Browns, Steelers, Bengals screwed over by NFL schedule makers compared to Ravens

The NFL schedule release revealed a huge gap for Browns, Steelers and Bengals travel time

When the NFL schedule is released, we really have no idea how “tough” each team’s schedule really is. All evaluations around the difficulty of schedule are looking back at how good teams were the previous year or based on projections. The only true measure of a schedule’s toughness can be done once the season ends but that is no fun.

We know that most evaluators believe that the Cleveland Browns have one of, if not the, most difficult schedules in the league. We also looked at three AFC teams, two contenders, who were “screwed” by schedule makers.

One measure that is not based on opinion is how much rest, throughout the season, each team will have. This year, the Baltimore Ravens were far and away granted an easier schedule in terms of rest based on days in between games with the rest of the AFC North a full two weeks behind, or more in the case of the Cincinnati Bengals:

Only twice all season will the Ravens have less rest than the team they are facing and each time that is just one game. The Pittsburgh Steelers and Browns will have a rest deficit three times, only one of the six is just one game, while the Bengals have five rest deficits compared to the teams they are facing.

The San Francisco 49ers have the biggest complaint in the league. Not only are they among the fifth most miles flown this season but they have rest deficits in eight of their 17 games including three where the opponent is coming off a week’s rest.

Do you think the NFL should look at these rest deficits when making the schedule or it would be too difficult to add another variable?