Cleaning out some e-mails I came across a response from the Patriots. It was in response to a promotion they run annually to give away tickets to fans who do the best at predicting the season's schedule. A minor exercise in futility, as you can see.
Week One: Home vs Steelers
My Pick: Home vs Steelers
- The NFL usually kicks off the season with the defending champions playing at home against a team from their conference, but not in their division, that was in the playoffs the previous year. Pittsburgh was the only club that filled the bill. 1-0.
Week Two: At Buffalo
My Pick: At Houston
- I was guessing a road game following the home start, with division games a bit later. 1-1.
Week Three: Home vs Jaguars
My Pick: Home vs Washington
- Guessing a home game versus a team that didn't make the playoffs. Similar to week two, close but no cigar. 1-2.
Week Four: Bye
My Pick: At Jets
- The Patriots usually play the Jets early, and this would be after Rosh Hashanah when New York teams don't play home games. I was figuring the Pats would get their bye in mid-late October, setting up a bunch of marketable games during ratings sweeps in November. Oh well, 1-3.
Week Five: At Dallas
My Pick: Home vs Eagles
- I figured the Cowboys to be one of those November sweeps games. No half credit for an NFC East game; 1-4.
Week Six: At Indy
My Pick: At Giants
- Again I was figuring the game against the Colts would be reserved for the Nielsen ratings period. 1-5.
Week Seven: Home vs Jets
My Pick: Bye
- Didn't see that week four bye coming. Six straight wrong; 1-6. Unfortunately the losing streak has a long ways to go.
Week Eight: Home vs Dolphins
My Pick: At Bills
- I recall going back and forth with Miami and Buffalo in this slot. Close but no cigar; 1-7.
Week Nine: Home vs Washington
My Pick: Home vs Dolphins
- I didn't think this game would be played during ratings sweeps. Fox doesn't usually like to promote games versus AFC teams, but I guess they'll look past that if the opponent is the defending Super Bowl champion; 1-8.
Week Ten: At Giants
My Pick: At Colts
- I figured Indy would be an automatic for ratings period, but I failed to consider the fact that these two have met twice in the Super Bowl in the last eight years. As a 4:25 game it will be hyped and broadcast almost nationwide; 1-9.
Week 11: Home vs Bills
My Pick: At Denver
- Error on my part: I neglected to include a Rex vs BB game during the November ratings sweeps; 1-10.
Week 12: At Denver
My Pick: Home vs Jets
- Another error on my part: marketing focuses on individuals not teams. Therefore Rex in Buffalo is a bigger deal than the Jets-Pats rivalry outside NE/NY/NJ. As for the Broncos, close only counts in horseshoes and with hand grenades; 1-11.
Week 13: Home vs Eagles
My Pick: At Dallas
- Once again the idea was right (NFC East), but wrong team. This marks the third game against an NFC East time that will be a 'primary' 4:25 game; Washington is the only NFCE team that the Pats play where that is not the case. 1-12.
Week 14: At Houston
My Pick: Home vs Jaguars
- I was figuring this would be a good spot for one of the AFC South games (other than Indy). Yet again, close but no cigar; 1-13.
Week 15: Home vs Titans
My Pick: Home vs Titans
- Holy Schnikes, I got one right! Was figuring more in-conference games, with division games the last two weeks; 2-13.
Week 16: At Jets
My Pick: Home vs Bills
- The Pats usually play the Jets once early and once mid-season; maybe that has been changed with Rex now in Buffalo. 2-14.
Week 17: At Miami
My Pick: At Miami
- My guess was that somebody in the Miami organization told Stephen Ross that if the Patriots were not going to play in south Florida in September, then the Dolphins should not have to play in New England in December. Ross has over recent years asked the NFL for away games early, to make the fan experience more enjoyable; why care about a home field advantage? 3-14.
With all of just three games correct, it is safe to say I won't be winning any of those tickets.