Let's talk about the Buccaneers

[Bearcat]

Originally Posted by TEX

Only opponents are determined based on records and divisions rotate. However, where and when you play a team is left up to the schedule makers. Plenty of room for manipulation. Often times is not who you play, but where and when. Look at KC / Denver this year - you think that's an accident?

Location is determined by the rotations, too... the confusion comes in because there are multiple rotations, so people get bent out of shape when they find out the Chiefs have played whichever team on the road multiple times in a row, yet don't understand one of those times was because they're playing every team in that division and another time is because they were both first place teams the previous year.... or one year was the NFCS division and the following was the 17th game, which can be on different location rotations.

It's not the simplest thing to figure out by simply looking at the schedule, but it is planned and not knowing the plan doesn't mean everything is rigged and manipulated.

That only leaves when you play teams, and your example of the Broncos is a bad one because the league has made it abundantly clear that December is heavy on divisional games. People might cry that Brady doesn't play in Green Bay in December.... well, no shit, he's playing a bunch of NFCS teams in December just like the Chiefs play a bunch of AFCW games.

And sure, besides that, there's a chance the NFL could manipulate the schedule to help certain teams or whatever... or maybe some people will always find something to bitch about, because the NFL always seems to be so against whichever team they root for.