|
EVENTS
Sportsman of the Year
Heisman Trophy
Swimsuit 2001
CENTERS
Fantasy Central
Inside Game
Video Plus
Statitudes
Your Turn
Message Boards
Email Newsletters
Golf Guide
Cities
CNNSI.com GROUP
Sports Illustrated
Life of Reilly
SI Women
SI for Kids
Press Room
TBS/TNT Sports
CNN Languages
COMMERCE
SI Customer Service
SI Media Kits
Get into College
Sports Memorabilia
TeamStore
|  |
Life in the fast lane
Easy schedules produce Super Bowl seasons
Posted: Tuesday January 16, 2001 2:29 AM
Updated: Monday January 22, 2001 12:13 AM
| |
Ray Lewis and the Ravens didn't have to flex their muscles against too many tough opponents this season. Doug Pensinger/Allsport |
By Jacob Luft, CNNSI.com
In an NFL where parity is king, the strength of a team's schedule is almost as important as its offense, defense and special teams.
The Giants and Ravens each played third-place schedules this season. The combined winning percentages of their opponents is .426 (109-147) for the Ravens and .445 (114-142) for the Giants (see Easy Street chart, below).
Baltimore's 12 regular-season victories included nine against teams at .500 or worse, and just one over another playoff team. The Giants were only 4-4 against teams that finished .500 or better. Here are some more nuggets on the topic:
To show how quickly parity has accelerated in the past three seasons, realize that from 1995-97, five of the six Super Bowl teams played first-place schedules. From 1998-2000, no Super Bowl-bound teams had to face a first-place schedule. The 1999 world champion Rams benefitted from a last-place schedule and a .430 opponents' winning percentage. Their opponents, the Titans, played a second-place schedule and teams with a .461 winning percentage.
In non-strike seasons since the 1970 AFL/NFL merger, only 16 teams have reached the Super Bowl while playing opponents with combined records of .500 or better (see Treacherous Paths chart, below). The other 42 teams' opponents were below .500 combined.
The Super Bowl qualifyer playing the easiest schedule of all, the 17-0 Dolphins of 1972, is also the only undefeated, untied team.
| Treacherous Paths |
|---|
|
Super Bowl teams with the toughest regular-season schedules (opponents' combined records .500 or above).
|
| Yr
| Team
| Opp. Rec.
| Opp. Pct.
|
The 1986 Denver Broncos lost Super Bowl XXI to the N.Y. Giants, but at least they can say they didn't take the easy route to the big game. Rick Stewart/Allsport |
|
| 1986 |
Broncos |
139-116-1 |
.545 |
| 1994 |
Chargers |
139-117 |
.543 |
| 1998 |
Broncos |
137-119 |
.535 |
| 1979 |
Steelers |
135-121 |
.527 |
| 1997 |
Packers |
132-121-3 |
.521 |
| 1977 |
Broncos |
102-94 |
.520 |
| 1989 |
Broncos |
131-122-3 |
.518 |
| 1996 |
Patriots |
131-125 |
.512 |
| 1988 |
49ers |
131-125 |
.512 |
| 1996 |
Packers |
130-126 |
.508 |
| 1980 |
Raiders |
130-126 |
.508 |
| 1990 |
Giants |
130-126 |
.508 |
| 1991 |
Redskins |
129-127 |
.504 |
| 1978 |
Cowboys |
128-126-2 |
.504 |
| 1993 |
Cowboys |
128-128 |
.500 |
| 1993 |
Bills |
128-128 |
.500 |
Since 1970 AFL/NFL merger
Does not include strike seasons 1982, '87
|
| |
| Easy Street |
|---|
|
Super Bowl teams with the easiest regular-season schedules (opponents' combined records below .500).
|
| Yr |
Team |
Opp. Rec. |
Opp. Pct. |
| 1972 |
Dolphins |
70-122-4 |
.367 |
| 1970 |
Colts |
68-119-9 |
.370 |
| 1971 |
Dolphins |
78-114-4 |
.408 |
| 1991 |
Bills |
105-151 |
.410 |
| 1971 |
Cowboys |
77-110-9 |
.416 |
| 1981 |
49ers |
106-148-2 |
.418 |
| 1976 |
Vikings |
83-112-1 |
.426 |
| 1992 |
Cowboys |
109-147 |
.426 |
| 2000 |
Ravens |
109-147 |
.426 |
| 1984 |
Dolphins |
109-146-1 |
.428 |
| 1999 |
Rams |
110-146 |
.430 |
| 1974 |
Steelers |
84-111-1 |
.431 |
| 2000 |
Giants |
114-142 |
.445 |
| 1980 |
Eagles |
115-139 |
.449 |
| 1978 |
Steelers |
115-141 |
.449 |
| 1972 |
Redskins |
86-105-5 |
.452 |
| 1974 |
Vikings |
89-107 |
.454 |
| 1989 |
49ers |
117-139 |
.457 |
| 1984 |
49ers |
117-139 |
.457 |
| 1975 |
Cowboys |
90-106 |
.459 |
| 1999 |
Titans |
118-138 |
.461 |
| 1981 |
Bengals |
118-137-1 |
.463 |
| 1975 |
Steelers |
92-104 |
.469 |
| 1976 |
Raiders |
92-104 |
.469 |
| 1973 |
Vikings |
87-98-11 |
.472 |
| 1979 |
Rams |
121-135 |
.473 |
| 1994 |
49ers |
121-135 |
.473 |
| 1985 |
Bears |
121-135 |
.473 |
| 1973 |
Dolphins |
91-101-4 |
.474 |
| 1986 |
Giants |
119-132-5 |
.475 |
| 1990 |
Bills |
122-134 |
.477 |
| 1988 |
Bengals |
123-131-2 |
.482 |
| 1995 |
Cowboys |
127-129 |
.484 |
| 1983 |
Redskins |
122-130-4 |
.484 |
| 1977 |
Cowboys |
95-101 |
.485 |
| 1970 |
Cowboys |
91-96-9 |
.487 |
| 1992 |
Bills |
126-130 |
.492 |
| 1998 |
Falcons |
126-130 |
.492 |
| 1997 |
Broncos |
125-128-3 |
.494 |
| 1983 |
Raiders |
126-128-2 |
.496 |
| 1985 |
Patriots |
127-129 |
.496 |
| 1995 |
Steelers |
116-140 |
.496 |
Since 1970 AFL/NFL merger
Does not include strike seasons 1982, '87
|
| |
|
Copyright © 2001
CNN/Sports Illustrated
An AOL Time Warner Company.
All Rights Reserved.
|
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines.
|
|
