Vikings, Saints, Colts, and Broncos strength of schedule comparison

by mjmrad on Oct 19, 2009 7:36 PM CDT Comment 10 comments

With all the talk about who's better than who, I thought it would be neat to throw out the stats and look solely at the W/L record of the teams each have played.

So here goes:

Vikings (6-0):

Cleveland (1-5)
Detroit (1-5)
San Francisco (3-2)
Green Bay (3-2)
St. Louis (0-6)
Baltimore (3-3)
MIN AVERAGE OPP W/L (1.83/2.09)
MIN AVERAGE OPP Win Pct (.467)

Saints (5-0)

Detroit (1-5)
Philadelphia (3-2)
Buffalo (2-4)
NY Jets (3-3)
BYE
NY Giants (5-1)
N.O. AVERAGE OPP W/L (2.8/3)
N.O. AVERAGE OPP Win Pct (.483)

Colts (5-0)

Jacksonville (3-3)
Miami (2-3)
Arizona (3-2)
Seattle (2-4)
Tennessee (0-6)
BYE
IND AVERAGE OPP W/L (2/3.6)
IND AVERAGE OPP Win Pct (.357)

Broncos (5-0) [Pending Monday night's outcome]

Cincinnati (4-2)
Cleveland (1-5)
Oakland (2-4)
Dallas (3-2)
New England (4-2)
PENDING
DEN AVERAGE OPP W/L (2.8/3)
DEN AVERAGE OPP Win Pct (.483)

POWER RANKINGS based on Stength of Schedule ALONE:

Saints/Broncos (tie)
Vikings
Colts

I might give the Vikings a small edge, because they have 6 wins, and the rest have 5, making the top a virtual tie for the Vikes, Saints, and Broncos. However, I think Peyton is better than his strength of schedule is giving him credit, so, after ALL THAT,

I think all four (4) teams are AWESOME!!! lol Who's the best? Hmm...any given Sunday, my friend...

Poll

Where should the Vikings be stacked?

#1

24 votes

#2, behind the Saints

50 votes

#2, behind the Colts

8 votes

#2, behind the Broncos

2 votes

#3, behind the Colts and Saints

26 votes

#3, behind the Colts and Broncos

1 votes

#3, behind the Saints and Broncos

5 votes

#4, this team is just way too lucky and inconsistent right now

12 votes

128 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Comments

Good Post

Thanks for putting it together.

I voted for #4, because the Vikes just don’t seem dominant. They’ve had dominant quarters and halves, but not close to a complete game yet.

I watched the Broncos tonight – their D seems pretty darn dominant. 6 games, zero points allowed in the 2nd quarter. 8.6 pts per game…. scary.

But like you said, any given Sunday….

GO VIKES!

by JasonAve6413 on Oct 19, 2009 11:29 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Dangit

“second quarter” should read “second HALF.”

by JasonAve6413 on Oct 19, 2009 11:30 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I voted #2, behind Aints

But after witnessing part of Broncos game last night, and filling myself in on the rest … I’m starting to wonder if “#3, behind the Saints and Broncos” might have been an option worthy of more consideration. I think I’ll have a lot better idea on the night of Nov 1, with the Steeler and Pack game behind us, and the Broncos going up against the Ravens, giving us a convenient yardistick to measure ourselves against them.

by puddnhead on Oct 20, 2009 9:00 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

It should be noted that the Giants

are slightly overrated in their W-L because of the weak schedule they are playing. To really do this right, you have to weight each teams records by its own strength of schedule. So the Saints get a bump in their SOS versus the vikes because of stuff like this.

by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 20, 2009 9:04 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Behind the Saints

The Broncos have played some really good teams. I’d have to say they are playing the best football right now. (Even after a rare defensive effort on Monday) but I believe the Vikings aren’t playing their best football yet where I think the Broncos and Saints are currently playing their best football. This will benefit the Vikings if they start putting togeather complete games. It will be hard to beat any of these 3 teams. The colts don’t have a run defense and its going to hurt them later in the season. Granted I think they have the highest percentage of making the play-offs because their division is struggling and they have Peyton Manning. I’d also put the Pats up there. Welker is finally playing healthy, Brady took a whole year off because of a severe injury and has only been playing for a month or 2. He seems to be coming back into his own, which means the power-house is back in the AFC.

Predictions
AFC Division Winners
1. Colts
2. Broncos
3. Patriots
4. Ravens
Wild cards: Steelers, (Texans, Jets, or Dolphins)
NFC Division Winners
1. Saints
2. Vikes
3. Giants
4. 49ers
Wild Cards: Falcons (Bears, Cards, or Packers) sorry cowboys and eagles, losing easy games is not a good idea when you will be beating up on eachother and getting beat by the Giants.
You heard it here first
SKOL

by PurpleJesuZ on Oct 20, 2009 10:27 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I agree completely with your division winners if teams keep playing like their playing now. I would wager that at least one or two of the front runners collapse by seasons end though. My best bets for that would be the 49ers and the Ravens with a minuscule possibility of New York edging out New England for the AFC East crown.

by zebano on Oct 21, 2009 8:29 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

the jets will

not pass the pats. A rookie QB is very unlikely to be able to perform under those circumstances. Not for as much as the Jets rely on his arm. The only other teams that come to mind were Big Ben’s Steelers and the Flaco Raven’s, but they both simplified what they were doing to allow them to succeed early.

by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 21, 2009 3:20 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

The AFC North is the biggest question mark, I think.

The bungles or steelers could edge out the ravens. I would say that team has at least a wildcard team. Most of the other divisions are between two teams.

http://vikingsmashfootball.wordpress.com/

by BeardedAxe on Oct 21, 2009 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with the following changes

AFC, I think the Dolphins get the other wild card. Otherwise I completely agree.

NFC, I think the 49ers miss the playoffs altogether, while the Cards win the division and other wild card will be won by either the bears or pack.

by TheEvilProfessor on Oct 21, 2009 3:26 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

How can Atlanta miss the playoffs???

The Atlanta team I watch has all the makings of a team at the top. Their only problem is the Saints. Right now facing the Saints, Atlanta, or the Cardinals seems like a difficult road to the big game. Of Course if you are in the AFC the top four teams have the same thoughts.

My thought is that we have 12 more games to keep getting better so we are the one team to fear. I sure am hoping to get home field advantage.

Go Vikes.

by lifelongvike on Oct 21, 2009 7:07 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs