Let's Discuss the 2007 Schedule

[mlmpetert]

So were playing AT tampa 2 years in a row now or 3?

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

So were playing AT tampa 2 years in a row now or 3?

Last 5 years:

2002 - DNP
2003, 2004 - home
2005, 2006, 2007 - @ Tampa

[Monkeydad]

AT Tampa AGAIN!?!?!?


Geesh.

Other than the early bye, I like the schedule. Giants, BYE, Detriot, Green Bay and Arizona will be a nice run to build momentum going into the New England game. In fact, I could see us going into that game with no losses, 2 max. The schedule looks pretty easy until the Pats game. Miami will have a great D, no offense. Philly is on a big decline. New York will be last in the NFC East this year. Lions, Packers, Cards need no explanation. Tampa, Buffalo, Vikes, another Giants game...all should be wins.

I love closing at home against Dallas.

I say 11-5.

[FRPLG]

At least we get CHi at home. They have to travel. We're both at home the game before.

[BigSKINBauer]

i hate those stupid thursday games. It is a huge disadvantage to the traveling team. The home team has a great advantage because they save time not traveling and get to practice while their opponent doesn't. They also get the next week as a long week to prepare against its next team. That is why i hate dallas always getting a thanksgiving game at home. It is unfair. It is an advantage they get every year.

We do get a long week before the giants and home field advantage. SO that is good

[GoSkins!]

Originally Posted by BigSKINBauer

i hate those stupid thursday games. It is a huge disadvantage to the traveling team. The home team has a great advantage because they save time not traveling and they get the next week as a long week to prepare against its next team. That is why i hate dallas always getting a thanksgiving game. It is unfair. It is an advantage they get every year.

We do get a long week before the giants and home field advantage. SO that is good

Having a few extra days to prepare and heal to play the Giants will be a good thing in December.

[GoSkins!]

It looks like we have a chance to start and end strong. The middle stretch of the schedule is pretty tough. (Pats, Jets, Eagles, Cowboys).

[FRPLG]

Strength of schedule really means nothing. The peformance of teams is so variable now that we could end up with the easiest schedule pretty easily. In 05 I think we ended up with a super hard schedule and going in it wasn't really that hard going by strength of schedule.

[Schneed10]

My first impression is that we're given the opportunity to set the tone for a good season by getting off to a good start. Three of our first four games are at home, two of which bracket the bye week. And all three of those home opponents aren't what I'd consider juggernauts (though I'll note the caveat of 'you never know').

The middle of the schedule gets pretty harsh as FRPLG pointed out, with 4 out of 5 games away from home.

Bears on a short week really hurts. But another plus, we never really travel much further west than the Mississippi. No west coast games, which eases on the jet lag. That's a factor that shouldn't be overlooked, we never used to play well in Arizona, for example.

All in all, seems like a fair and balanced schedule. And how can you not like Dallas for the final game!

[FRPLG]

why do we play TB every year? It makes no sense.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

why do we play TB every year? It makes no sense.

I won't complain...we can beat them every year if the refs cooperate with elbow calls.


We COULD be playing the Colts every year...so I won't complain.

[GMScud]

Shouldn't the Giants and the Dolphins both have their bye's week 7 considering they have to play week 8 IN FRIGGIN' LONDON?? That is so dumb. And it's considered a home game for the Dolphins! That would make me puke if I was a Fins fan. And as a Skins fan I'm glad the Giants have to play a game overseas...

[freddyg12]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

why do we play TB every year? It makes no sense.

As I recall, when the nfl realigned the divisions a few years back, the formula for determining out of divison games was to be based on 2 things in no particular order:
- geography, keep teams playing close to home to build regional rivalries, improve travel attendance
- won-loss records, we have been about equal to tampa in recent years so that's probably why we get them as opposed to Carolina, which is closer & would be a natural rivalry if we played them every year

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by freddyg12

As I recall, when the nfl realigned the divisions a few years back, the formula for determining out of divison games was to be based on 2 things in no particular order:
- geography, keep teams playing close to home to build regional rivalries, improve travel attendance
- won-loss records, we have been about equal to tampa in recent years so that's probably why we get them as opposed to Carolina, which is closer & would be a natural rivalry if we played them every year

No. The formula is:

- Every year, you play your division foes twice apiece, home and home.
- Each year, you rotate against an out of conference division. For example, year one, you play all four teams in the AFC East, as do the other teams in your division. The next year, you face the AFC North. And so on. This year, the AFC East squares off against the NFC East.
- Each year, you rotate against the 3 other divisions within your conference. This year, the NFC East faces the NFC North, and the NFC South faces the NFC West. You rotate this every year.

That makes a total of 14 common opponents between division rivals. It balances the schedule.

- The remaining two games on the schedule are against two teams from your conference, outside of your division, outside of the division you're already facing, and who finished the same place as you last year in their division. Last year, we were last in the NFC East. Last year, the Bucs were last in the NFC South. So we match up. We also match up against the Cards, who were last in the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Eagles (first in the NFC East) get the Saints (first in the south) and the Seahawks (first in the West).

So, the reason we've faced Tampa every year is simply luck of the draw. We've finished in the same place as them just about every year.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

No. The formula is:

- Every year, you play your division foes twice apiece, home and home.
- Each year, you rotate against an out of conference division. For example, year one, you play all four teams in the AFC East, as do the other teams in your division. The next year, you face the AFC North. And so on. This year, the AFC East squares off against the NFC East.
- Each year, you rotate against the 3 other divisions within your conference. This year, the NFC East faces the NFC North, and the NFC South faces the NFC West. You rotate this every year.

That makes a total of 14 common opponents between division rivals. It balances the schedule.

I knew that!

Originally Posted by Schneed10

- The remaining two games on the schedule are against two teams from your conference, outside of your division, outside of the division you're already facing, and who finished the same place as you last year in their division. Last year, we were last in the NFC East. Last year, the Bucs were last in the NFC South. So we match up. We also match up against the Cards, who were last in the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Eagles (first in the NFC East) get the Saints (first in the south) and the Seahawks (first in the West).

So, the reason we've faced Tampa every year is simply luck of the draw. We've finished in the same place as them just about every year.

I did NOT know that! Makes sense. Thanks!