ANALYSIS
The Patriots seemingly catch a break by facing the Colts after Indianapolis has a “short” week. The Colts are at Tennessee on Monday, Oct. 27 -- in what is usually a physical AFC South clash -- then must turn around host the Patriots in a Sunday night contest. The Patriots host the Rams before traveling to face Indianapolis.
No opponent on the schedule is coming off a bye week, which is also a positive for the Patriots.
The bye is at the earliest time possible, in Week 4. That is generally earlier than clubs prefer, as the ideal time is as close to the middle of the season as possible. The Colts, Dolphins, Lions, Seahawks, and Giants are also off that week.
The Patriots will look to fill up their tank in the off week, because what awaits them the following two weeks is a game at San Francisco, followed by a game at San Diego. It will be interesting to see if coach Bill Belichick keeps the team out west, which could contribute to developing team chemistry. With back-to-back trips out west on Dec. 7 (Seattle) and Dec. 14 (Oakland), there is also the possibility of the team remaining there for a week.
For a point of comparison, the Jets also have four games out west -- Week 3 at San Diego; Week 7 at Oakland; Week 14 at San Francisco; and Week 16 at Seattle. If the Patriots can make arrangements to stay out west, they seemingly would have the better setup.
The Steelers will have extra time to prepare for New England, as they play on Thursday, Nov. 20 – at home against the Bengals – before traveling to face the Patriots on Sunday, Nov. 30.
The Seahawks also will have extra time to prepare for New England, as they visit the Cowboys on Thursday, Nov. 27 (Thanksgiving), before hosting the Patriots on Sunday, Dec. 7. Seattle has one of the loudest stadiums in the league, and it should be rocking for a night game.
When the Patriots return home after their trips to San Francisco and San Diego, they will benefit from an extra day of rest, with a Monday night game at home (Broncos) next on the schedule.
With two division games in the first three weeks – at the Jets in their home opener, and at home against the Dolphins – the Patriots will have a chance to set an early tone in the division.
The Dolphins travel to New England in Week 3 after a trip to Arizona the week before, which seems to be a good spot for the Patriots.
A season finale at Buffalo almost surely will bring difficult elements into play.
This is an unbelieably soft schedule. The first four foes were a combined 14 wins and 50 losses last year. Pats play ony four teams with a winning record. Overall foes were a combined 99 wins and 146 losses. This could be really boring football to start the year. We have to wait all of August and September before there's a big challenge - San Diego at home. But with this schedule there's a great shot at the playoffs and dare i say - a chance for another streak?
3 days off between the Bills (11/9) and the Jets (11/13) games?? Has an NFL team ever had less time off between games? Aren't the Thursday night NFL Network games usually after the bye week? Is this a further Spygate penalty?
How about those two back-to-back west coast swings? That will be especially rough near the end of the season.
19-0? We have some unfinished business.
To heck with another streak...let's get to the playoffs with some gas left in the tank...perhaps the soft schedule will allow the coaching staff a chance to integrate some younger/newer guys on D...hopefully by year end they will have jelled etc. I will gladly take 12-4 and a Super Bowl victory than 14-2 and a second consecutive SB disappointment. Will be interesting to see if they stay on the west coast between the 49er's/Chargers and Seahawks/Raiders trip. Go Pats.
Back to back West coast games with one being a night game, twice during the season... that must be the equalizer for the rest of the schedule being so 'cupcake'.
Un Finished Business. It's true.
Amazing how far the Pats have come, we expect them to win all the time and are
dissappointed with anything less than a Super Bowl Win. And I think we're starting to get that way with the Sox too.
I never would have dreamed this not too long ago.
We're going to Indy again?! What is it, the third year in a row we've done this?
That's annoying. Bill Polian influence at work?
Also, as far as assessing strength of schedule on the previous year's records, that's only part of the picture. While some teams have been consistently good over the years (i.e., Colts, Steelers and Pats), many change from year to year.... the point is to expect some teams to be better than last year...
I agree with Joe from New York. Forget about 19-0. I hope the Pats have the best record in the conference so they get home field throughout, but if they can do that AND drop a game or two, so much the better. Let's focus on winning the Bowl this year.
Fellow Pats fans, STOP WHINING about our schedule. Last year was far more difficult. Your opponents & home/away are predetermined. Yes it is true that anything less than a Super Bowl win with rhis team & Brady at QB is a season failure. Does anybody feel good about how last season ended? 14-2, 15-1 looks possible. Lets finish what we started.
I am afraid that world events are going to trump professional sports. There will be no Superbowl in 2009.
we'll be in tampa in feb and this time we'll seal the deal.
so what, world war 3, world famine? what world events?
i think the Pats are in for a bit of a fall. I still see them winning the AFC Least, but I think last season has scarred this team mentally. I predict 10 wins and a first or second round exit. we need a much younger and stronger defense.
The Thursday game after Playing the previous Sunday, I must admit is insane. At least the Jets also will be playing with only 3 days rest. With the 2 west coast trips I think they should stay in Calif. for the week for at least one of the trips.Three of the last 4 games being on the road could be tough, but otherwise it's not that difficult of a schedule. I hope we can trade down the 7th draft pick and pick up an extra pick.
no superbowl? huh?
Sounds very threatening Dennis. What do you have up your sleeve?
Pats will visit Indy again next year (2009) nomatter how each perrforms this year. Its been long determined by the NFL rotating schedule.
Beijing? A few years back I recall an announcement that the Patriots in 2008 were going to play in the first NFL game to be held in Beijing, China. Would that possibly be a pre-season exhibition sometime in August? We know that back in '07 the NFL had scheduled a regular season game @ Wembley Stadium in London. A regular season Pats game in Beijing would suck w/ all the extra travel time already on this schedule.
