Patriots have easiest schedule...

[VJCPatriot]

According to ESPN. Their scheduled opponents have a combined winning percentage of .387! Wow who thinks we can go 18-1 again?

 

[BelichickFan]

That doesn't include the insane amount of travel the team has but, yeah, short of surprise teams (which happens every year), it looks good on paper right now.

 

[TomBradyWoot]

Its because we play 1-15 Miami twice a year while other teams that play Miami twice (Buffalo and the Jets) play 16-0 New England twice.

 

[BelichickFan]

Its because we play 1-15 Miami twice a year while other teams that play Miami twice (Buffalo and the Jets) play 16-0 New England twice.

No it's not, our strength of schedule last year was close to .500 despite Miami. We just have a weak schedule this year with our division BUT ALSO the two West divisions.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Honestly, I'm not worried about 19-0 anymore. I'd be happy with homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. The easy schedule certainly improves our chances imo.

 

[Patjew]

That doesn't include the insane amount of travel the team has but, yeah, short of surprise teams (which happens every year), it looks good on paper right now.

You're right. Factoring in those 3 west coast swings, this schedule doesn't feel too easy to me. As someone who flies every week, I can tell you that it's quite tiring, especially when you cross time zones.

Also, when you like to get hammered on planes like I do, it's even more tiring.

 

[richpats]

I would take 8-8 under a backup QB, getting in a 4-way tie for the last wild-card spot, winning out on the 6th tiebreaker, winning on the road in the playoffs and taking the Lombardi in Tampa over our 18-1 last year.

We will likely fall somewhere in between.

 

[BelichickFan]

I would take 8-8 under a backup QB, getting in a 4-way tie for the last wild-card spot, winning out on the 6th tiebreaker, winning on the road in the playoffs and taking the Lombardi in Tampa over our 18-1 last year.

Well no sh!t. But right now all we can look at is the easiest possible path to winning the Super Bowl and that begins with a, hopefully, easy schedule.

 

[Born_a_Patriot]

You're right. Factoring in those 3 west coast swings, this schedule doesn't feel too easy to me. As someone who flies every week, I can tell you that it's quite tiring, especially when you cross time zones.

Also, when you like to get hammered on planes like I do, it's even more tiring.

They should be OK as long as they don't show any South Park episodes.

 

[richpats]

Well no sh!t. But right now all we can look at is the easiest possible path to winning the Super Bowl and that begins with a, hopefully, easy schedule.

I thought about how last year everything was pretty much set up for the Pats to win it all- HFA, getting a banged-up Chargers team (who played admirably anyway) instead of the Colts, getting the Giants (a team we had already faced) in the SB - it was easy and it failed. In the SB-winning seasons, there was some sort of adversity to overcome, be it injuries, road playoff games, offensive machines that "couldn't be stopped", etc. I think those situations are what really forges a championship team nowadays. Just look at the Giants.

The last 3 champs were all written off at some point in the final month of the season. While I think that's hard to do with the Patriots, they will probably have to overcome a large threat in SD or Indy in order to get back to the Super Bowl.

 

[patsox23]

Its because we play 1-15 Miami twice a year while other teams that play Miami twice (Buffalo and the Jets) play 16-0 New England twice.

EXACTLY. This is a very misleading stat that we'll hear about ALL YEAR.

 

[PatsFan24]

i hope the pats lose week 1, then win 18 in a row

 

[Theplayer]

I would take 8-8 under a backup QB, getting in a 4-way tie for the last wild-card spot, winning out on the 6th tiebreaker, winning on the road in the playoffs and taking the Lombardi in Tampa over our 18-1 last year.

We will likely fall somewhere in between.

you got that right..Too any got wrapped up with the 19-0 thing last year..all I cared about was winning the SB...oh well.

 

[ScottieC]

According to ESPN. Their scheduled opponents have a combined winning percentage of .387! Wow who thinks we can go 18-1 again?

Anyone see the Steelers schedule?? Holy crap....now that's a nightmare. Oh well! :singing:

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

Its because we play 1-15 Miami twice a year while other teams that play Miami twice (Buffalo and the Jets) play 16-0 New England twice.

Even if you take out Miami, it's still .433 according to my calculations.

16 teams x 16 games=256 x .387 strength of schedule=99 wins
99-157

take out 1-15 twice gets you 97-127=.433

 

[RoughingthePasser]

I don't care if we lose 3, 4, 5 games...

as long as we get it together and play strong through the playoffs and get to the big game.

I guarantee we won't let that opportunity slide through out fingers again.

I'm anxious to see what we package together for defense!

I'm not concerned about our offense.

 

[BradyManny]

You're right. Factoring in those 3 west coast swings, this schedule doesn't feel too easy to me. As someone who flies every week, I can tell you that it's quite tiring, especially when you cross time zones.

I'm not denying that it's a factor as I remember somebody - maybe it was Brady - talking about road games and just how you're entire schedule and routine is different, but I would say on the plus side, these guys fly in comfort/luxury, so its less of a factor than say the average Joe Schmoe taking a red eye, crammed between passengers, fighting for arm rests, begging the person in front of them to put their seat up, etc.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

This means nothing since teams could go worst to first in a heart beat...

I will still take a 14-2 record and a super bowl win next yr..

 

[BradyToMoss]

This just makes up for us having the toughest overall schedule of any team in the NFL over the last 7 years, it's about time. Now we can finally skate through much of the season like the Pittsburgh Steelers have had the luxury of doing for the last 7 years.

 

[JoeSixPat]

According to ESPN. Their scheduled opponents have a combined winning percentage of .387! Wow who thinks we can go 18-1 again?

Another major scoop for ESPN!

Apparently they just got word on the final standings and did the math on the Patriots long ago announced opponents.

I look forward to hearing the actual ORDER of the schedule by October at the latest.