Breaking down each NFL team’s strength of schedule this season

16. Los Angeles Chargers (5-11)

Opponents: IND, DET, HOU, MIA, DEN, PIT, TEN, CHI, GB, OAK, KC, DEN, JAX, MIN, OAK, KC

ASoS: 120-119-1, .502%

Outside of blowout wins over the Packers and Jaguars, the Chargers have been pretty disappointing all season. Philip Rivers needs to get as far from the Chargers as possible and join a team only a few pieces away from competing for a title, like Chicago or Indy. Whoever is starting at quarterback next year for L.A., they will likely have a talented duo at running back to help them out in Austin Ekeler and Melvin Gordon.

15. Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8)

Opponents: NE, SEA, SF, CIN, BAL, LAC, MIA, IND, LAR, CLE, CIN, CLE, ARI, BUF, NYJ, BAL

ASoS: 120-119-1, .502%

Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges are not the long term solution and quarterback, and Ben Roethlisberger is not guaranteed to return next year either. But not all is lost for Pittsburgh with a stellar defense and great coaching. After starting 0-3, the Steelers won eight of their next 10 before losing the last three to knock them out of the last wild card spot. If the Steelers can make some improvements on offense, it won’t be long before their playing in January again.

14. Denver Broncos (7-9)

Opponents: OAK, CHI, GB, JAX, LAC, TEN, KC, IND, CLE, MIN, BUF, LAC, HOU, KC, DET, OAK

ASoS: 121-118-1, .506%

The Joe Flacco experiment was a complete failure, but rookie Drew Lock looked promising once he was finally given a chance to start. The defense picked it up towards the end of the season as well, leading the team to four wins in their last five games. Denver finally has a competent quarterback for the first time since Peyton Manning and the team ended 2019 on a high note as they head into the off-season with more work to be done.

13. Chicago Bears (8-8)

Opponents: GB, DEN, WAS, MIN, OAK, NO, LAC, PHI, DET, LAR, NYG, DET, DAL, GB, KC, MIN

ASoS: 121-117-2, .508%

Mitchell Trubisky proved he didn’t have what it takes to be an NFL starter and that the organization made a mistake by trading up and taking him before Deshaun Watson and Patrick Mahomes. But general manager Ryan Pace has come out saying that Trubisky will be the starter in 2020.

The 2019 Bears were awful compared to what was expected after the heartbreaking double-doink loss in last year’s playoffs. The team has talent, they just need to put it all together with a good quarterback. Look at it this way Bears fans, you can’t lose on a missed kick in the playoffs if you don’t even make the playoffs.

12. New Orleans Saints (13-3)

Opponents: HOU, LAR, SEA, DAL, TB, JAX, CHI, ARI, ATL, TB, CAR, ATL, SF, IND, TEN, CAR

ASoS: 122-118, .508%

The Saints have won 37 games over the past three years, more than any other team in the NFL, according to Mike Triplett of ESPN. They enter the playoffs as possibly the best three seed in recent memory.

Since winning the Super Bowl in 2010, the Saints have suffered five straight heartbreaking playoff losses. Beast Quake in 2011, The Catch III in 2012 (New Orleans was also a 13-3 three seed this year too), the illegal forward pass that ended the game in Seattle in 2014, the Minneapolis Miracle in 2018, and the infamous no-call pass interference in 2019.  Will they put it all together this year, or suffer more heartbreak?

11. Baltimore Ravens (14-2)

Opponents: MIA, ARI, KC, CLE, PIT, CIN, SEA, NE, CIN, HOU, LAR, SF, BUF, NYJ, CLE, PIT

ASoS: 124-115-1, .519%

What a year for the almost certain MVP Lamar Jackson. The jump he made in his second year has taken the NFL by storm. Jackson and the Ravens’ league best offense hold the number one seed in the AFC and the league’s best record at 14-2. They’ve won 12 straight after starting 2-2 and look nearly unstoppable. Can the Ravens ride this magical season all the way to the Lombardi Trophy or will they stumble?

10. Arizona Cardinals (5-10-1)

Opponents: DET, BAL, CAR, SEA, CIN, ATL, NYG, NO, SF, TB, SF, LAR, PIT, CLE, SEA, LAR

ASoS: 125-115, .521%

There’s much to look forward to after the first year under head coach Kliff Kingsbury and rookie quarterback Kyler Murray. The highlight of this season was a beatdown they put on the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 16. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they play in the toughest division in football that doesn’t look likely to change anytime soon.

9. San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

Opponents: TB, CIN, PIT, CLE, LAR, WAS, CAR, ARI, SEA, ARI, GB, BAL, NO, ATL, LAR, SEA

ASoS: 125-113-2, .525%

San Francisco is the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs after a thrilling Week 17 win over Seattle. Some of the most exciting games of the year have included the 49ers: both games against Seattle, at Baltimore and New Orleans, and versus the Falcons and Rams. Outside of Arizona, they’ve faced a gauntlet in the last eight games and managed to come out of it 5-3.

All we can ask for in the playoffs is a Divisional Round rematch with the Seahawks and a Championship Round rematch with New Orleans. Can either of those teams, or the Packers, get revenge on the 49ers or will they prove themselves to be the class of the NFC and make it to another Super Bowl?