I think it's pretty decent schedule, although I hate the three out of four on the road at the end.
On the first back to back west coast games, the Pats can come here, and practice in Arizona, in the indoor stadium, depending on the Cardinals schedule.
Then, of course, our Patriot Fan Club Of Arizona can have a nice, midweek, special event for the players, coaches, etc.
I cant see them going back and forth to the east coast because the double dip of jet lag would murder them.
Perhaps Bob Kraft will allow the wives to accompany the players. After all, happy players are winning players.
All in all the layout of the Pats' schedule is pretty favorable. Let's face it, the league could have sent the Pats to San Diego or Seattle the first Sunday or Monday night and the current 19 game regular season winning streak would have definitely been in jeopardy. Some comments re: other posters.
1. There have always been a number of Thursday Thanksgiving Day games and now night games on the NFL network. Teams have always played the previous Sunday, so this is nothing new. Both teams playing Thurs. have the same short week.
2. The Pats knew they would have four West Coast games as 14 of the games were pre-determined going back to the start of the 2002 season. It appears they benefit from having two sets of back-to-back games, and it makes sense for them to stay out there for the second of the back-to-back rather than trek back East only to have to go back West a few days later.
3. While it's unfortunate that they have such an early bye, the early schedule is quite favorable and they should be undefeated heading into the Sunday night game at San Diego.
4. I was a bit surprised that CBS wasn't able to corral the Pats-Colts Nov. 2 game which will be played at night on NBC. Same for the Nov. 23 Colts-Chargers.
5. For what ESPN is paying in comparison to NBC, it reasonably appears that once again, NBC has gotten the better matchups. Plus NBC has the option to change the game the last 7 weeks of the season. ESPN is stuck with whatever the schedule calls for as of today.
6. The NFL must believe the Browns are the "it" team for 2008 as they're scheduled for 5 primetime games...same as the Pats. The Pats can have a sixth added on one of the week 11-17 weekends by NBC depending on the matchup and their record.
This is not the first time a team has played 4 games out west, the Giants did this trip in 2005, going 2-2, winning at SF & Oak and losing at Sea & SD. San Diego played 5 games on the east coast also in 2005, going 4-1 winning in NE, NYJ & WAS and losing at PHI, plus a game in Indy as well. The Chargers have it worse this year playing in Buffalo, then going straight to London and playing the Saints, then flying all the way back to SD. Plus they have games at Miami, Tampa and Pittsburgh. Also, Seattle has to go to the Giants, MIA, BUF & Tampa for games and the Jets also have 4 West coast games as well, but they are all spread out on the schedule.
i hope we throw the first game, just to get it out of the way.
Stay out West for those consecutive West games. That is for sure. Play everybody in key situations. Balance, Maybe they keep a healthy team.One or two early losses might not be bad.
'I am afraid that world events are going to trump professional sports. There will be no Superbowl in 2009?!?!?!??!'
Between your hectic schedule of video games and humping mom's vacuum in your basement D&D lair would you mind enlightening all of us on your dark Nastrodamus like prophesy? What the hell is the matter with you??
Minus the traveling to the West Coast. This schedule nearly guarantees that the Pats will be in the playoffs and have a really good chance at having home field advantage through the playoffs....
'I am afraid that world events are going to trump professional sports. There will be no Superbowl in 2009?!?!?!??!'
I think he's referring to George Bush getting re-elected through Florida voting techniques...
I've heard some people complaining that the Pats schedule is hard, and some complaining that it's too easy - I even heard a certain moron on his national sports talk radio show suggest that this is a league conspiracy to give the Pats an easy schedule and keep them in their winning ways because it's profitable to the league! What?!?
Mr. Reiss, correct me if I'm wrong, but most of the matchups are decided a few years in advance. Obviously each team is going to play their division rivals twice, so there's 6 games set in stone. Then, each division plays the teams in two other divisions, and I think those divisions are determined two years in advance. It might be a rotating schedule or something. This year, it looks like the AFC East is matching up against the AFC West and the NFC West. Anyway, that's eight more opponents decided, for a total of 14. The last two games are decided after the completion of the previous season, and I think those are based on how well the team played. The Pats are facing the Steelers and the Colts - two good teams, while the Dolphins are facing the Texans and the Ravens - two less-than-good teams. Finally, the actual schedule is decided based on those opponents.
The point is, the schedule has both tough parts (long road trips, early bye, Steelers, Colts, etc.) and easy parts (when you're the best football team out there, a lot of the schedule is going to look like cupcakes no matter who's on it). And the schedule was decided fairly like it was for all of the other 31 teams. So Patriots fans, let's man up and face whatever the league throws at our team with resolve. You don't hear Tedy Bruschi complaining do you? Full Tilt, Full Time, baby!! And to any haters out there - quit whining.
Mike, How would it work if they stayed out on the West coast for practices? Would they share the home team facility or use/rent time at a college facility? Just curious.
the pats will go 16-0 again
"3 days off between the Bills (11/9) and the Jets (11/13) games?? Has an NFL team ever had less time off between games? Aren't the Thursday night NFL Network games usually after the bye week? Is this a further Spygate penalty?
Posted by Jim from Hermosa Beach April 15, 08 03:38 PM"
Jim - check Detroit and Dallas practically every year on Thanksgiving...I think it's a huge disadvantage to have to play on a short week but at least it's the same for both teams. I just worry about injuries.
Or how about the fact that Thursday night games don't start until after the bye weeks end so just about every team that has ever played on a Thursday night has had 3 days rest.
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