Ravens Rank 28th In Strength Of Schedule

[Ravnet]

After an undeniably tough lineup of teams in 2008, the Baltimore Ravens have been awarded the fifth easiest schedule for the 2009-2010 season. Playing the AFC West/NFC North should most certainly be less of a challenge than the potent NFC East/AFC South of last year.

This news can be taken either way as an argument could feasibly be made that the rigor of the 2009 regular season will not adequately prepare the Ravens for the vicious AFC playoffs.

Conversely, there are numerous examples of squads facing inferior opponents, yet truly showing up rested and ready when it really counted in January.

The NFL is always unpredictable, but it's rarely so wild that a team with an absurdly simple palate going in will actually prove to have one of the toughest.

As a side note, the Steelers rank one slot below us as the team with the fourth easiest schedule.

The link can be found [url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d80fbaa5d&template=without-video-with-comments&confirm=true"]here[/url].

[MKdave]

SOS means nothing as far as I'm concerned. Teams just aren't the same year to year. No team is. I think the best way to judge stregnth of schedule is after the year, not before it.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='MKdave' post='179453' date='Apr 12 2009, 05:36 PM']SOS means nothing as far as I'm concerned. Teams just aren't the same year to year. No team is. I think the best way to judge stregnth of schedule is after the year, not before it.[/quote]

Strength of schedule before the season begins doesn't hold a ton of weight, but it's not worthless.

A starting point of 28 isn't going to end up in the top five by the end of the season.

[MKdave]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='179454' date='Apr 12 2009, 10:46 PM']Strength of schedule before the season begins doesn't hold a ton of weight, but it's not worthless.

A starting point of 28 isn't going to end up in the top five by the end of the season.[/quote]

It's not so outlandish. I mean a team that play the Lions could have as many as 10 extra wins on their schedule from just one game (and yes, it's a possibility that the Lions win 10 games. Matt Millen is gone!)

[SickBoy]

[size=2]We may get to play the NFC north and AFC west, but we are still going to have a tough schedule.
2 games against Pitt, we have to also play Indy and New England cause we all finished second in our respected divisions. I just hope we can get a late bye week!!![/size]

[march4superbowl]

def. , week 2 bye weeks are no fun- stupid hurricanes!

[Sizzle]

This is the nfl simple even the dolphins won 11 games last year.

[#1 D]

[quote name='SickBoy' post='179458' date='Apr 12 2009, 06:14 PM'][size=2]We may get to play the NFC north and AFC west, but we are still going to have a tough schedule.
2 games against Pitt, we have to also play Indy and New England cause we all finished second in our respected divisions. I just hope we can get a late bye week!!![/size][/quote]

yeah, that would help. i can only imagine how the ravens would have fared if we got one extra week off before the playoffs.

[RoflDogs]

Dang, why do the patriots finish 2nd the year we finish second??

BEAT THE DOLPHINS , my gosh

[Girondoravens]

Strength of schedule is kinda overrated. It's more or less based on last year and in the nfl every year is different. A bad team we play this year, could be a good team this year.

[justifythegame]

this is really old news, back when the opponents for next year were announced. steelers are right there with us too. but the strength of schedule dont mean much. we have always have like a top 5 schedule for like the past 5 years, but we were able to win because a lot of the good teams on the schedule had bad seasons. and a lot of the bad teams on our schedule this year are really good teams that can easily bounce back to being one of the top teams in the nfl like the packers, chargers etc. and having the browns and bengals on our schedule twice really weakens our schedule ALOT, which is why the steelers are down there with us. But we know how close division games can be, and although the browns and bengals suck in general, i don't think they can be as horrible as last year either. then you got the teams that will most likely bounce back and the good teams that are on the schedule plus the steelers twice and i dont consider this schedule THAT easy as it appears.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='justifythegame' post='179524' date='Apr 12 2009, 10:17 PM']this is really old news[/quote]

Our opponents were announced, but the strength of schedule rankings are brand new, buddy.

Find somewhere in your heart to forgive me.

Anyway, it's tiring to hear how useless these rankings are. For what it's worth, we went into 2008 having the 4th hardest schedule; when everything was said and done, we sat at number three.

Do any of you see Detroit, Kansas City, Oakland, Cleveland, or Cincinnati being even remotely good? From that list, one team may step up, but you can easily offset that by assuming that another tough squad right now completely falls off.

[flynismo]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='179535' date='Apr 12 2009, 10:58 PM']Our opponents were announced, but the strength of schedule rankings are brand new, buddy.

Find somewhere in your heart to forgive me.

