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Scheduling Conflict By Ron Jumper The NFL has tried to create a league of parity and equal opportunity with the salary cap and all of the other restrictions added in over the years. However, has it gone too far? When the NFL released the regular season schedule, did they virtually already decide who was going to have a good year and who wasn’t? There is really nothing you can do to change who you play every week, so teams just have to live with what they get (the lottery is the NBA equivalent, with the latest bouncing of ping pong balls forcing me to stay up late and catch the West Coast Oden/Durant game for the next 15 years). Before you say the NFL is for or against certain teams, there are plenty of good things done with the schedule that the fans enjoy. The yearly tradition of the Colts-Patriots rivalry is a can’t miss game, it guarantees a week of saying, “who would you rather have? Manning or Brady?” Personally, I would take…just kidding, we’ll save that for another time. There is also the traditional Thanksgiving Day games, where Dallas and Green Bay are always among the teams playing on this holiday. This year offers a triple-header sure to drive every woman in America crazy, as the men will stay glued to the screen throughout the day. First, there is Green Bay-Detroit, which could be Favre’s last appearance on Turkey Day (it could also be a lot of fans first chance to catch a glimpse of rookie wideout Calvin Johnson). The second game is Jets-Cowboys, no explanation needed because Dallas is still America’s team. The last game is Colts-Falcons, offering an exciting Manning-Vick shootout. My point in all of this is that sometimes other teams catch a bad break in the schedule so we, the fans, can have these great games to watch. As you’ll soon see, that doesn’t mean I don’t think some of the scheduling quirks were more than just a coincidence. Am I crazy, or does my theory have any merit? Take a look: Arizona Cardinals The Cardinals have a nice new stadium and Golden Boy Matt Leinart as the new face of the franchise. Did the NFL throw them a bone when the Cardinals were only scheduled to play 3 teams on their schedule with a winning record the entire season? They play Seattle (who is in their division), @Baltimore, and @New Orleans. After that it is cupcake city: @Washington (5-11) @Tampa Bay (4-12) *This is even coming from an avid Bucs fan vs. Detroit (3-13) vs. Cleveland (4-12) That doesn’t even include two division games a piece against San Francisco and St. Louis, both of whom did not make the postseason nor have a winning record in 2006. Maybe I’m crazy, but I’d call that a favorable schedule. Baltimore Ravens Through the first 11 weeks, the Ravens get a pretty normal schedule. However, they have an unmerciful home stretch to end the season: Wk 12: @San Diego (14-2) Wk 13: vs. New England (12-4) Wk 14: vs. Indianapolis (12-4) Wk 15: @ Miami (6-10) Wk 16: @Seattle (9-7) Wk 17: vs. Pittsburgh (8-8) That is just mean, sorry Baltimore but you can kiss homefield advantage in the playoffs goodbye. You will be lucky to stumble into the postseason with that schedule, which is just short of a death sentence, to finish the season. Buffalo Bills The Bills season will be over before it even starts. The first team they play with a losing record isn’t until Week 10! Even then, it is @Miami and I bet the Dolphins have that game marked down as projected W. Take a look at the first 9 weeks: Wk 1: vs. Denver (9-7) Wk 2: @ Pittsburgh (8-8) Wk 3: @ New England (12-4) Wk 4: vs. New York Jets (10-6) Wk 5: vs. Dallas (9-7) Wk 6: BYE Wk 7: vs. Baltimore (13-3) Wk 8: @ New York Jets (10-6) Wk 9: vs. Cincinnati (8-8) The kicker is that the later part of their schedule isn’t exactly easy, with the Patriots, Jaguars, Giants, and Eagles still remaining. They are without question the odds on favorite to have the first pick in the draft. (While normally I wouldn’t care how Buffalo did, this season the bottom feeders of the league have new meaning to me. Stud Razorback RB Darren McFadden is the likely #1 pick in the 2008 draft. I would hate to have to suffer through Bills games for the next decade just to watch him play.) Carolina Panthers As long as Carolina is healthy, the Panthers will return to the postseason come playoff time. Outside their division, they only play one game against a team who had 10 wins or more in 2006 (they get the Colts at home, no less). Take a look at some of the cupcakes: vs. Houston (6-10) @ Arizona (5-11) @ Tennessee (8-8) @ Green Bay (8-8) vs. San Francisco (7-9) That doesn’t include getting my Bucs (4-12) twice as well. Expect an epic battle between the Panthers