offense underperformed.
St.Louis was expected to make a solid playoff run, but their defense was awful.
Arizona was supposed to challenge for a winning record with an explosive offense under Denny Green, but McCown was horrid.
Baltimore, with their defense, J.Lewis and special teams, was supposed to win their division going away, but Lewis was suspended and Boller didn't have his expected "break-out season".
Cleveland wasn't supposed to be that good, but nobody expected them to implode and be as putrid as they were. The same could be said of SF, although that might be a stretch.
And, then, there were some teams that were destroyed by injuries and other roster losses:
Miami was supposed to be a lot better than they turned out to be and, while maybe they weren't as good as they were thought to be, they still were supposed to be a lot more competitive than they were.
Oakland fell apart after Gannon got hurt and was terrible until K.Collins got into a rhythm with his WRs and they began to outscore some teams at the end of the season--their defense was banged up a lot after the Bills played them, especially their DBs and LBs and they couldn't stop anyone after that.
And, even the Jags, who were a chic pick to challenge for a playoff berth in the AFC, fell off a lot after they lost a lot of their D-linemen.
Of all the teams on the Bills' schedule last season, really only Pittsburgh exceeded the performance that was expected of them before the season. The Oakland and Jacksonville teams that the Bills played early in the season were a lot better than the record that those teams finished the season with after injuries decimated them.
With parity, the effect of just a few injuries can be devastating to a team, so it's really hard to tell before the season starts just how tough a team's schedule is going to be. As Jan R pointed out, though, ultimately you have to be able to beat the best teams if you are going to win a SB or go far in the playoffs.
Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it. And, thus it was that they surrendered their freedom; not with a bang, but without even a whimper.
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sorry, had a Rascoe Parish moment.
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