SI: The five hardest 2005 schedules in the NFL

|Zach| · 04-13-2005, 10:14 PM

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...les/index.html

Andrew Perloff

In today's parity-laden NFL, strength-of-schedule statistics don't mean what they used to. You just don't know what that Week 8 contest against a team that finished 4-12 the year before really means. With turnaround teams like last season's Chargers lurking, there are no guaranteed easy matchups.

The details of the schedule itself can also make things tougher or easier. Hosting the Dolphins or visiting the Bills is a different experience in September and December.

But with a little forethought and some predictions on who will improve, a clearer picture emerges of who faces the toughest road in 2005.

1. New England Patriots

The world champs already have a target on their back, they play in the last season's toughest division and they drew a tough NFC South out-of-conference schedule. Their September slate, which includes trips to Carolina and Pittsburgh, is brutal and they haven't played well at the beginning of the last two seasons. With all these older veterans, who knows how many healthy bodies they'll have by October. Of course, Bill Belichick can pick a cornerback off the street and win with him in the lineup three days later. The team that should offer a break, the 2-14 Dolphins, actually beat them last year and now has Nick Saban, the one coach who knows Belichick better than anyone.

2. San Diego Chargers

Marty Schottenheimer gets a dose of karma for beating a group of cupcakes last year. Not only do the Chargers play both Super Bowl participants, they travel to Indy, visit divisional rival Oakland on a short week following a Monday night game against Pittsburgh, and go to New York after the Jets have a bye week, which is usually a strong game for Gang Green.

3. Denver Broncos

The Broncos have lousy luck in their non-divisional AFC games -- at Buffalo in December and a trip to young-and-improving Jacksonville -- and a potentially difficult out-of-conference schedule against the NFC East. The Cowboys and 'Skins both could bust out, and who knows what Eli Manning can do with the Giants. Denver feasted early on the AFC West last season, but suffered late losses to the Chiefs, Raiders and Chargers. All three of those teams also have a chance to be better in '05.

4. Atlanta Falcons

Michael Vick and the gang enjoy the Monday night spotlight three times, and often an inferior team can get extra fired up when it hears that silly Hank Williams Jr. song. So those three games could get tougher if Atlanta jumps out and becomes a frontrunner. The South should be the toughest NFC Division once the Panthers get healthy. The Bucs and Saints are both question marks; sweeping either of those series is difficult.

5. Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins' 2005 opponents won a league-leading 54.7 percent of their games last year. That's what happens when all of your division opponents have winning records. The only reason Miami isn't higher is because its last-place record set it up for matchups with Tennessee and Cleveland. But the 'Fins still face challenging games against the four NFC South teams, and the beginning of their schedule, when Saban is still getting his feet wet, is very tough. They might not get their first win until Week 7 or beyond.

**Bowser** · 04-13-2005, 10:19 PM

You think Vermeil is silently cursing that the Chiefs aren't on that list?

Mile High Mania · 04-13-2005, 10:21 PM

I know that BigChiefFan is doing that right now...

**Dunit35** · 04-13-2005, 10:21 PM

it wouldnt surprize me a bit if the Pats fall apart this year...I'd be shocked if they did anything this year.....then everyone will realize it was his coordinaters that won the rings...

|Zach| · 04-13-2005, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunit35

it wouldnt surprize me a bit if the Pats fall apart this year...I'd be shocked if they did anything this year.....then everyone will realize it was his coordinaters that won the rings...

The idea that any credit could be taken away from their Superbowl's the past few years is amazing to me.

**Bowser** · 04-13-2005, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunit35

it wouldnt surprize me a bit if the Pats fall apart this year...I'd be shocked if they did anything this year.....then everyone will realize it was his coordinaters that won the rings...

Fall apart? I don't think so. Be nowhere as dominate, but still competitive? Yeah.

**Nzoner** · 04-13-2005, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

You think Vermeil is silently cursing that the Chiefs aren't on that list?

The Chiefs made the NFL Network list during the schedule show that was replayed tonight,as I recall they were #4,however,that was totally based on last years teams and not the predictions of who will get better as stated in this article.

|Zach| · 04-13-2005, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bowser

Fall apart? I don't think so. Be nowhere as dominate, but still competitive? Yeah.

I agree

**Bowser** · 04-13-2005, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nzoner 338

The Chiefs made the NFL Network list during the schedule show that was replayed tonight,as I recall they were #4,however,that was totally based on last years teams and not the predictions of who will get better as stated in this article.

Yeah, coming out with lists like this is nearly as assinine as mock drafts. Nobody knows what is going to happen.

patteeu · 04-13-2005, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunit35

it wouldnt surprize me a bit if the Pats fall apart this year...I'd be shocked if they did anything this year.....then everyone will realize it was his coordinaters that won the rings...

If they fall apart this year, it will prove that they were nothing but a paper tiger all along.

04-13-2005, 10:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

If they fall apart this year, it will prove that they were nothing but a paper tiger all along.

Heh heh - yeah.

You knew the Patriots were gonna win the next couple superbowls as soon as 9/11 happened.

BigChiefFan · 04-13-2005, 10:56 PM

It's impossible to gauge how difficult the schedule is without them playing the games first.

