I Can't get Over how Brutal our schedule is

[DaBruinz]

But we're also playing three playoff teams from the NFC.

I jus think that it's amazing how it can work out that we play so many playoff teams in one year.

This will be no different than in 2003 when the Pats played 10 games against teams with 10 wins or more.

 

[zippo59]

This will be no different than in 2003 when the Pats played 10 games against teams with 10 wins or more.

I remember the Patriots had a very hard schedule that year but they rose to the occasion. Hopefully they will do the same this year.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

If I had to handicap it today, I'd say that 12 wins would be impressive. Let's wait til August, tho, when we know a little more...

 

[#56300ex]

I have to agree with all the posters that state, "it's too early to tell". Who knew the Steelers would suck so bad after winning the SB? It's impossible to tell how brutal a schedule really is until at least 3 or 4 weeks into the season.

 

[jbhiggy]

Next year we play 7 out of the 11 other teams that were in the playoffs last year!

Im sure someone else said this, but there is no easy schedule in the NFL anymore. Any given Sunday man.

 

[VJCPatriot]

So what? We're probably still going to go 14-2.
Look at what the Colts went through last year. I think because they had to gut out a few tough wins during the regular season they were a lot more mentally tough than Colts teams of the past come playoff time. I think that helped em get over the hump.

So if this Pats team can learn from the tough games this year I think that will make them all the more prepared come playoff time. Remember not all the guys on this team have a ring yet. They need to be battle tested and ready come January.

 

[jczxohn1]

IMO, the schedule is the unspoken reason for BB/Pioli's splash in the FA market. Keeping it all together wasn't going to be good enough in '07. If it all pans out,(it's difficult to incorporate so many new faces in a complex system), we should do as least as well as last year. The consistency of the O-line and D-line will be our main strengths and the keys for play-makers in both backfields.

 

[TealSox]

Don't worry yourself too much...

First of all...

4 teams have new head coaches (San Diego, Pittsburg, Dallas and Miami)

Buffalo took a hit with the departure of Clements, McGahee and London Fletcher. Now I hear they might ship out Spikes as well.

Dolphins have yet to decide what to do about the QB position. I don't see Ronnie Brown ever becoming a pro bowl back in this league. They trade McMichael and Welker. The defense can only do so much.

Jets have an above average offense now with Jones at RB and Cotchery coming along last season. Big IF on the healthy of Pennington and whether it will allow him to play all 16 games. The defense doesn't scare me, only Mangini's game plan.

NFC EAST is unpredictable. Washington has Brunell at QB, which is a liability. I wonder if Romo can repeat what little he did to earn a pro bowl spot last season and when TO will have another blow up. Philly is a good team. An addition here and there and they will be a contender. No problems with them. And the Giants? Lame duck coach. Lost Barber. Eli is even easier to beat than his brother.

Baltimore has McNair, but this isn't the TEN McNair. This is the close to retirement McNair. McGahee is huge for the offense and so is that defense. Tough team and the Pats have to go on the road.

Indy hasn't improved and the Pats have. Both games last year were close and I think they will again with different endings. Just an opinion.

San Diego is a very talented team, but Norv is at the helm. AJ Smith is a hell of a GM and I expect the draft to work out good for them. Pats at home, this game will be close.

I wonder how Pit will play under a new coach and without Porter on defense.

Cincy players just need to stay out of trouble. Hope the Pats get a healthy Harrison or draft a safety to hold down Palmers arm.

Cleveland is slowly coming along. Bad deal for Reuben Droughns. Pats should roll over them.

 

[Patriot Missile]

This will be no different than in 2003 when the Pats played 10 games against teams with 10 wins or more.

From this fan's stand point, 2003 was the best because of the schedule. Those Pat's played a brutal schedule and took on all comers. I was elated after wiining the Super Bowl and looking back and saying to myself,"How the hell did they do that?"

Hopefully 07 will be the same with a couple of more wins than 03 lol

 

[jgb95]

Who's the talented QB in PIT??

Big Ben stinks!!!!!

Now Casron is a very good QB.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

We deserve to have a tough schedule, we're one of the best teams. Would you rather we had a schedule against all the losers?

Yes!

If you want to be iron, you must play iron.

Simple as that.

 

[Gunnails]

Im sure someone else said this, but there is no easy schedule in the NFL anymore. Any given Sunday man.

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True that, Pats schedule is not any harder then the rest of the teams in the AFCE.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

I just want to correct a little misinformation. One person said the Skins watsed a 1st on Jason Campbell while another stated that they had Brunell at QB. Campbell is Washington's starting QB next year and it's too soon to know how he'll turn out. Yes, I am looking forward the NE crushing the Redskins.

=======================================

True that, Pats schedule is not any harder then the rest of the teams in the AFCE.

Yes it is. NE plays SD and Indy while the Jets play KC and Tenn.

