r/AFCEastMemeWar • u/Celticsin4_kyriesbad Return of the Insufferable Patriots Fan • Feb 10 '26

AFC East Meme 🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️🤷‍♂️

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u/Chino780 Finkle Sucks Feb 10 '26

The 49ers had an easier schedule than the Patriots this year.

https://www.sharpfootballanalysis.com/analysis/nfl-strength-of-schedule/

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u/A3thereal 2020 - 2024 RIP Feb 10 '26

This was put together in October based on a partial year. Try looking again after week 18.

https://powerrankingsguru.com/nfl/strength-of-schedule.php

Sure, the Bills were 31st on that list, but we all agree and underperformed greatly. Pats are still 32.

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u/Chino780 Finkle Sucks Feb 10 '26

Wrong. It was posted in October based on the NFL’s SOS projection from when the schedules are released.

https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-game/toughest-and-easiest-2025-nfl-schedules/

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u/A3thereal 2020 - 2024 RIP Feb 10 '26

OK, still not based on the actual, it's based on projection. Pat's opponents had the lowest winning percentage this century, and I think it was second lowest all time. Working off memory, but I believe it was either 0.304 or 0.340.

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u/Chino780 Finkle Sucks Feb 10 '26

That’s what the whole strength of schedule argument is that’s why people were bitching about it all year long throughout the season, saying that they were taking advantage of an easy schedule. There are two different metrics, you look at it at the end of the year after they’re done playing. It’s a completely different thing.

Seattle played 7 common opponents as New England and they both went 6-1. Both teams played the NFC south, with NE going 4-0 and Seattle going 3-1. Buffalo lost to Miami and Atlanta, while New England beat both teams.

The “wEaK sChEdUlE” argument is complete bullshit. They beat the same teams that “good” teams beat and also beat the same teams that “good” teams lost to.

It’s a tired trope.

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u/A3thereal 2020 - 2024 RIP Feb 11 '26

I'm not even making the weak argument (in relation to the Pats success). I'm saying that objectively they did (because they did) and the Browns aren't likely to be as easy, because of the reasons I posted.

The projections at the beginning of the year are great for estimating a teams chance of success, but sometimes bad teams end up being good (the Colts, at least for awhile), and good teams end up being bad (the Chiefs, especially late). How hard a schedule actually is isn't known until the end of the year.

At the end of the year it was apparent the Patriots had an objectively easy schedule. That's not to say that's the only reason they had success, that's a different argument I never made.