**alanm** · 04-13-2005, 11:00 PM

Atlanta gets 3 MNF games!! WTF? Watch Vick break his leg again and the Falcons go 4-12. MNF games have been a joke lately. When are they going to go with the revised schedule like they were talking about or has that idea been shelved?

Mile High Mania · 04-13-2005, 11:10 PM

I understand why they got 3 ... the NFL wants VICK on prime time as much as possible. It happens.

BigChiefFan · 04-13-2005, 11:14 PM

"they drew a tough NFC South out-of-conference schedule."

Man, that is brutal. LOL. Oh who am I fooling the NFC South kicked our ass last year.

04-13-2005, 10:14 PM
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $5346768	SI: The five hardest 2005 schedules in the NFL http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...les/index.html Andrew Perloff In today's parity-laden NFL, strength-of-schedule statistics don't mean what they used to. You just don't know what that Week 8 contest against a team that finished 4-12 the year before really means. With turnaround teams like last season's Chargers lurking, there are no guaranteed easy matchups. The details of the schedule itself can also make things tougher or easier. Hosting the Dolphins or visiting the Bills is a different experience in September and December. But with a little forethought and some predictions on who will improve, a clearer picture emerges of who faces the toughest road in 2005. 1. New England Patriots The world champs already have a target on their back, they play in the last season's toughest division and they drew a tough NFC South out-of-conference schedule. Their September slate, which includes trips to Carolina and Pittsburgh, is brutal and they haven't played well at the beginning of the last two seasons. With all these older veterans, who knows how many healthy bodies they'll have by October. Of course, Bill Belichick can pick a cornerback off the street and win with him in the lineup three days later. The team that should offer a break, the 2-14 Dolphins, actually beat them last year and now has Nick Saban, the one coach who knows Belichick better than anyone. 2. San Diego Chargers Marty Schottenheimer gets a dose of karma for beating a group of cupcakes last year. Not only do the Chargers play both Super Bowl participants, they travel to Indy, visit divisional rival Oakland on a short week following a Monday night game against Pittsburgh, and go to New York after the Jets have a bye week, which is usually a strong game for Gang Green. 3. Denver Broncos The Broncos have lousy luck in their non-divisional AFC games -- at Buffalo in December and a trip to young-and-improving Jacksonville -- and a potentially difficult out-of-conference schedule against the NFC East. The Cowboys and 'Skins both could bust out, and who knows what Eli Manning can do with the Giants. Denver feasted early on the AFC West last season, but suffered late losses to the Chiefs, Raiders and Chargers. All three of those teams also have a chance to be better in '05. 4. Atlanta Falcons Michael Vick and the gang enjoy the Monday night spotlight three times, and often an inferior team can get extra fired up when it hears that silly Hank Williams Jr. song. So those three games could get tougher if Atlanta jumps out and becomes a frontrunner. The South should be the toughest NFC Division once the Panthers get healthy. The Bucs and Saints are both question marks; sweeping either of those series is difficult. 5. Miami Dolphins The Dolphins' 2005 opponents won a league-leading 54.7 percent of their games last year. That's what happens when all of your division opponents have winning records. The only reason Miami isn't higher is because its last-place record set it up for matchups with Tennessee and Cleveland. But the 'Fins still face challenging games against the four NFC South teams, and the beginning of their schedule, when Saban is still getting his feet wet, is very tough. They might not get their first win until Week 7 or beyond.
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04-13-2005, 10:19 PM	#2
Bowser sorta mod-ish Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: KC North Casino cash: $3481616	You think Vermeil is silently cursing that the Chiefs aren't on that list?
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04-13-2005, 10:21 PM	#3
Mile High Mania #triggering Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Tejas Casino cash: $3727229	I know that BigChiefFan is doing that right now... __________________
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04-13-2005, 10:56 PM	#12
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	It's impossible to gauge how difficult the schedule is without them playing the games first. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
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04-13-2005, 11:00 PM	#13
alanm Feeling Victorian Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Nebraska/Wyoming/Colorado Casino cash: $1886436	Atlanta gets 3 MNF games!! WTF? Watch Vick break his leg again and the Falcons go 4-12. MNF games have been a joke lately. When are they going to go with the revised schedule like they were talking about or has that idea been shelved? __________________ It bears repeating, ** Herm, Pioli, Haley, and Crennel for ing up my franchise for a goddamn decade. Buehler 445**
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04-13-2005, 10:21 PM	#4
Dunit35 Keepin it Real Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oklahoma Casino cash: $1587045	it wouldnt surprize me a bit if the Pats fall apart this year...I'd be shocked if they did anything this year.....then everyone will realize it was his coordinaters that won the rings...
Posts: 10,488

04-13-2005, 11:10 PM	#14
Mile High Mania #triggering Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Tejas Casino cash: $3727229	I understand why they got 3 ... the NFL wants VICK on prime time as much as possible. It happens. __________________
Posts: 30,252

04-13-2005, 11:14 PM	#15
BigChiefFan MVP Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: In the Top 10 Casino cash: $9924205	"they drew a tough NFC South out-of-conference schedule." Man, that is brutal. LOL. Oh who am I fooling the NFC South kicked our ass last year. __________________ A 35 year drought can make you thirsty.
Posts: 15,777