How much does a schedule REALLY affect a team’s chances? Timing is everything, of course, but in the grand scheme of things, teams know 14 of their 17 games years in advance.
This year, though, The Ringer’s Warren Sharp tells Kevin Sheehan he has never seen “more one-sided scheduling” across the NFL, and timing is indeed everything for some teams.
“The NFL doesn’t determine who you play, but has full control over when you play them, and the advantages and disadvantages therein,” Sharp said. “There are 95 games this year where one team has a rest advantage over their opponent, and there’s one team that plays zero games at a rest disadvantage, while one plays six games at a rest disadvantage. It wouldn’t shock me if rest has no bearing whatsoever on a game, but what we know is that later in the season, it matters more than any other time.”
When it comes to the Commanders, though, their lack of national games – both scheduled are on Thursdays, with their opponents also playing Sunday before – means only byes can really put them at a disadvantage – and based on ‘net rest advantage,’ that is bearing fruit.
“This year Washington is tied for the best net rest edge in the NFL at plus-12 days, and they play five games with a net rest advantage,” Sharp said. “You may not think that’s meaningful, but there are some teams at minus-20. It’s tied for the most Washington has ever had, and this type of analysis is outstanding news entering the season.”
The 49ers and Rams, two teams the Commanders and the NFC East play, have the two biggest net rest disadvantages, and in addition, the other three games of the schedule are advantageous as, technically, a last-place schedule means the Commanders get to play Atlanta, Chicago, and Denver.
Listen above to hear all of Sharp’s thoughts on the NFL schedule and its rest impacts, as well as how that affects betting, and how he has Terry McLaurin ranked in his wide receiver rankings for fantasy football!
Follow The Kevin Sheehan Show on Twitter: @kevinsheehandc & @sheehanpodcast
Keep up with 980 The Team via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram