Strength of Schedule: 2012 vs. 2013

[Anthony]

The following chart shows the 2012 winning percentages of each team's 2012 opponents, and that of the opponents each team is scheduled to play in 2013.


TEAM---------------2012--------2013........Diff

Dallas---------------.523---------.475.........+48

Kansas City-------.516---------.473.........+43

N.Y. Giants--------.521---------.480.........+41

Arizona-------------.559--------.520..........+39

Jacksonville-------.539--------.508...........+31

Denver-------------.457--------.430...........+27

Detroit--------------.566--------.539...........+27

Tennessee--------.512--------.488...........+24

Houston------------.496--------.473...........+23

Cleveland----------.508--------.492...........+16

N.Y. Jets-----------.512--------.496...........+16

Philadelphia-------.508--------.496...........+12

Chicago------------.512--------.502...........+10

Buffalo--------------.480--------.473...........+ 7

Minnesota----------.520--------.516...........+ 4

Tampa Bay---------.502--------.500..........+ 2

San Diego----------.457--------.457............ 0

Oakland-------------.469--------.469............ 0

St. Louis-------------.539--------.539........... 0

Washington---------.494--------.498..........- 4

New England-------.496--------.508..........-12

Seattle---------------.504--------.516..........-12

San Francisco------.504--------.520.........-16
.
New Orleans-------.521--------.539..........-18

Indianapolis---------.441--------.461..........-20

Miami-----------------.500--------.520..........-20

Green Bay-----------.508--------.533..........-25

Pittsburgh-----------.465--------.492..........-27

Carolina--------------.516--------.543..........-27

Baltimore------------.496--------.535..........-39

Cincinnati------------.438--------.508..........-70

Atlanta----------------.422--------.504..........-82

[catman]

Is it possible that Dallas can actually win their division next season? New York will have an easier schedule as well, though. Cound be interesting in that division.

[Anthony]

Another, albeit non-schedule-related, factor that may have a bearing on the NFC East in 2013 is that the Redskins will presumably get back two defensive starters - DE Adam Carriker and LB Brian Orakpo - who spent essentially the entire 2012 season on injured reserve. Washington will not have a first-round pick in the '13 draft due to the RG3 trade, however.

Also, the 48-percentage-point drop Dallas is taking is historically small when compared with the drops the teams at the top of other recent seasons' charts have taken.