2009 opponents finalized

looks much tougher

WTF! again we will be playing in Indy? what it going to be at 3 years in a row?

Does it seem to anyone else that NE plays Indy on the road every year? I can't remember a home game against them outside of playoffs.

The games at Indy are a glitch in the schedule. Indy played in Foxboro during the 2004, 2005 and 2006 regular seasons, check the old schedules.

We beat Indy at home on Opening Night in '04, 27-24
Lost in wk 9 of '05 in Foxboro, 21-40
Lost in wk 9 of '06 in Foxboro, 20-27

Mike,

Just wanted to say thanks to you and your staff for all the hard work this year. You guys did an amazing job covering the Pats. Now I need to find something to do each Sunday!!

Sean

That's a tough schedule based on what we know right now, 7 of the 16 games are against this years playoff teams. This will not keep Pats haters from claiming that they have a cupcake schedule in 2009, just saying.

Wow, I would say that is a brutal schedule. Of course, as Reiss loves to say, teams can greatly vary from year to year.

think there will be a strong contingent of Pats fans at that Saints road game?!?!?!? that's a safe bet!

Not as easy as this years schedule but still not that hardest.

I remember how great it was during the Super Bowl runs; Indy had no chance against us in the playoffs. Seems like the Mannings have gotten our number over the past few years -- the front line can't get to him, and the secondary is just pathetic. Even last year, we blew everybody out during the regular season but then had to eke out a nailbiter in Indy. Then this past year....cripe. I know, yes, if you look at the past seven to eight years, Peyton (or Eli) have a losing record to the Pats. But over the past three or four years, when it really, really mattered, the defense can't stop Eli for the most important series in history, and over the past three or four years Indy's Peyton usually beats Belichick.
In fact, I'm going to get all riled up, thinking of this. I'm so sick of our not-quite-good-enough defense. I'm so sick of the completed passes by Manning 30 yards downfield with 7 Patriots jerseys all about 5-10 yards away from the receiver; so sick of his longbombs that are incomplete and the referee throws the obligatory yellow flag putting the ball at the one. When it matters (in the past few years) Manning always beats the Pats. I miss the old days.......

We don't know the exact dates yet, and won't for a while. However, if the Colts game is in early November, as it has been the last few years, the Pats will have a bye heading into it. The Pats play in London on October 25th, meaning they have a bye the next week to allow them to adjust from the travel. Also, they will likely have a home game before the trip to London, helping to minimize travel. I suppose they could also play in either Buffalo or New York that week before the trip but it is unlikely.

*sigh* Another road game in Indy. This matchup is a bit stale. I'd be more for it if it opened the season or came towards the end.

Did any of you Compainers actually read the article??!!! The schedule was PRE-DETERMINED by way of an 8 year rotation. Why is that so hard to compute??!! Every 3rd year we are scheduled to play Indy as part of playing the entire AFC South. So one year they are scheduled in Foxboro, the next go around in Indy. The two years in between those match-ups are up to each team being in the same place (mostly 1st place) the previous year. Those season determined positions are rotated as well. Indianapolis just happens to be the AFC South Representative in 2007 and 2008!! There is no bias and there is no conspiracy. In fact the Patriots had the Colts in Foxboro 3 straight years as well as it turned out!!

We play Indy every year because for the past 2 we have both finished 1st in our division. To keep schedules "fair" and AFC first place team plays all the other AFC first place teams, and the 2nd places play each other etc.

BTW, AFC East was playing NFC West and AFC West as part of the rotation this season. That's why the records of the AFC East teams are so bloated! Those (NFC/AFC West) are the two worst divisions in NFL. Pats have wins over two teams that made it to play offs this year - Miami and Arizona. Among the other teams that they played (that made it to the play offs this year) Indy, Pitty, SD - all in losing causes.
I understand the injuries etc, but Pats wouldnt have made it very far in the play offs. Just like Miami won't go very far because they had the same thing going for them. But again, Parcells will get the credit!

I know that teams play the cards they are dealt but lets not forget whats teh reality!

