Schedules are official - Denver ... wow!

[Mile High Mania]

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.

[Mark M]

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
~~

[Mile High Mania]

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

[Mark M]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

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
~~

[Mile High Mania]

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.

[Amnorix]

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).

[BigChiefFan]

Look like Denver got a better schedule than us.

[Mile High Mania]

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.

[Amnorix]

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.

[Mile High Mania]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

Look like Denver got a better schedule than us.

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.

[TRR]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

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.

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.

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).

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.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

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.

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.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by TRR

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.

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.

[BigChiefFan]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

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.

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

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by BigChiefFan

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).