2007 schedule to be released April 5th

[PatsMyBoyz!]

No, in recent history the NFL has come to its senses and realized that it is a total waste to blow a marquee matchup on the opener, which will get ratings anyway. Thus we have the SB champ playing non-playoff teams:
Steelers vs. Dolphins
Patriots vs. Raiders

If you are wondering who the Colts will open with, consider any home opponent except the Patriots.

I should have read ahead before replying! This is better

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

I should have read ahead before replying! This is better

My bet is Tenn or Denver, depending on which young QB the league wants to showcase as the next Peyton. Considering the way Tenn finished, it might be a nice way to give V. Young some national exposure.....

 

[PatsSox363804]

Colts vs Saints is my bet.

 

[letekro]

Not being a betting man myself, there is no way that the Pats open on Thursday night. It has everything to do with tv contracts. NBC would not want such a high ratings game to start the new season because they already know that the opener will get high ratings (ie. if the Lions and the Raiders played that game they would get high ratings on opening night). NBC can cash in later in the season with the Pats and Dolts match up and they more than likely will elect to do so.

I'm not so sure about this.

If Pats-Colts would generate ratings that would exceed the ratings for an average opener (i.e., Colts-Chiefs) by a larger margin than the average opener would exceed the ratings for a Lions-Raiders opener, than why wouldn't NBC go for the premium matchup? Especially, where NBC has no guarantee that it will get the Pats-Colts matchup later on. Additionally, history shows us that the NFL features a compelling matchup on opening weekend. 3 years ago it was a rematch of the AFC champ.; 2 years ago it was us against Randy Moss in his first game as a Raider, and last year it was the defending champs against everybody's super bowl sleeper, the Dolphins.

If NBC could assure itself of championship game-level ratings, why would it matter whether it got those ratings in week 1 or week 12? I'm making the assumption that Pats-Colts would greatly outperform other matchups because it would likely draw in the casual fan, whereas Detroit-Oakland, or even Indy-KC would not.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Hope it's not the Pats on Thursday. Let another team take that tough game.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

$100 says the Pats open vs Indy in the Thursday night NFL season kick-off game.

OK, Bread of Life bet?

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

I have kept flip floping about this, but Im going to say no way we open at Indy.. The China trip is makes it for a long pre season I do see a early bye for us, and maybee we have the bye before the Colts game.. My guess we open at Baltimore on Sunday nite..

 

[Seymour93]

Especially, where NBC has no guarantee that it will get the Pats-Colts matchup later on.

Flex scheduling doesn't take into effect until Week 10.