NFL Power Rankings: Identifying Teams That Have Feasted on Soft Schedules

Feasting on a soft schedule doesn't necessarily mean a team is overrated. That's the team's given schedule, so it has no other choice but to play it.

However, you can justify a team's record by citing a weak schedule, which is just the case for the following three playoff contenders.

New York Giants (5-2)

The Giants have slipped up twice, against Washington on the road and Seattle at home. Only one of their wins has come against a winning team in Buffalo, and the win over Miami was anything but impressive.

However, we will find out exactly how legit these Giants are within the next few weeks, as they play at New England and at San Fran consecutively, then come home to Philadelphia thereafter.

By season's end, New York will maybe have finished 9-7 best-case scenario, because the gauntlet schedule continues with Green Bay and New Orleans after Philadelphia.

Houston Texans (5-3)

Fortunately for the Houston Texans, they are in a very weak division in addition to having a favorable schedule.

The win over Pittsburgh is their only W over a considered playoff contender, as dominating Tennessee on the road was important, but not unexpected. Their other three wins come against Miami, Indy and Jacksonville, all of which combine for a 2-21 record.

This week, Houston gets the 3-4 Browns at home, so they should be 6-3 heading into Tampa for Week 10.

That is when the schedule gradually increases its difficulty. Games against Atlanta, at Jacksonville (not guaranteed) and at Cincy will test the Texans' worth among the elite.

Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

Cincy may be 5-2, but the Bengals' only win over a solid team has been against Buffalo at home. All of their other wins have come against bad teams—their second-best win was against the Browns.

Also, we've seen the Bengals' lowest of lows when they lost to the Broncos in Denver.

With five divisional games remaining, two against Pittsburgh and Baltimore, the AFC North is going to get a lot harder. And, based on their win over New Orleans, you can't discount the Rams in Week 15.

Cincy has had a very weak schedule thus far, but they Bengals are playing well on both sides. It's just a matter of time before we find out their true colors.

Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (LW = Last Week's Rank)

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) (LW 1)	17. San Diego Chargers (4-3) (LW 13)
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) (LW 6)	18. Oakland Raiders (4-3) (LW 17)
3. Baltimore Ravens (5-2) (LW 5)	19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3) (LW 18)
4. San Francisco 49ers (6-1) (LW 4)	20. Dallas Cowboys (3-4) (LW 15)
5. New England Patriots (5-2) (LW 2)	21. Tennessee Titans (4-3) (LW 21)
6. New York Giants (5-2) (LW 7)	22. Minnesota Vikings (2-6) (LW 28)
7. Houston Texans (5-3) (LW 8)	23. Carolina Panthers (2-6) (LW 22)
8. Buffalo Bills (5-2) (LW 9)	24. Cleveland Browns (3-4) (LW 24)
9. Detroit Lions (6-2) (LW 10)	25. Washington Redskins (3-4) (LW 25)
10. New Orleans Saints (5-3) (LW 3)	26. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-6) (LW 26)
11. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) (LW 14)	27. St. Louis Rams (1-6) (LW 30)
12. Chicago Bears (4-3) (LW 11)	28. Seattle Seahawks (2-5) (LW 27)
13. New York Jets (4-3) (LW 12)	29. Arizona Cardinals (1-6) (LW 29)
14. Atlanta Falcons (4-3) (LW 16)	30. Denver Broncos (2-5) (LW 23)
15. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) (LW 19)	31. Indianapolis Colts (0-8) (LW 31)
16. Kansas City Chiefs (4-3) (LW 20)	32. Miami Dolphins (0-7) (LW 32)

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