The Road From Here to There

The 2010 NFL schedule is out.  The Packers’ slice of it is reflected now in the right-hand column of this blog.

Meanwhile, someone over at ESPN has kindly done the work for us of calculating the “strength of schedule” for each team, ranking the teams from the toughest schedules (the Texans and Titans are tied) to the easiest (the Arizona Cardinals).  Here is the link: 2010 NFL Strength of Schedule

Just those two extremes suggests a certain unfairness, of course.  The Titans, you recall, had a historically bad run during much of the 2009 season.  And while they ended strong, you wouldn’t think that they deserved to play the toughest schedule in 2010.  And the Cardinals, at the other end, made the playoffs (don’t we know it!) and don’t deserve the easiest schedule.

But, all politics is local.  So the Titans’ dilemma and the Cardinals’ delight are of little concern to us.  Our concern is the NFC North.

Happily, the Packers have the easiest schedule of the four teams in our division.  The hapless Lions face the toughest road (they’re tied for the 12th toughest schedule overall).  Then come the Bears and Vikings right behind, both tied for 14th place.  And then, very favorably situated in a tie for 22nd place, the Green Bay Packers.  We are the only team in the NFC North whose opponents combined for a winning percentage below .500 in 2009.

Of course, we know that in today’s NFL, a team can change dramatically from one year to the next.  Last year’s pushover might be this year’s Conference champ.  Still, in the off-season when there is nothing to do but hope, the strength-of-schedule analysis gives you and me some reason to hope!

Technorati Tags: NFC North,strength of schedule,2010 NFL schedule