ESPN Blog: Eagles have toughest '09 schedule in Beast

[WoodysGirl]

February 2, 2009 1:22 PM

Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley

I don't put a lot of stock into strength of schedules because the league has such dramatic changes from one year to the next, but just for grins, here's a look at what the NFC East will face in 2009:

The Philadelphia Eagles have the toughest schedule in the division (ninth overall) because their opponents have a .535 winning percentage. The Giants (10th), Cowboys (11th) and Commanders (16) are all in the same neighborhood. The Miami Dolphins have the toughest schedule (.594) and the Chicago Bears have the easiest (.414).

Now please enjoy the following chart designed by Brett Longdin:

Highest Opponents' Combined Win Pct (2009 Schedule)

Win Loss Tie Opp. Combined win pct*

1. Miami Dolphins 152 104 0 .594
2. Carolina Panthers 151 104 1 .592
3. New England Patriots 151 105 0 .590
4. Atlanta Falcons 150 105 1 .588
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 148 107 1 .580
6. Buffalo Bills 146 110 0 .570
7. New York Jets 145 110 1 .568
8. New Orleans Saints 142 113 1 .557
9. Philadelphia Eagles 137 119 0 .535
10. New York Giants 134 120 2 .527
11. Dallas Cowboys 131 123 2 .516
11. Jacksonville Jaguars 132 124 0 .516
13. Indianapolis Colts 131 125 0 .512
14. Tennessee Titans 130 126 0 .508
15. Houston Texans 129 126 1 .506
16. Washington Commanders 125 129 2 .492
17. Kansas City Chiefs 123 131 2 .484
17. San Diego Chargers 123 131 2 .484
19. Denver Broncos 122 132 2 .480
19. Oakland Raiders 122 132 2 .480
21. Detroit Lions 119 136 1 .467
22. Cincinnati Bengals 119 137 0 .465
22. St. Louis Rams 119 137 0 .465
24. Seattle Seahawks 117 139 0 .457
25. Cleveland Browns 114 140 2 .449
26. San Francisco 49ers 113 142 1 .443
27. Arizona Cardinals 113 143 0 .441
28. Baltimore Ravens 111 143 2 .438
29. Pittsburgh Steelers 110 144 2 .434
30. Green Bay Packers 109 146 1 .428
31. Minnesota Vikings 107 148 1 .420
32. Chicago Bears 105 149 2 .414
* Based on opponents' 2008 record

 

[Future]

Nice read, but I think its just too early to tell.

I think the Dolphins, Falcons, Jets, Bucs, Titans, and Panthers are all going to come down a notch or two. Normally I like these strength of schedule things, but I think this season was just too weird for it to carry much weight.

 

[bigE79]

How in the hell do the stealers get the 4th easiest sched?

 

[Future]

How in the hell do the stealers get the 4th easiest sched?

The Pats had one of the easiest all-time this year.

 

[Iago33]

Interesting. Yes, it doesn't mean much now. However, I'm wondering why the rest of the East is in a pack but the Washington team is considerably lower.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

Interesting. Yes, it doesn't mean much now. However, I'm wondering why the rest of the East is in a pack but the Washington team is considerably lower.

Last place schedule would include the winless Detroit Lions and the Rams, who only won two.

 

[bigE79]

The Pats had one of the easiest all-time this year.

If BRADY didnt get hurt,they might have gone udefeated again

 

[Tex]

I think Atlanta for one is going to get a rude awakening this year.

Tex

 

[Future]

If BRADY didnt get hurt,they might have gone udefeated again

Hard to argue with

 

[AbeBeta]

How in the hell do the stealers get the 4th easiest sched?

Only two games are decided by where a team finishes. The others are 6 against your division, 4 against teams from another division in your conference (rotates, East vs. South one year, East vs. North the next, etc.), and 4 against teams from another division in the other conference (rotates again). The other TWO games are against the teams in your conference who were in the same place in the standings.

Pitt has the NFC Central and AFC West next year. Those divisions are weak so that is why they have an easy schedule.

 

[The Panch]

If BRADY didnt get hurt,they might have gone udefeated again

They wouldnt have gone unbeaten, but they would've owned the Steelers in the playoffs like they always do. Not sure what would've been worse, the Steelers getting #6, or the Pats getting #4 this decade and basically making our 90's dynasty the least impressive. Id say the Pats getting another, cause we can still pass Pittsburgh eventually.

 

[AmishCowboy]

The AFC better watch out now that Brady is back, I really think both Miami and Arizona are coming back to the pack.

 

[jterrell]

HOME

1. New York Giants
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Washington Commanders
4. Atlanta Falcons
5. Carolina Panthers
6. Oakland Raiders
7. San Diego Chargers
8. Same place finisher from NFC West

• Seattle Seahawks



AWAY

1. New York Giants
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Washington Commanders
4. New Orleans Saints
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. Denver Broncos
7. Kansas City Chiefs
8. Same place finisher from NFC North

• Green Bay Packers


Certainly not an easy schedule but I don't see the Steelers or Pats and that is a welcome thing. The road schedule looks especially friendly. The Saints, Bucs, Chiefs, Broncos and Packers all have marked weaknesses it will be difficult to fix in one off-season.

 

[TheCount]

lol at the Steelers having the 4th easiest.

We play the Saints again, wonderful. And at their place. Hopefully my team won't embarrass me once again since my best friend is a huge Saints fan.

Our schedule actually is pretty darn tough, mostly thanks to our division.

 

[2much2soon]

The AFC better watch out now that Brady is back, I really think both Miami and Arizona are coming back to the pack.

Other than the recent trend of SB losing teams having a bad season following their SB loss, I don't see any obvious reason for AZ to be average next year.

They are young overall, have a ton of talent on offense and their defense can only get better.

 

[TheCount]

Other than the recent trend of SB losing teams having a bad season following their SB loss, I don't see any obvious reason for AZ to be average next year.

They are young overall, have a ton of talent on offense and their defense can only get better.

They better hope Warner doesn't retire.

 

[Eldorado]

Hard to argue with

Rangers suck.


Back on point... who gives a rats? Let's stop worrying about other people's schedule and start worrying about ours and what we need to do to get into the playoffs.

 

[Venger]

29. Pittsburgh Steelers 110 144 2 .434

 

[Dhragon]

O.K., I'm confused. There should be NO WAY the Bears have an easier schedule than the Lions. There are only 2 opponents different that they each play. The Bears second in their division and the Lions finished last.

The Bears (in the 2 opp's different) would face the 2nd place teams of 2008 in 2 NFC divisions and the Lions would face the 4th place teams in the SAME divisions. So how in the world could the Bears have an easier schedule than the Lions?

 

[The Panch]

Other than the recent trend of SB losing teams having a bad season following their SB loss, I don't see any obvious reason for AZ to be average next year.

They are young overall, have a ton of talent on offense and their defense can only get better.

It all comes down to Warner and Boldin staying. Edge is their only notable departure and his value to the team is easily replacable.