Schedules are official - Denver ... wow!
 

WEEK DAY DATE OPPONENT SITE TIME TV
1 Sun. Sept. 11 at Miami Dolphins Stadium 1 p.m. EDT CBS
2 Sun. Sept. 18 SAN DIEGO INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 p.m. MDT CBS
3 Mon. Sept. 26 KANSAS CITY INVESCO Field at Mile High 7 p.m. MDT ABC
4 Sun. Oct. 2 at Jacksonville ALLTEL Stadium 1 p.m. EDT CBS
5 Sun. Oct. 9 WASHINGTON INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 p.m. MDT FOX
6 Sun. Oct. 16 NEW ENGLAND INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 p.m. MDT CBS *
7 Sun. Oct. 23 at N.Y. Giants Giants Stadium 4:15 p.m. EDT CBS *
8 Sun. Oct. 30 PHILADELPHIA INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 p.m. MST FOX *

5 of the first 8 at home - not bad
opening at Miami - I like that
KC @ Denver on MNF - I like that

@Jags .. tough
NE and Philly @ Denver in prior to Nov 1 ... really tough, but I like that it's in Denver

I see 5 "winnable" games - @Miami, SD in Den, KC in Den, Was in Den and at the NYG

@ Jags, NE and Philly in Denver - very tough

9 BYE
10 Sun. Nov. 13 at Oakland McAfee Coliseum 1:05 p.m. PST CBS
11 Sun. Nov. 20 N.Y. JETS INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 p.m. MST CBS *
12 Thu. Nov. 24 at Dallas Texas Stadium 3:15 p.m. CST CBS
13 Sun. Dec. 4 at Kansas City Arrowhead Stadium 3:15 p.m. CST CBS
14 Sun. Dec. 11 BALTIMORE INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 p.m. MST CBS
15 Sat. Dec. 17 at Buffalo Ralph Wilson Stadium 8:30 p.m. EST ESPN
16 Sat. Dec. 24 OAKLAND INVESCO Field at Mile High 2:15 p.m. MST CBS *
17 Sat. Dec. 31 at San Diego Qualcomm Stadium 1:30 p.m. PST CBS

The final stretch of games is not easy. Jets in Denver could be a win, @ Dallas should be a win...

@Oak, @KC, @ Buf, @ SD ... 4 very tough places to play against teams that will present issues. I don't like Baltimore ever just b/c they have Denver's number, at least they have in recent years.

I haven't looked at all the divisional schedules, but they won't be too different. 10 or 11 wins in the AFCW this season is going to be a fight for any of the teams.

Whooo.

The main difference is that KC has two of its first three on the road ... against division rivals ... on national TV.

Lamar must've kicked someone in the nuts down at NFL HQ.

MM
~~:shake:

Quick glances at the AFCW team schedules looks brutal across the board, esp early on for Denver and KC.

Yes ... yes they do.

My gripe isn't the teams against which we play -- that's part of the formula -- it's the times and locations that I don't get.

Honestly ... who the **** else starts the season with 2 games vs. division rivals on the road during prime time.

Name me one in the last freaking decade.

Of course, if they win, I'll quit my whining about it ...

well, maybe.

MM
~~;) :D

I dunno, but I'm sure it's happened... I don't like playing divisional teams in the first couple of weeks. I'd rather start it off around week 4 and then end the last 5 games with 3 divisional.

I can't complain... Denver gets 2 of the first 3 against AFCW, but it's in Denver. I'm sure Bowlen paid a price for that though. :p

I'm copying my post in from the other thread, as it's highly relevant here also (perhaps more so).




I will note, although I never recommend bitching about the schedule, that getting the AFC East this year is no prize. I expect the Patriots, Jets and Bills to all be at 10+ wins, and the Dolphins should be better than last year.

And, of course, being in the AFC is a disadvantage compared to being in the powder-puff pathetic NFC.

That problem, however, is one the entire AFC West will need to deal with.

If indeed the AFC East is as good as it appears it might be, then this would be the AFC West at a disadvantage for (1) bye week playoff considerations, and (2) getting a wild card berth.

Figure a good AFC West team can/should be looking at making the playoffs like this:

4-2 within the division
2-2 against the AFC East
3-1 against the NFC East
2-0 against the AFC South/North teams you're up against

That gets you to 11-5, and an almost definite playoff berth.

