2008 schedule release thread [merged] - Page 11 - New England Patriots Forums

***Rob0729*** · 04-15-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePats

I don't think it's that bad. Bye week before San Fran, who is awful, and before the Chargers game, and then an extra day before the Denver game. Then a home game against another bad team.

The 2nd one is rough but it ends with the Raiders, who are dreadful, and then a home game against Arizona. It could have been a lot worse IMO.

Except you are assuming that neither San Fran nor Oakland will be significantly better than last year. Even though they haven't had a great history, there is no way you can count on this. For all we know, both could end up being playoff teams.

And before you laugh, what would have been your reaction before the 2006 season if someone told you that the Saints would be in the NFC Championships? Or before last season that the Giants would be playing the Packers for the NFC Championships and the Giants would go on to win the Super Bowl? And Tiki Barber didn't decide to come out of retirement.

VJCPatriot · 04-15-2008, 01:35 PM

I could easily see a 4-0 start and a 14-2 season looking at this schedule. And that's if the Patriots don't perform above expectations. No wonder ESPN said we had a creampuff schedule.

***ALP*** · 04-15-2008, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bostonia3333

This is the most bizarre schedule I have seen in quite some time. I am exhausted just looking at it. I see 13-3 and a very tired team entering the playoffs. Honestly, I don't feel overjoyed

if we dont have either 1 or 2 seeds and a bye week....well be a VERY tired team in the playoffs....

but a 13-3 should assure us of either 1 or 2 seed i believe

JoePats · 04-15-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob0729

Except you are assuming that neither San Fran nor Oakland will be significantly better than last year. Even though they haven't had a great history, there is no way you can count on this. For all we know, both could end up being playoff teams.

And before you laugh, what would have been your reaction before the 2006 season if someone told you that the Saints would be in the NFC Championships? Or before last season that the Giants would be playing the Packers for the NFC Championships and the Giants would go on to win the Super Bowl? And Tiki Barber didn't decide to come out of retirement.

Don't disagree but there's no other way to evaluate the schedule at this point. And Drew Brees and Eli are better than Alex Smith and JaMarcus Russell. This is not at all debatable.

fnordcircle · 04-15-2008, 01:40 PM

@49ers then @Chargers sucks so bad.

I also don't like that the two most talented teams on the schedule are both away games. Wish it could be split like last year. Ah well.

The scheduling committee didn't do this team any favors but that's still a favorable-looking schedule right now just due to the seeding system.

PrairiePat · 04-15-2008, 01:43 PM

Well, if we have to play 4 games on the West Coast anyhow, they might as well be grouped together to at least give the -option- to stay out there between games.

The early bye week is chomperrific though.

***KontradictioN*** · 04-15-2008, 01:47 PM

13-3 will be our best mark, 12-4 at the worst. All in all, our chances to be a #1 seed are still very good.

***Rob0729*** · 04-15-2008, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoePats

Don't disagree but there's no other way to evaluate the schedule at this point. And Drew Brees and Eli are better than Alex Smith and JaMarcus Russell. This is not at all debatable.

I don't know if you can say that. Russell is going into his first full year as a starter. He might turn some heads. As for the 49ers, if they can sure up their defense and Gore is healthy, Smith could be irrelevant.

***KontradictioN*** · 04-15-2008, 01:50 PM

I might be the only one around here that thinks that Alex Smith could be productive at the very least with a decent WR corps.

JoePats · 04-15-2008, 01:50 PM

What they should do with the bye weeks:

There are 8 divisions of 4 teams each. Have the bye weeks from week 4 thru week 11 and give each division the week off together. Rotate it every year. So you go from a week 4 bye to 5 to 6 to 7 etc...

If for tv purposes you can't do that, then split the divisions in pairs (ie Jets/Pats along with Saints/Panthers or something) always have the same bye, rotated every year.