Strength of schedule for Minnesota Vikings in 2017 season

The strength of schedule for the Minnesota Vikings during the 2017 season is favorable compared to the other teams around the National Football League.

The Minnesota Vikings and their fans are already looking ahead to the 2017 season. After a disappointing 2016, the team could use the good fortune of having some good things come their way.

According to the official team website, there is already some good news for fans of the team as well as the hopes of rebounding next season, as the strength of schedule has been released for all 32 teams in the National Football League.

Strength of schedule is a strange metric. It projects how easy or difficult a team’s season will be based upon their opponents win/loss record during the previous year of play. Many changes can happen to change a struggling team into a contender or a playoff team to a lottery hopeful in an offseason, so these numbers should be taken with a grain of salt.

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However. the Vikings look to have a favorable schedule when looking at the previous year’s records. Much of that has to do with opponents like the Cleveland Browns (1-15), Los Angeles Rams (4-12), and two games against the Chicago Bears (3-13).

Minnesota is listed as having the 27th hardest schedule next year (or 5th easiest, if you like to count that way). Here is what Vikings.com said about that:

"“By tabulating results of all teams, the Vikings will face opponents in 2017 that went a combined 115-139-2 in 2016. That opponent winning percentage of .453 is tied for “fifth easiest.” Under those metrics, Kansas City is in line to have the toughest schedule, and Indianapolis has the easiest.”"

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Of course, this statistic isn’t an exact science. Free agency, the draft, trades, healthy players, and other transactions can turn a team like the 3-win Bears into a huge obstacle for the Minnesota Vikings. Still, it’s good to know that at least for now, things are looking up for the team headed into 2017.