The assessment of team difficulty in the National Football League often culminates in a ranked order based on the projected win-loss records of their opponents. This arrangement of teams, from most to least challenging, provides a pre-season view of the obstacles each team faces. For example, a team facing a schedule where their opponents averaged a .550 winning percentage in the previous season would be considered to have a more demanding schedule than a team whose opponents averaged .450.
The value of these rankings lies in their ability to set expectations and offer context for team performance. They provide a baseline for evaluating coaching success, player development, and overall team management throughout the season. Historically, these predictive rankings have served as a tool for fans, analysts, and even teams themselves to gauge the road ahead and anticipate potential challenges to overcome.