SOS at this point means as much as a Power Rankings list.
Did you read the article? There is proof in what it is saying:
Now you might be wondering: Does strength of schedule actually mean anything?
It probably does if you ask the Raiders. Going into the 2014 season, the Raiders were slated to have the toughest strength of schedule based on their opponents' combined 2013 record of 148-108, a winning percentage of .578.
After all 256 regular season games were played, it turned out that the Raiders did have the toughest strength of schedule (their opponents combined to go 146-110) and Oakland finished 3-13. Although this is the Raiders we're talking about, so it's possible they would have gone 3-13 with the easiest schedule.
The Jets weren't helped by their strength of schedule either. Going into the 2014 season, New York was supposed to have the ninth toughest schedule based on their opponents' 2013 records, but after all the the games were played, the Jets played the second toughest schedule in the NFL. The Jets went from 8-8 in 2013 to 4-12 in 2014.
On the other end of the spectrum, you have the Dallas Cowboys, who were supposed to have the 18th most difficult schedule going into 2014, based on their opponents' 2013 records. However, after all the games were played in 2014, Dallas ended up having the easiest strength of schedule in the NFL, playing against teams that combined to go 114-142 (.445).
Of the 12 teams that made the playoffs in 2014, only four of those teams had a strength of schedule over .500. That means the other eight playoff teams got into the postseason in due part to playing a weaker schedule.
After all was said and done, Dallas, Detroit, Houston and Pittsburgh played the four weakest schedules in 2014. Three of those teams made the playoffs and the one that didn't -- Houston -- finished with a winning record.
