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

While winning in the NFL is never easy, despite the appearances of certain opponents as weaker than others, a team must be careful not to underestimate a challenger with a poor record as a guaranteed victory, lest they find themselves in a dreaded trap.

Two teams have made the best of their soft schedules, however, parlaying that into divisional leads and clear shots at the postseason.

The Houston Texans have the benefit of being part of the AFC South in a year when Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning is out for likely the entire season and the rest of the squad has fallen apart. This has propelled them to a 6-3 record through nine weeks and a 3-0 divisional record.

Houston has also faced and defeated the Miami Dolphins (winless until Week 9), the Pittsburgh Steelers (in Week 4, when the team had won two of their three games, albeit both wins were against poor teams) and most recently the Cleveland Browns, who have three total wins to their name.

While the Texans are one of the most balanced teams in the NFL, and that's certainly a benefit with so many teams just proficient in one area of the game this season, they've also gotten quite an advantage by facing a number of struggling squads.

The same can be said for another division-leading team, the Cincinnati Bengals, who have won six of their eight games and their last five in a row.

Cincinnati has had the benefit of playing a number of teams below .500, including one winless squad and two with only two wins apiece.

In total, the Bengals have defeated six teams that have a total of 16 wins between them, with only the Buffalo Bills currently holding a winning record.

Indeed, the Bengals are talented and impressive, and they have earned the top spot in the AFC North with their string of wins, but nothing can benefit a rookie quarterback more than starting his first season against inferior teams.

With two games against the Baltimore Ravens and two against the Pittsburgh Steelers, plus a game against the Houston Texans, ahead, the Bengals certainly have a lot yet to prove. But they've set themselves up well to face these difficult teams in the decisive second half of the season.

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

*Subject to change pending the outcome of Monday night's Bears-Eagles contest