Every year, pro football fans are inundated with discussion regarding the team that has the toughest schedule or the easiest schedule or any of various points in between.  Usually, it’s a creature of the media.  But now the league – and at least one team – is pushing the concept as well.

On Friday afternoon, the Ravens issued a release passing along a “Strength of Schedule” analysis prepared by the league.  The chart, which we’ll try to post separately, is based on last year’s results.  It shows the total won-loss record in 2007 of each team’s 2008 opponents, the number of 2008 opponents who finished 2007 at or above .500, and the number of opponents in 2008 who made the playoffs in 2007.

The Ravens presumably opted to publicize the chart because they have the fourth most difficult schedule in the league.  In the AFC North, however, they’re not alone.  The Steelers have the most difficult schedule, the Bengals are No. 6, and the Browns are No. 7.

The reason?  Under the NFL’s scheduling formula, the teams of the AFC North play in 2008 the four teams of the AFC South and the four teams of the NFC East in 2008.  Since both of those divisions generated three playoff teams each in 2007, the numbers are skewed heavily against the teams of the AFC North. 

Sure, the ”Strength of Schedule” thing is something to talk about.  But does it really matter?  In this age of free agency and parity and annual roster upheavals, last year has nothing to do with this year.  Some good teams get bad.  Some bad teams improve.  On average, six of the twelve playoff teams from the prior season won’t make it back to the postseason in the next year.

So, please.  Stop it.  It’s ridiculous.  To prove it, we’ll make a chart of our own after the 2008 regular season, and we’re convinced it will look much different than the preseason version.

Unless the chart after the season looks too much like the preseason chart.  If that happens, we’ll just never mention any of this again.