AFC West: What Does The Strength of Schedule Mean?

December 18, 2010   ·   John Bartram   ·   Jump to comments

Fans love to dissect this argument like it's a ninth grade biology class frog. Does it really define how good a team is?  Or is it misleading like so many other statistic?  Chances are, like most debates, the truth falls in the middle.
It's a slippery slope argument, without question.
The intent is obvious: parity.  The better the team, the more difficult the schedule for the following year.  Conversely, the bottom dwellers get the cake schedules so they can climb back to respectability.
There is one clear flaw in this plan: it's impossible to tell from year to year how good a team will be. 
Look no further than the Cincinnati Bengals, my poster child for this example.  Last year, though limping somewhat at year's end, they were 10- 6, and most impressively, won every divisional game.  That is no easy task in that division.
This year they couldn't beat a three-legged dog. 
That brings me to my next point—d...

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