On Monday afternoon, the NFL is expected to announce the national TV schedule for 2008 Kickoff Weekend -- and could also announce the Thanksgiving Day schedule as well.
If the Patriots are part of the opening weekend national schedule -- which is likely given the way they generated off-the-charts ratings in 2007 -- here is one view of the most appealing possibilitites:
1) Chargers -- A rematch of the 2007 AFC championship, in San Diego, would be a highlight of the opening weekend.
2) Seahawks -- The Patriots haven't traveled to Seattle since 1993, but a road game in one of the NFL's noisiest stadiums -- against one of the NFC's better teams -- would be a good draw.
3) Raiders -- Several interesting storylines could carry the broadcast -- Randy Moss's return to Oakland; the Raiders' aggressive offseason moves; a rematch of the 2005 NFL opener.
4) Steelers -- No guarantees on this one, but at this point, it's one of the more appealing games on the home schedule.
5) Colts -- It would be a bit of a surprise, as the teams have played in November -- during the all-important TV sweeps period -- in each of the last three seasons. This game is at Indianapolis.
6) Jets -- With the league looking to promote an "intergrity of the game" and "fair competition" message in 2008, it's hard to imagine they'd feature a matchup between two rivals who have been at the center of the league's burning issue.
OUTSIDE POSSIBILITIES: Cardinals (home), Broncos (home), Bills (home/away), Dolphins (home/away)
LONGER SHOTS: Rams (home), 49ers (away), Chiefs (home)
Last year,they opened on the road vs NYJ,year before at home vs Buffalo, I think opening at home vs Miami a real possibility. Tuna's first game vs BB. I agree SD could be possible, I agree the Colts-Pats is a better mid season game. 4 west coast games is going to be tough, hopefully they will not have to travel back to back weeks( which I bet today will happen)
I would prefer they open at home. With the loss in the SB, and all the other crap that is happening, they need a slight advantage to, hopefully, get an opening day win. An opening day loss, on the road, could create a , season long, problem for them, psychologically.
As far as the schedule is concerned. The Pats won't be in Miami to play the Dolphins in Week 2 or Week 3 because the Marlins are at home both those Sunday's.
Consider the Pats have 4 road games to the west coast, i actually think if they open with one of those trips actually benefit them becoz they are well rested and usually nobody is injured on the first week. That left 3 west coast trips during the season.
The best case should be this:
Week 1 SD (well rested and no injured)
Week 17 Seattle (Everything is set in the playoff, Seahawks rested players)
In between, we will have SF and Oak, 2 weak teams that they could beat even if they play the game in Artic.
However, Bill Polian and the NFL would do this to make everyone in the country happy:
Week 7 @ OAK
Week 8 @ SF
Week 9 @ SEA
Week 10 @ SD
Week 11 @ INDY
O, and btw, INDY will have their own officials.
This subject depresses me.....I was SO looking forward to being at Gillette stadium and watching them raise another banner on opening night. I've been there when they raised the other 3 and there's nothing like it......*sigh*
IMHO no way the Pat's kick of the season. The NFL is still dealing with the spy-gate stupidity.
Its been a tough enough off season, I'm hoping for resolution and a fast start.
Well we know the Pats won't be undefeated this year because they are playing the broncos. For some reason, BB can't solve the Mike Shanahan puzzle. ARGH!
At least it's at home, so they have a chance.
This schedule looks to be the easiest they have had in years.
"It won't be April 3, I can tell you that," Aiello said in an e-mail.
The NFL schedule will not be released on April 3 according to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello.
http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080330/PKR01/803300676/1989
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