ESPN ranks Bills strength of schedule among the easiest in NFL, AFC East
The Bills had their most successful season this century in 2020. Buffalo will hope for a repeat effort.
In doing so… could that accomplishment even be, easier?
According to ESPN’s Mike Clay… yes.
Using a projection based on current rosters in the NFL, the analyst released strength of schedule numbers on Tuesday. In them, the entire AFC East fares well… but none better than the Bills.
The entire division slots in between third and sixth, but Buffalo holds that best spot. The Bills have the third-easiest schedule in 2021, per the report:
2021 NFL strength of schedule based on current rosters.
Note that the order of games is random. Green = easiest #clayprojections pic.twitter.com/2mLS6A07Bb
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) May 4, 2021
In going 13-3 last season and winning the AFC East for the first time in 25 years, the Bills did so with a bit of a daunting workload in 2020. One preseason projection from last year had the Bills with the fifth-hardest slate. Still, they managed to win the AFC east crown.
Looking ahead in this projection, that same thing is put into emphasis once again, the AFC East. Considering the Patriots, Jets and Dolphins are all projected to have easy slates as well, winning divisional matchups in 2021 could be make-or-break.
Last year, the Bills swept the division.
Currently this prediction by ESPN does include a randomized game-by-game schedule. On May 12, the NFL will officially release final schedules for next season, however, we do already know each team’s upcoming opponents, just not the order in which they’ll appear.