 

[Amnorix]

First off, in any given division the schedule is exactly the same for all teams in the division, except for TWO games. In other words the last place team has the same opponents as the first place team, except for 2 opponents.

Second, under the NFL's schedule system, it's automatic that every team will play AT LEAST four first place teams (automatically playoff teams).

Third, our schedule was very SOFT last year, and we blew it by failing to secure HFA throughout the playoffs with it, so too bad for us that this year's schedule might be a bit harder.

 

[marty]

I have to agree with all the posters that state, "it's too early to tell". Who knew the Steelers would suck so bad after winning the SB? It's impossible to tell how brutal a schedule really is until at least 3 or 4 weeks into the season.

I agree with your "too early to tell", however there was a few people who felt that the Steelers were a bit overrated as SB champs to begin with and were not so surprised with last years results. Rarely do teams repeat their performances year to year. The Chargers had two good years in 05/06, but now they'll have to deal with some major coach/player losses like a few other teams. So it's difficult to truly say how tough a schedule is until your into it somewhat. Besides, I'm of the camp that the tougher schedule "seasons" your players for the "big dance"!!!

 

[godef]

Mythbuster

And of course we want to have a first-place schedule.

OK, time once again to bust that myth.

Yes, the Pats play a "first-place schedule", but a first-place schedule does NOT confer any disadvantage over a second-, third- or fourth-pace schedule. The differences between difficult and easy schedules among teams in the league has EVERYTHING to do with the varying quality among teams in the various divisions.

So what is the difference between the Dolphins and Pats schedule in 2007? OK, while we play Indy and San Diego, they play Houston and Oakland. Big advantage for the Miami, right?

But what other difference is there between the Dolphins and Pats schedules? We play 4th place Miami twice, whereas they have to play the dynastic Patriots twice.

Alright, so you say Miami is tough, and this does not make up for the other difference. But this has nothing to do with the 1st place schedule, but rather with the coincidence that our division just happened to have the best 4th place team.

The point being is that the NFL schedule is set up such that ALL teams play 4 times against 1st-place teams, 4 times against 2nd-place teams, 4 times against 3rd-place teams and 4 times against 4th-place teams, all based on the standings from the prior season. NO EXCEPTIONS!

The only inequity in this setup is that you may place 3 of the 4 1st place teams on the road and 1 at home, or vice versa. But again, this has nothing to do with the position that the team ended up in.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Third, our schedule was very SOFT last year, and we blew it by failing to secure HFA throughout the playoffs with it, so too bad for us that this year's schedule might be a bit harder.

That's a myth based on the 2005 results. The truth was a little different:

Compiled from http://www.playoffstatus.com/ (an amazing site I just saw a link to today!):

2006 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
1. Titans
2. Bills
3. Bengals
4. Giants
5. Donkeys
6. Dolts
7. Doofins
8. Jaguars
9. PATRIOTS
10. Buccaneers

 

[frankiesfly]

Next year we play 7 out of the 11 other teams that were in the playoffs last year! Because we play the Jets twice that means that we play 8 games against teams that were in the playoffs the year before.

Not only that, we also have to play teams that had a down year but always among the best in the league, like the Steelers and the Bengals. They both finished 8-8 but have good QB's as well as talented teams, so they are very capable of rebounding from last year.

Another team I would not discount are the Bills. They have a QB who finally started to play like a first round pick at the end of last year, have added to their offensive line, and despite their losses they still have some good young players on defense. Plus it seems like their pass rush always gets to Brady. I wouldn't say I'm scared of the Bills but they are capable of making our lives harder.

And then of course there are the Dolphins who are always tough for us and even though their offense has a lot of holes they have a good defense. Even when they ave terrible teams they often find ways to beat us, and it seems like most have come to expect a split with them each season.

Sorry to say but i totally disagree. The Bills who just made some of the worst off season moves I ever seen arent going anywhere. The Dolphins still dont have a QB, Culpepper sucks. If anyone in the division you should be worried about is the Jets. They are getting better every year and now have a decent RB, and a coach that knows BB. The Dolphins gave us a hard time because of Saban being familiar with BB also. There really is no big threat in our division.

 

[bosshog]

DOLPHINS (x2): This is a team that needs to rebuild. And its going to take more than 4 years to do it. Why? Because they are missing so many pieces now and in that time, they will probably also lose Taylor and Thomas to retirement. Cam Cameron has been given a thankless job and really has an uphill battle. I think the Pats take both of these.


uhhh that wont happen, Pats are gonna be a little worse this year than last, thats just my opinion, too many changes

 

[DarrylS]

Once again it is March and we are just under 6 months from kick off a lot of stuff happens inbetween..

With this being said for some reason we play better against the better teams, not sure why as it has always mistified me.. but without regard, we are a very good team and deserve to play other good teams.