Anyway, it's tiring to hear how useless these rankings are. For what it's worth, we went into 2008 having the 4th hardest schedule; when everything was said and done, we sat at number three.

Do any of you see Detroit, Kansas City, Oakland, Cleveland, or Cincinnati being even remotely good? From that list, one team may step up, but you can easily offset that by assuming that another tough squad right now completely falls off.[/quote]


Yup, agreed.
SOS isn't an exact science by any means, but when viewed how it is meant to be (simply a ballpark estimation of how good your opponents are as a whole, based on the assumption that the majority of teams usually don't drastically improve or decline from one season to the next), then it's a fairly good indicator of how easy or tough the schedule is. Far from the gospel, but definitely better than nothing at all.

[edreedfromtheu]

statistics can be made to say anything you want them to. i wont say it means nothing. but the only thing it does mean is that you set up the equation exactly how you wanted to, not involving any of the necessary variables. so you made an equation, or took an equation someone else made up, that is as flawed as can be... but serves their purpose so they use it to come to a conclusion satisfactory to their standards, but very far from the truth.


so to summarize... it means nothing.

[edreedfromtheu]

[quote name='RoflDogs' post='179473' date='Apr 12 2009, 07:04 PM']Dang, why do the patriots finish 2nd the year we finish second??

BEAT THE DOLPHINS , my gosh[/quote]

haha, i think the bigger problem is why did the colts have to finish 2nd the year we finish 2nd? the year we finally wouldnt of had to play them... they go and lose their division to the titans so now we are stuck playing them AGAIN. they own us. definitely NOT looking forward to that game.

[RaveninOrlando]

We're going to beat the colts. Whether it's this time or the next or whenever. Law of Averages has to apply at some point. Actually, I like our CB's to their receivers. They match up very well with their receivers. Should be a very different game than last year and I'm looking forward to it.....as well as the Pats and Steelers games.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' post='179546' date='Apr 13 2009, 12:08 AM']haha, i think the bigger problem is why did the colts have to finish 2nd the year we finish 2nd? the year we finally wouldnt of had to play them... they go and lose their division to the titans so now we are stuck playing them AGAIN. they own us. definitely NOT looking forward to that game.[/quote]
Hey hey hey, you [i]always[/i] look to play the best!...

...even if you've already lost against them something like 75% of the time.

The way I see it, that's just a really good weekend to chill at home or maybe get really drunk that day to make the game that much more bareable. It won't be so bad. And if we win, even better.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='RaveninOrlando' post='179551' date='Apr 13 2009, 12:45 AM']Law of Averages has to apply at some point.[/quote]

That's what I've been thinking, yet it's never come to fruition.

[cheeze]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='179557' date='Apr 13 2009, 01:31 AM']That's what I've been thinking, yet it's never come to fruition.[/quote]

I was thinking that this year going into the third game against the Steelers...

[The Deadman]

[quote name='MKdave' post='179453' date='Apr 12 2009, 05:36 PM']SOS means nothing as far as I'm concerned. Teams just aren't the same year to year. No team is. I think the best way to judge stregnth of schedule is after the year, not before it.[/quote]

they do it in college, so why not the NFL?

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='The Deadman' post='179561' date='Apr 13 2009, 02:21 AM']they do it in college, so why not the NFL?[/quote]
Because the schedule directly affects college teams' postseason fate in every way, while the mere outcome of the games for the most part (regardless of opponent) is all that affects NFL teams' playoff eligibility.

In college, you can go undefeated in the regular season and still not play for the national championship. In the NFL, you can go undefeated in the regular season and have an equal shot at the Super Bowl with every other playoff team.

[CecilRavensFan]

Well, Don't forget Indy doesn't have Harrison so we don't have to worry bout him. We got a shot, we should have beat the Colts in the Playoffs, but Billick stopped giving the ball to Jamal Lewis. Im sorry, If you can hold Manning to No Touchdowns, how do you not win? McNair's picks didn't help either...

[funky141]

[quote]Well, Don't forget Indy doesn't have Harrison so we don't have to worry bout him. We got a shot, we should have beat the Colts in the Playoffs, but Billick stopped giving the ball to Jamal Lewis. Im sorry, If you can hold Manning to No Touchdowns, how do you not win? McNair's picks didn't help either...[/quote]

Indy held the Ravens offense to no TDs too that game. should of could ofs don't count.

[edreedfromtheu]

[quote name='The Deadman' post='179561' date='Apr 13 2009, 02:21 AM']they do it in college, so why not the NFL?[/quote]

the NFL is the example to follow, NOT college.