(obviously, I'm overanalyzing, but you see what I mean).

Look like Denver got a better schedule than us.

I don't know that I'd agree with the Jets, Pats and Bills all winning 10 or more games. That's a lot to expect.

Tough road though for AFCW teams - the good thing is that whichever team(s) advances, they will definitely be battle tested. Of course all of this is subject to change if teams like the Chargers fall back to earth or if other teams drop off or step up unexpectedly.

Because they were 2nd in the AFCW to your 3rd, they have Jacksonville and Baltimore compared to you guys having Cincy and the Texans. The other 14 teams are identical.

Eh, I dunno ... KC plays at Houston and hosts the Bengals. While Denver gets the Ravens in Denver and Jags on the road. Those are the two differences, right?

I think those 4 teams are rather equal in potential and strength.

The teams that Denver and KC play at home *may* be in Denver's favor, but I haven't compared them side by side.

You expect the Bills, with JP Losman at the helm, to win 10+ games? Are you serious? Time to go back to your own board.

AFC East last year went:

Pats - 14-2
Jets - 11-5
Bills - 9-7
Dolphins -- 4-12 or whatever it was.


They had the benefit of the powderpuff NFC West last year, versus the considerably tougher NFC South this year. We also switch from AFC North to the AFC West, which is at least a slight step up in competition.

But I agree, 10+ for 3 teams in the same division would be rare as heck. But even if they all win 9+, the piont remains -- the AFC East is a pretty tough slate to run against.

You obviously haven't seen Drew Bledsoe much lately.

That team won 9 games based entirely on defense, special teams and a mediocre offense. Losman can't be THAT much worse than Bledsoe. Seriously. The boy has completely lost his game.

It's not just about who we play, but WHEN we play them.

Not really. Everything balances itself out sooner or later, unless something very weird is happening (i.e. Sunday road game followed by a road Thanksgiving game).

Yeah I have seen Drew Bledsoe lately. My question to you is, have you seen Losman play lately? All Rookies (and he essentially is a rookie) struggle. Especially JP Losman, a guy I wasn't too high on coming out of college anyway. The Bills won't win 10 games with Losman at the helm.

I get this feeling that just because your team is the SB Champs, you think that gives you credibility.

Sure, but we're all smart enough to realize that in the last 4 years... what a team or division did the year before doesn't really equate to much when you talk about the next season. Look at all the teams that go downhill and the others that step up over the course of 1 offseason.

The Bills will struggle with Lossman, I'd say 8 wins would be an achievement. The Jets ... well, that all depends on whether or not Curtis Martin can do what he did in 2004. Martin had a year that nobody expected him to have, is there reason to really think he can repeat it? If he runs for only 1300 yards and 7 TDs... will that be enough to carry the offense and what was a mediocre passing game in 2004? I don't think so.

I also think that the AFCW will have 4 very potent offenses that teams have to deal with. The defenses rank right now - SD, Den, KC, OAK in my opinion and all but OAK should be improved to a degree. I am not saying the AFCW is a powerhouse again, but it's no cakewalk.

Denver is imploding. :p

Not really? It either is or it isn't. I think when you play a team has alot to do with success. Wouldn't you agree that weather and teams getting on a role are some of the factors to consider? If so, that has to do with WHEN you play a team.

Yep when you play a team is more important than who you play IMO. Especially dealing with weather, injuries and etc.

I would much rather watch the Denver/KC game in Denver in December...

Donx at Arrowhead in December.... :$2500:

Seems like that's nearly every year, too. I like it. :thumb:

2nd year player, not a rookie.

Tom Brady
Ben Roethlisberger

I have credibility because I believe I've earned it 'round here. Maybe not, but I flatter myself that I have. :shrug:

Yes, but most of that stuff balances itself out.

Dolphins fans have cried and cried over the last few years (not last year) because they always had to come up to New England in December. Of course, they conveniently ignored that NE was always going to Miami in September or early October and dealing with the heat down there.

Both teams play in the same weather. If you think you might lose because the weather favors the other team, then I can practically guarantee that you WILL lose for that reason.

Whether a team is on a roll or not is impossible to tell until they're on it, so it doesn't much matter. Besides, maybe YOU'LL be the ones on a roll. :shrug:

I agree that you are either a good team or not, but my point was when you play a team does have some barring. I'm not complaining about the schedule, but I do see some more favorable schedules out there.

