Bengals' strength of schedule before official release is a surprise

Let one set of numbers tell it, the Cincinnati Bengals have one of the easiest schedules in the entire NFL next year.

According to Warren Sharp, going by projected win totals, the Bengals have the third-easiest schedule in the NFL next season.

Sharp also explained why predicted win totals, not last season’s win-loss totals, are a more reliable metric: “From 2010 to 2018, only 5.7% of a team's actual SOS was explained by opponents' prior-year records, and this correlation dropped to just 3.9% in more recent years.”

Long story short? Far too many changes for 32 teams over the course of an offseason to let last year’s results reliably predict the future.

Projected win totals, on the other hand, attempt to take into account those offseaosn changes. There’s a reason Las Vegas does those, folks.

The Bengals play host to teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars and Tennessee Titans next year, plus visit rebuilders like the Carolina Panthers and Miami Dolphins. The AFC North outside of Baltimore appears vulnerable, too.

According ot at least one metric, tha that outlook crafts one of the best possible schedules for the Bengals.

This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' strength of schedule before official release is a surprise