1996 NFL strength-of-schedule (sagarin)

[telcon]

from USA today web site
(higher number=harder schedule)

Chargers 22.20

Ravens 21.94
Chiefs 21.83
Seahawks 21.72
Vikings 21.44
Bucs 21.42
Lions 21.23
Rams 21.13
Bears 21.12

Falcons 20.92
Broncos 20.25
Bengals 20.18
Jets 20.03

Jaguars 19.93
Iggles 19.89
Oilers 19.81
Packers 19.77
49ers 19.61
Colts 19.55
Steelers 19.46
Cowboys 19.41
Saints 19.27
Raidiz 19.17
Dolphins 19.00

Jints 18.98
Bills 18.75
Redskins 18.54
Panthers 18.32
Cards 18.30

Patriots 17.90

A few comments about Jeff Sagarin's ratings
(which apply to his power ratings as well as
stength-of-schedule):

-the algorithm he uses is fairly primitive, being
only "two-level-iterative" (as they say in the bidness)

-trying to use his power ratings as a guide to betting
gives results no better than intuitive

-as far as trying to predict improvement for next year:
in general, playing a very tough schedule one year does
NOT imply an improvement in record is to be expected
the following year (a team can suck on its own merits,
regardless of how tough a schedule they play); BUT,
playing a relatively easy schedule one year often
DOES mean that a team's record may be suspect, and
its record next year may be expected to be worse.