BigKIng, that would be 8 games vs '08 playoff teams. You need to count the FIns twice. Plus 2 more games vs teams that could have gotten in on the last week: Broncos and Bucs. No AFC or NFC West opponents there. WOnder what teh naysayers will whine about if Brady comes back and they shred this schedule a la '07, and the Pats don't have trh serious injuries on defense that they had this year. But I'm sure they'll try and find a way.

With this seemingly tough schedule we need to bring Crennel back. Get rid of that Dan. The reason we went 18-1 in 07 was because of the offense. He's lack of understanding the game and make adjustments caused us the SB and a perfect season. 08 was no different. Had the offense stop the jets on 3rd and 15 during the OT game played here a couple weeks ago we would be in the post-season. He doesn't get it. Dan, I hope you're reading this board. Please, do us Patriots fan a favor, RESIGN. We don't need you, and we don't want you.

This year's creampuff schedule will likely never happen again. They played the worst two divisions in football plus no one in the AFC East was over .500 last year. The easiest schedule in NFL history will get much tougher next year.

If the Patriots had played next year's schedule this year, they wouldn't have won more than 5 games.

Dan who? Are you talking about Dom Capers or Dean Pees? You can't pin the blame solely on those guys. They weren't out there on the field. In know they could have probably done a better job, but if Belichick wants them on his staff, then they have to be doing something right. I'd love to see Crennel back in some capacity, like assistant HC or something.

Mike, Is it too early to tell what pick that Pats will have in the 09 draft?

I like the schedule. While it looks tough on the surface, I like the fact that the following teams are coming to Gillette rather than the Pats having to go there.
Falcons, Jaguars, Panthers, Ravens, Titans
The Falcons game should attract a lot of BC fans as it will be a homecoming, of sorts, for Matt Ryan.
And, the road schedule is fine, especially where one becomes a neutral field game, in fact, more like a home game for the Pats, in London.
I like the schedule.

For Peter D - The Pats pick 24th, as of now.

Non division opponents of any difficulty appear to be TN, Baltimore and Indy. That's not so bad.

In the division, Jets are done due to salary cap and lack of QB options. Miami will be tough but there's nothing that can be done about a tough team with a good coach in the division. that's what the steelers and ravens struggle with every year. in the AFC south, it's the same story with Indy and TN. The Pats have no reason to complain.

Not sure if this is accurate or not, but Wikipedia is indicating that Weeks 3 and 6 for next season are penciled in as days to honor the 50 year anniversary of the AFL with all 8 orginal teams playing one another in those weeks. With the Bills, Jets, Titans, and Broncos being the AFL teams on the schedule for next season, some combination of two those matchups should fall into these weeks with the teams wearing throwback uniforms.

MIAMI DOLPHINS ----- AFC East CHAMPS ----

See you next year, congrats on the 11 wins.

Here's a total guess on my part. Since the Patriots first game ever was against the Broncos, it stands to reason that one of the throw back games will be against the Orange crush with good old Pat Patriot and the red jersey's..

Secondly. Can we please stop talking about schedules as "cream puff" or "difficult" based on 2008?! If you logically think about what the subject is and then throw the fact that 14 of 16 games were pre-determined by way of rotation in 2002!! Teams who are bad, divisions who are bad are going to happen. Why is it treated like the Nebraska Cornhuskers scheduled a game against NW Iowa St. or something??!! Who gives a crap about the schedule. play'em and win. Thats it!!

I took my 71 year old Dad and my boys (14 and 10) to their 1st NFL game to see the Pats beat the Bills in the season finale. Unlike the Cowboys, Jets and Jaguars (twice) who all laid down like little girls during the last 2 weeks of the season the Pats showed what having guts was all about. With Moss, Welker, and Thomas under contract through 2011 and studs like Mayo only getting better, things look very good. Hey, they won 11 games with Brady, Thomas, Maroney, Harrison, and others missing most or parts of the season. This is a good schedule for '09.

man it must be nice being a pats fan. your offense is off the charts and your defense is decent to me. me being a fins fan im biting my nails off looking at our schedule. steelers...colts..titans...panthers.. bleagh =(. however the falcons game i look forward too for both the fins and the pats. i think yall can manage a 10+ record this year and in fact you better..ha the texans and the broncos dont make me laugh