By One Measure, Oakland Raiders Have Toughest 2019 Schedule In NFL

Judging an NFL team's strength of schedule by the combined records of its opponents from the previous season can obviously be a bit misleading. It doesn't take into account any players those teams might have added or lost, any coaching changes, injuries, suspensions, etc. For example, the Green Bay Packers were just a six-win team last year, but does anyone really think that's a six-win club with a fully healthy Aaron Rodgers?

All that said, going by opponents combined winning percentage is the widely accepted measure of a strength of schedule. That's potentially bad news for Jon Gruden and the Oakland Raiders, who of course are this year's featured club on HBO's "Hard Knocks." That should be awesome TV. Oakland has the league's toughest schedule as its opponents combined for a winning percentage of .539 in 2018 (137-117-2).

The Raiders have four total games against the AFC West-rival Chief and Chargers, who both were 12-4 last year. Oakland also plays the NFC North (led by 12-4 Chicago) and AFC South (Houston won 11 games and Indianapolis 10). The Raiders also have just seven true home games because they "host" the Bears in London on Oct. 6.

If you are curious, and I was, the team with the hardest strength of schedule entering last season was Green Bay at .539. The Saints had the second-toughest and they won 13 games. There's one other way to judge a team's schedule: Projected betting win total of each opponent combined. In that scenario, the Houston Texans have the toughest 2019 schedule with their foes having a combined win projection of 138.5.

Houston does have it quite tough, including games at the Saints, Chargers and Chiefs and home against the Patriots. That game in New Orleans is Week 1 on Monday night, with the Saints as early 7-point favorites on the NFL odds. The Texans are 2-0 in season-opening prime-time games in their history.