-playoffs instead of BCS

-overtime, actually involving special teams instead of eliminating 1/3 of each team altogether

-must be contact in order to be downed, not just falling to ground


college is a completely different game. some like it, some don't . but there's no substance in trying to say the NFL should do something because college football does it.

[justifythegame]

[quote name='Ravnet' post='179535' date='Apr 12 2009, 10:58 PM']Our opponents were announced, but the strength of schedule rankings are brand new, buddy.[/quote]
Um no. Plenty of people knew the SOS. The fact that the opponents were announced proves the SOS was out. In case you havent figured it out, SOS formula is no secret. Just because you read something and regurgitated it here doesn't mean its brand new. I remember discussing our 28th ranked schedule right with the steelers behind us specifically on the sportsline boards as well when the schedules came out. Not really a big deal, but the fact you think you're right is what i found annoying.

[RavensIQ]

SOS isn't a pass for having an easy season but it is an indicator of the level of competition teams will have to face for that season.

Now I know the difference between level of talent on NFL teams is minuscule but, there is a difference.

Would you rather face the Colts or the Lions? (just so happens we face em both ) The Patriots or the Rams? See my point? I think you do..

It's tru any team can make a turn around from season to season (Dolphins) but I don't think you can ignore the strength of schedule as just a petty stat thing.

Having to face 8 playoffs teams from last year vs only have to play 2-3 is a big difference. Playing a more competitive physical division like the NFC EAST (Cowboys, Redskins, Eagles, Giants) vs NFC WEST (Seahwaks, 49ers, Rams, Cardinals), there's a difference.

Last year we were able to finish 13-5 and came 40 yards short of a game winning FG that could have taken us to the Super Bowl, and that was with a very difficult schedule and no bye week...technically.

So imagine what we can do against lesser teams...with a decent Bye week, with an easier schedule..

I think that's the point the OP was trying to suggest. Nothing is a gimme but still...based off of last year you have to look at the schedule and get excited a lil bit.

And again, I know the Dolphins and the Falcons did it last year, but there are teams that have been consistent failures so it's not like every team is primed and capable to make a sudden turn around like that. So yes I understand no team is the same from year in and year out but I'll take a matchup against the lions any day of the week.

[RedFire]

sos is based on records...doesn't take to account injuries and the such.

ravens were a bad team on paper at the beginning of 2008 based on 2007's record....but it was not acocunted that we played with a 2nd string defense for over 50% of the games.

and if we had out 1st string corners for the afc champ game...we would have made it to the superbowl and prolly won the thing and started the dynasty with a rookie QB and go down in NFL history forever and get the greatest respect we ever had as a franchise. we would have had 5 gauranted primetime games for 09' to showcase to the world.

[Ravnet]

[quote name='justifythegame' post='179687' date='Apr 13 2009, 02:03 PM']Um no. Plenty of people knew the SOS. The fact that the opponents were announced proves the SOS was out. In case you havent figured it out, SOS formula is no secret. Just because you read something and regurgitated it here doesn't mean its brand new. I remember discussing our 28th ranked schedule right with the steelers behind us specifically on the sportsline boards as well when the schedules came out. Not really a big deal, but the fact you think you're right is what i found annoying.[/quote]

I probably sounded pretty hostile, but I cannot stand when people post stuff like "old news, lol." It's completely and utterly unnecessary unless someone doesn't take the time to scan the other threads and creates a topic that is blatantly redundant.

Obviously something like this is based off of a formula, but the NFL only officially announced the rankings a few days ago, which was my point.

[RavensIQ]

SOS is based off of our opponents (this year) total win-loss records last year.


So would you rather have:

[u][b]The Dolphins Strength of Schedule (.594)[/b][/u]
Opponents total wins in 2008:152
Opponents total losses in 2008:104

or

[b][u]Our Strength of Schedule (.439)[/u][/b]
Opponents total wins in 2008: 111
Opponents total losses in 2008:142

And if you choose the easier schedule what exactly are you saying? What made you come to your decision?

And that's the point!

[Ravnet]

[quote name='RavensIQ' post='179728' date='Apr 13 2009, 04:10 PM']SOS is based off of our opponents (this year) total win-loss records last year.


So would you rather have:

[u][b]The Dolphins Strength of Schedule (.594)[/b][/u]
Opponents total wins in 2008:152
Opponents total losses in 2008:104

or

[b][u]Our Strength of Schedule (.439)[/u][/b]
Opponents total wins in 2008: 111
Opponents total losses in 2008:142

And if you choose the easier schedule what exactly are you saying? What made you come to your decision?

And that's the point![/quote]

As we've both stated, there are fluctuations, but by and large, SoS is a decent indicator of what kind of a year you're going to have.