and Saints for NFC South supremacy. Denver Broncos The Broncos catch a break with their schedule, besides getting Oakland twice every year in their division. It also will probably be a down year for Kansas City, as they should struggle offensively to create any balance. However, outside of their division is where it gets a little silly. They get to play: @ Buffalo (7-9) vs. Green Bay (8-8) @ Detroit (3-13) vs. Tennessee (8-8) @ Houston (6-10) vs. Minnesota (6-10) That is 10 wins right there, if they can steal a win from San Diego, Indianapolis, or Chicago they could have a great season out in Denver. Expect Jay Cutler to be the new Ben Roethlisberger, in that he just manages the game and doesn’t make mistakes but becomes a very popular young QB. Green Bay Packers The Packers would have hoped to have had a better chance to send Favre out on a good note. However, this is going to be an ugly season in Green Bay. Chalk up 2 losses against Chicago in the division. Plan on 3 more against Philadelphia, San Diego, and Denver. More than likely the Panthers, Giants, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Rams will give Favre’s club another defeat. If they get lucky and split the season series with Detroit and Minnesota, you’re looking at a 3-13 or 4-12 season. If they get 5 or 6 wins, I will be impressed. I wouldn’t be shocked if we get to see a little more of Aaron Rodgers than the fans would like. (A lot of this being an ugly season is their own fault, as they had an awful offseason. Losing Ahman Green, not getting Randy Moss, and having a mediocre-at-best draft all leads up to them being almost even with the Bills in the McFadden sweepstakes.) Jacksonville Jaguars The Jaguars get a favorable start to the season, if you take a look at their schedule. They only play one playoff team in their first 5 games, which is Kansas City after a bye week. They should be around 4-1 through 6 weeks. The defining game of their season is in week 7, where they get to take on reigning Super Bowl champion and division rival Indianapolis Colts at home. If they can win that game, they could put themselves in the thick of the AFC playoff race. I kid you not, the Jaguars have a legit chance of becoming an elite team this season. They also get Tampa Bay, Tennessee, Buffalo, Oakland, and Houston on the back end of their schedule. Honestly tell me they couldn’t win 10 games with this easy schedule. Kansas City Chiefs The Chiefs face a double-edged sword, do we try to win now with Damon Huard or develop Brodie Croyle? I would develop Croyle, but that comes with a price. The Chiefs start the season with a schedule unfavorable for a young QB, as 3 of their first 4 games are on the road. The kicker is that, after week 1 at Houston, they face 4 straight Top 10 Fantasy Defenses. There are better ways for a young QB to get up to speed in the NFL than what Croyle would have to face if he won the starting gig. New England Patriots The Patriots, on paper, are hands down the most talented team in the league. However, their schedule may cause them to not have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Half of their games are against teams who made the playoffs in 2006! Talk about a tough schedule, and that doesn’t even include a pair against an improved Miami team, a home game against Pittsburgh, and a road game at Cincinnati. That is 12 games against legitimate teams. Other than two games against Buffalo and a home game against Cleveland, the Patriots will be in a dogfight every week. I love their chances once the postseason begins, but don’t expect a 15-1 or 14-2 regular season record. The schedule just doesn’t allow it. Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Bucs have an interesting schedule. It certainly isn’t as hard as last year’s brutal schedule. Their first 5 games are pretty tough: Wk 1: @ Seattle (9-7) Wk 2: vs. New Orleans (10-6) Wk 3: vs. St. Louis (8-8) Wk 4: @ Carolina (8-8) Wk 5: @ Indianapolis (12-4) If they can survive that stretch and just be even 2-3, the rest of their schedule is pretty easy. They only play one team with a winning record in the last 11 games of the season. This is a team with a lot of holes but, with a wide open NFC, they could make some noise with this easy schedule. You never know, veterans like Derrick Brooks, Simeon Rice, Ronde Barber, Brian Kelly, and Joey Galloway might have something left in the tank. July 9, 2007 |
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Be Careful What You Wish For
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Jumpology: My Bracket Jumpology: Scouting The Heavyweights Jumpology: Reviewing The Bracket
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