Sure. The entire NFC probably has a more favorable schedule than any AFC team, for instance. Move KC into the NFC (any division) and you'd have to think 9+ wins (and a playoff berth) was guaranteed.

Lamar must be giving Tags some serious handjobs for this to keep happening... :)

Also, while Lossman is not a rookie ... he's not a veteran. 3 completions on 5 attempts for 32 yards an an INT... he's greatly inexperienced, but he does have nice skill players around him.

We'll see pretty soon what his learning curve will be.

Okay. Now we're on the same page.

I'm pissed that Denver got the Thanksgiving game instead of us.

Im glad we didn't get a start like NE. 4 of first 6 on the road is friggin tough. Jeez.

That being said at Oakland and Denver in prime time won't be a cake walk either.

I'm pissed about that as well... I live an hour from TX Stadium and will likely be at the in-laws this Turkey Day. :deevee:

Actually, it's a really, really odd start.

We start the season, at home, vs. the Raiders.

Then we sit around for 10 days waiting for the next game...

The next game kicks off 4 out of 5 games on the road.

AT Carolina
AT Pittsburgh
home vs. San Diego
AT Atlanta
AT Denver

That's 3 division winners, and 4 playoff teams, out of 5 games. Then we get the bye week and things soften up a bit in terms of travel.

But half of our road games are in our first 5 games. That is surprising. If we go at least 3-2 against that caliber of teams, I'll be satisfied. 4-1 is what I would bet, however, IF Tedy Bruschi is back next year.

Actually, that kicks major ass... I hope the Pats are tired and sore by the time they travel to Denver.

I like how the schedule sets you guys up for a big season ending letdown.

And, what does it do for KC fans?

No, you think you know it all because your team won the S.B.

And that's why I said, "essentially like a rookie." Did you read that part?? You named two QB's out of how many? And Roethlisberger choked completely in the playoffs.

I didn't say that Losman would win the Super Bowl, did I?

Brady was "essentially like a rookie" under the same theory as Losman.

Look -- I haven't paid attention to college football in 15 years. I have no idea if Losman is the second coming of Ryan Leaf or Dan Marino, BUT I do know that the Bills are going to be a tough opponent this year unless he really, really, really sucks. Their defense is superb, and they have a very good running game. That means that, like Roethlisberger, they can protect the QB and not ask him to do too much.

Going 9-7 in Mularkey's first year was VERY impressive to me. Normally first year HCs don't do that well because they need to implement their system, etc. Not always, but usually.

I expect the Bills to be as good or better this year than last year. Bledsoe sucked last year. Losman simply could NOT be that much worse.

And, BTW, WTF is this even coming from?

I know the Bills and the AFC East because that's the division I've watched the most over the last, oh, 25 years.

Don't worry, we'll give you all you can handle despite the scheduling disadvantage.

I'm sure they will... the past means nothing now, but the Pats were lucky to get by Denver a few years ago when Plummer was out and freaking Kannel was at QB.

I'll be interested to see how the Pats respond to the change of coordinators, I don't think it will be too devastating. But, add that in to the tough schedule and this game is in Denver... I definitely believe Denver has a great shot at knocking the king off the mountain.

You're right that it was a close, tight game that the Pats were lucky to win, even though:

1. it was at your house

2. in prime time.

3. and we had 2/3rds of our starting defensive line out that game, including All Pro Richard Seymour.

4. I also remember a major referee screw up on a fumble or something, but can't recall teh details.

(just saying that Kannell out wasn't the only thing worth mentioning in terms of injuries or other relevant factors).

Me too, in all cases. Denver is always tough at home, and I won't deny that they have been the Patriots nemesis to some degree over the last 13 years (since Drew/Parcells arrived in Foxboro and the "modern" Patriots began their existence).

Really, the biggest question in my mind is whether the Patriots have Bruschi back. I'm predicting 12-4 for the Patriots this year if Bruschi is back, and 10-6 if he's not. 10-6, of course, is NO guarantee to make the playoffs in the AFC.

Judging by teams last years results it looks tough. But who knows how teams are going to shake out this season. For all we know Miami could end up in this years SB against the Saints.

Right after Al Davis did. ROFL