Based on this year, next year's schedule could be a doozy...

[JSn]

Besides improved Jets and Phins teams (and who knows about the Bills) we play:

Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans, Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Bucs and one opponent from both the AFC North and West.

Sure hope we get our defense and running game sorted out.

Big coaching changes could be rough, hopefully it's only on D.

Upside we'll have a lot of injured guys back and that could mean a world of difference.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Besides improved Jets and Phins teams (and who knows about the Bills) we play:

Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans, Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Bucs and one opponent from both the AFC North and West.

Sure hope we get our defense and running game sorted out.

Big coaching changes could be rough, hopefully it's only on D.

Upside we'll have a lot of injured guys back and that could mean a world of difference.

The problem with claims like this is that there's almost the unstated assumption that it's this team playing them next year. Yes, there are a lot of decent teams on that list, but remember that the Pats will also improve between now and next September.

 

[JSn]

The problem with claims like this is that there's almost the unstated assumption that it's this team playing them next year. Yes, there are a lot of decent teams on that list, but remember that the Pats will also improve between now and next September.

Absolutely. By "based on this year" I'm referring to the way most of those teams are playing right now, not ours.

 

[BelichickFan]

I've stopped looking ahead, teams change far too much and far too quickly. And with respect to the division our schedule should be EASIER than The Jest's if they win the division as their AFCN/W opponent will, in theory, be tougher than ours. If we finish second, they will get Pittsburgh and Denver to our Baltimore and SD (no clue how SD will do as they'll almost certainly have a new HC). On the off chance we finish 3rd we'd get Cleveland and either Oakland or KC.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

It looks like the Pats will round out the schedule with Baltimore and San Diego (assuming that everyone ends up in 2nd place in their respective divisions).

 

[Jimke]

The best chance the Patriots have of winning the Super Bowl

is having to play a tough schedule. A cupcake schedule doesn't

prepare them for winning a championship.

 

[billdog3484]

I dont really care who we play, so long as we have #12 back behind center. Cassel's a nice young QB, but come on, theres no comparison between he and Brady

 

[Rob0729]

Considering this year's schedule has turned out to be far harder than it was expected coming into the season, why would we even consider how hard next year's schedule will be?

 

[Deus Irae]

Considering this year's schedule has turned out to be far harder than it was expected coming into the season, why would we even consider how hard next year's schedule will be?

I'm not sure that this year's schedule has really been that much harder than was expected.

 

[Sivy]

The best chance the Patriots have of winning the Super Bowl

is having to play a tough schedule. A cupcake schedule doesn't

prepare them for winning a championship.

The best chance the patriots have of winning a superbowl, is having tom brady.

 

[BradyManny]

Besides improved Jets and Phins teams (and who knows about the Bills) we play:

Colts, Jaguars, Texans, Titans, Falcons, Saints, Panthers, Bucs and one opponent from both the AFC North and West.

Sure hope we get our defense and running game sorted out.

Big coaching changes could be rough, hopefully it's only on D.

Upside we'll have a lot of injured guys back and that could mean a world of difference.

Good to take a look ahead...I think on paper it looks pretty brutal right now, but by the time next year rolls around and Brady is healthy again, it could be that the Giants & Colts are still the only teams that really are threats. A lot of those teams in the NFC could be pretenders when they face a team like the Brady-led Pats.

 

[mgteich]

I agree. Playing the 8 teams against the West is rather amazing.

I also don't think we'd have a winning record against next year's teams if we played them this year, even with BALT and SD instead of DEN and PITT.

I'm not sure that this year's schedule has really been that much harder than was expected.

 

[Two Eight]

I know there's a reason but I forget...why do we keep playing the Colts every year? (and do we get them at home next year?)

 

[Rob0729]

I'm not sure that this year's schedule has really been that much harder than was expected.

I think it has. The AFC East was supposed to be a cake walk with six games against teams that wouldn't even make .500 or at least would be barely over .500 in one or two cases. The NFC West is as bad as advertised. AFC West is worse at least for San Deigo, not KC or Oakland. The Steelers are probably better than expected. The Colts are probably worse.

I guess you can argue that isn't worlds harder, but I think it is significantly harder at least in the AFC East since many people had both the Dolphins and Jets sub .500 while both should be north of .500.

Remember when Brady went down and people were saying that the Pats would still win the AFC East because "Who in the East are good enough to actually take it away from the Pats even without Brady"?

 

[RunOut]

Now I'm excited--looks like the Pats will be coming here to New Orleans. It'll be the first time I get to see them live. Now I'll just need to pick up a new jersey...

 

[WhiZa]

I know there's a reason but I forget...why do we keep playing the Colts every year? (and do we get them at home next year?)

That's just the way the schedule is setup. Here's a good site at showing how the schedule unfolded the past 7 years: johnnyroadtrip.com - NFL Schedule 2002-2009

From 2004-2006 we played the colts/afc south at home. Now from 2007-2009 we play the Colts/afc south away. It is even.

 

[juny]

The best chance the patriots have of winning a superbowl, is having tom brady.

Well said.