Two factors that may be non factors(thoughts)

[MWH1967]

We all know these two will be brought up during the pre-season and regular season. Question is... how much do they really play a factor?

1. schedule

2. Bye

2009 strength of schedule based on opponents' 2008 record.
2009 NFL opponents | Steelers open against Titans

2009 TEAM-BY-TEAM STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE TeamWinLossTiePct.1. Miami Dolphins1521040.5942. Carolina Panthers1511041.5923. New England Patriots1511050.5904. Atlanta Falcons1501051.5885. Tampa Bay Buccaneers1481071.5806. Buffalo Bills1461100.5707. New York Jets1451101.5688. New Orleans Saints1421131.5579. Philadelphia Eagles1371190.53510. New York Giants1341202.52711. Dallas Cowboys1311232.51611. Jacksonville Jaguars1321240.51613. Indianapolis Colts1311250.51214. Tennessee Titans1301260.50815. Houston Texans1291261.50616. Washington Commanders1251292.49217. Kansas City Chiefs1231312.48417. San Diego Chargers1231312.48419. Denver Broncos1221322.48019. Oakland Raiders1221322.48021. Detroit Lions1191361.46722. Cincinnati Bengals1191370.46522. St. Louis Rams1191370.46524. Seattle Seahawks1171390.45725. Cleveland Browns1141402.44926. San Francisco 49ers1131421.44327. Arizona Cardinals1131430.44128. Baltimore Ravens1111432.43829. Pittsburgh Steelers1101442.43430. Green Bay Packers1091461.42831. Minnesota Vikings1071481.42032. Chicago Bears1051492.414



Is there a perfect time to have a bye? The Cowboys have one after week#9 this year and as far as the schedule goes.. well, is this not a little in accurate after retirements,cap,draft,cuts,and injuries?

Still, you will hear about these two as if they play a Major factor in how a season may play out for your team. How much do you put into these two?

 

[MWH1967]

Sorry, all the numbers in the middle equates to Dallas having the 11th hardest strength of schedule at 516.

 

[Hoofbite]

Looks like you tried to divide by zero.

And the bye is during week 6.

 

[MWH1967]

Looks like you tried to divide by zero.

And the bye is during week 6.

lol! yeah, i know never works. still,it's 11th trust me?

 

[TellerMorrow34]

All I know is the December schedule is important and it's tough as heck. It's going to be a very tough December and it's the one, more than any other lately, that I hope Dallas gets over the late season hump in. If they can get going with that brutal schedule they would certainly be ready come playoff time.

 

[NextGenBoys]

Throw all that **** out the window.

It's a new season, and going off of last year's results is just a stupid idea.

It is a whole new season. Look at it in such a way.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Whenever gameday rolls around.

Put on your game face. Be prepared to play.

/ end of line /



No excuses.

 

[Doomsday101]

As far as the bye goes I prefer that we get it no sooner than week 6 when you add in time spent in training camp and preseason then 6 weeks of play that to me seems to be a good time to give players a breather. As for the schedule I don't put much into strength of schedule these days because teams rise and fall so quickly now days it is hard to tell how tough your schedule really is until you start seeing how teams are playing.

 

[Hostile]

I know it really isn't part of the point, but it may interest someone.

Dallas is 15-5 all time after a bye week. Wade Phillips is 2-0 after a bye week. This year's opponent is the Falcons in Dallas.

Dallas is 16-5 all time when facing an opponent coming off of their bye week. Again Wade Phillips is 2-0. This year we face one team coming off of their bye week, the Seahawks in Dallas.

 

[SkinsFan28]

Generally, byes only play a part if they come way too early, or way too late. I think the league has done a good job of managing these as of late.

The strength of schedule is skewed but generally the better teams end up with the weaker s.o.s. simply because of the way it works. I think the more telling thing is which divisions play which. This season our division plays a much weaker AFC West. Last season the NFC South played them. The NFC South will have less dramatic growth this year because of that.