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michiganalex
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The fall of the NFC was hard to foresee entering the season.
In a quarterback-driven league, the NFC theoretically had the better quarterbacks. But three NFC playoff teams from 2012 -- Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta -- are 1-4. The Green Bay Packers are 3-2 but loaded with injuries.
So how has the NFC's drop off affected the remaining schedule?
Believe it or not, the Detroit Lions may have the edge in the NFC North. They have the easiest remaining schedule over the final 11 weeks, playing teams with a combined record of 22-34 (.393 winning percentage). Their remaining schedule is slightly easier than the Packers', who play teams with a .403 winning percentage.
Going into the season, NFC North teams appeared to have some of the toughest schedules in the league. The Lions, for example, had the fourth toughest based on 2012 records (.539 opponents' winning percentage). Each NFC North team had eight games scheduled against the AFC North and NFC East.
The NFC East has been the league's biggest disappointment. Outside of its divisional games, the NFC East has gone 2-12. AFC West teams have feasted on the NFC East for eight victories in nine games. Unless the NFC East improves, the Lions, who have three games remaining against the NFC East, have a chance to gain separation in the NFC North race.
Seattle and San Francisco have also benefited from declines in the two divisions on their schedules. The NFC West plays the AFC South and NFC South this year. The Houston Texans are in a free fall. The Falcons have broken down. Tampa Bay and Jacksonville are winless.
As a result, the Seahawks have the league's third-easiest remaining schedule (.404) and the 49ers are fourth (.411). If the Vikings and Giants can't turn things around, the Seahawks could end up with the easiest schedule for the entire season. Those are the two non-common games on the Seahawks' schedule, and the combined 1-10 record for the Giants and Vikings gives Seattle hope of staying ahead of the 49ers.
Overall, the decline of the NFC has significantly changed the scheduling equation. The nine easiest remaining schedules are assigned to NFC teams.
Half of the interconference games have been played (the AFC leads 19-13). But only 25 of the 96 divisional games have been played, which is why AFC teams have the toughest closing slates.
Injuries will play a big role in whether teams will bounce back from slow starts, and the list of significant injuries is growing. That's why it's hard to foresee many of the struggling teams bouncing back.
In a quarterback-driven league, the NFC theoretically had the better quarterbacks. But three NFC playoff teams from 2012 -- Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta -- are 1-4. The Green Bay Packers are 3-2 but loaded with injuries.
So how has the NFC's drop off affected the remaining schedule?
Believe it or not, the Detroit Lions may have the edge in the NFC North. They have the easiest remaining schedule over the final 11 weeks, playing teams with a combined record of 22-34 (.393 winning percentage). Their remaining schedule is slightly easier than the Packers', who play teams with a .403 winning percentage.
Going into the season, NFC North teams appeared to have some of the toughest schedules in the league. The Lions, for example, had the fourth toughest based on 2012 records (.539 opponents' winning percentage). Each NFC North team had eight games scheduled against the AFC North and NFC East.
The NFC East has been the league's biggest disappointment. Outside of its divisional games, the NFC East has gone 2-12. AFC West teams have feasted on the NFC East for eight victories in nine games. Unless the NFC East improves, the Lions, who have three games remaining against the NFC East, have a chance to gain separation in the NFC North race.
Seattle and San Francisco have also benefited from declines in the two divisions on their schedules. The NFC West plays the AFC South and NFC South this year. The Houston Texans are in a free fall. The Falcons have broken down. Tampa Bay and Jacksonville are winless.
As a result, the Seahawks have the league's third-easiest remaining schedule (.404) and the 49ers are fourth (.411). If the Vikings and Giants can't turn things around, the Seahawks could end up with the easiest schedule for the entire season. Those are the two non-common games on the Seahawks' schedule, and the combined 1-10 record for the Giants and Vikings gives Seattle hope of staying ahead of the 49ers.
Overall, the decline of the NFC has significantly changed the scheduling equation. The nine easiest remaining schedules are assigned to NFC teams.
Half of the interconference games have been played (the AFC leads 19-13). But only 25 of the 96 divisional games have been played, which is why AFC teams have the toughest closing slates.
Injuries will play a big role in whether teams will bounce back from slow starts, and the list of significant injuries is growing. That's why it's hard to foresee many of the struggling teams bouncing back.
