Quick notes on other AFC schedules of interest

[PatsFanSince74]

A brief look at five teams of interest to the Pats in the AFC. It looks like both the Jets and Dolphins will have to come into December strong if they're going to contend for the division. Ravens, Colts and Steelers are a mixed bag.

Colts:
Have to play NFC East and get the Redskins and Eagles Away.
Bye: Week 7
Back to Back Home Games: once
Play at Titans on Thursday after hosting Cowboys on Sunday
Play at Eagles after hosting MNF vs. Texans: short week plus travel day
December/January: Cowboys, at Titans, Jaguars, at Raiders, Titans
Prime Time Games: 5
Bottom Line: Not too bad, but definitely a couple of speed bumps

Jets:
Host Ravens on Monday nite to open
Get Patriots next Sunday after short week
Bye: Week 7
December/January: at Patriots, Dolphins, at Steelers, at Bears, Bills
Back to Back Home Games: twice
Prime Time Games: 5 including Thanksgiving
Bottom Line: tough finish puts pressure on early part of season; it's a long way off, but they might need to go 8--3 to be in position to win 11 games.

Steelers:
Bye: Week 5. Interesting timing if Big Ben is suspended for four games
First Four Games: Falcons, at Titans, at Bucs, Ravens
Get Pats at Home on Sunday after playing Monday night at Bengals
Three back to back to back home games in December
Two sets of back to back away games in first eight games, including at Dolphins, at Saints
December/January: at Ravens, Bengals, Jets, Panthers, at Browns
Prime Time Games: 5, interestingly all from October 31st on
Bottom Line: favorable finish could cover for a slow start and could still be competitive at 6--5.

Ravens:
Three of first four on Road including at Jets, at Bengals, Browns, at Steelers
Bye: Week 8
Have to play at Falcons on short week for Thursday night game on 11/11
Back to Back home games: twice, including around Bye!
December/January: Steelers, at Texans, Saints, at Browns, Bengals
Prime Time Games: 4, including Thursday nighter
Bottom Line: tough start and finish

Dolphins:
Open with back to back games on Road at Bills and at Vikings
Bye: Week 5
Back to Back home games: three times, including Jets and Patriots in Sept/Oct
Have to play on road after bye week
December/January: Browns, at Jets, Bills, Lions, at Patriots
Bottom Line: not to bad, but will probably have to be 8--3 to have realistic chance of winning 11 games.

 

[patsox23]

Interesting insight, and a good amount of work put into it. Thanks a lot - much appreciated!

 

[Rob0729]

Ravens get a gift. They face the Jets with both Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards on suspension. The Jets starting WRs that game will likely be Jerricho Cotchery and David Clowney. I think the Jets may be facing the Pats 0-1.

I think the Colts have their toughest schedule in years. I won't predict this is the year they come back to earth for a regular season record since every year they look to be making that step back they win their first 10-12 games. If they do win 13 or 14 games this year, they will probably have earned it.

I think the Steelers are going to implode. Ben will be gone the first month. I think there is too much turmoil on that team to be a legitimate contender.

If the Jets have a lot of pressure to win early, the addition of Holmes may not have helped them as much as people think. He will be gone the first four games and could conceivably take another 3-4 games to get on the same page with Sanchez.

As for the Ravens' start, I don't know if it is a tough as you make it sound. Both Cincy and Pittsburgh are likely candidates to take a step back this year. They will likely face the Steelers without Roethlisberger and they are definitely facing the Jets without their starting WRs. The Browns are the Browns.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Interesting insight, and a good amount of work put into it. Thanks a lot - much appreciated!

Thanks. yeah, the most interesting point to me is that both the Dolphins and Jets have a tough finish, meaning that they're going to have to put up a bunch of W's by the end of November.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Ravens get a gift. They face the Jets with both Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards on suspension. The Jets starting WRs that game will likely be Jerricho Cotchery and David Clowney. I think the Jets may be facing the Pats 0-1.

I think the Colts have their toughest schedule in years. I won't predict this is the year they come back to earth for a regular season record since every year they look to be making that step back they win their first 10-12 games. If they do win 13 or 14 games this year, they will probably have earned it.

I think the Steelers are going to implode. Ben will be gone the first month. I think there is too much turmoil on that team to be a legitimate contender.

If the Jets have a lot of pressure to win early, the addition of Holmes may not have helped them as much as people think. He will be gone the first four games and could conceivably take another 3-4 games to get on the same page with Sanchez.

As for the Ravens' start, I don't know if it is a tough as you make it sound. Both Cincy and Pittsburgh are likely candidates to take a step back this year. They will likely face the Steelers without Roethlisberger and they are definitely facing the Jets without their starting WRs. The Browns are the Browns.

yeah, the chance of the jets starting 0--2 and heading to Miami to play the Fins in their home opener where they should be no worse than 1--1 is kind of fun to contemplate.

my gut is that this is a pivotal year for the steelers. if they implode after last season, even the rooney's might think about housecleaning.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The Pats are not much different than the teams you mentioned...They will also have to be about 8-3 by the end of november to win the division and/or make the playoffs.

We have the Jets which will be a tough game followed by an improved Bears defense in the windy city,a future Elite QB in Aaron Rodgers and a solid GB D,and even the Bills in Buffalo which could be a snow blast and -10 wind chills won't likely be a cakewalk.

We are pretty much in the same boat I would say,Whoever has the most wins on december 1st in this division is in decent shape.

This Eastern division will be a dogfight

 

[Rob0729]

yeah, the chance of the jets starting 0--2 and heading to Miami to play the Fins in their home opener where they should be no worse than 1--1 is kind of fun to contemplate.

my gut is that this is a pivotal year for the steelers. if they implode after last season, even the rooney's might think about housecleaning.

Well, with Ben suspended for 4-6 games, I kinda doubt this will be that pivotal of a year. The Rooneys are notorious for not having a quick trigger finger on head coaches. So I don't know if that is a huge concern. Besides, player wise, I think they have started to blow up the team a bit anyway.

I think Cowher may be a lot smarter than people give him credit for. He might have seen the lockerroom make up and knew he had to bail because guys like Ben and Holmes were just powder kegs ready to go off.

 

[Rob0729]

The Pats are not much different than the teams you mentioned...They will also have to be about 8-3 by the end of november to win the division and/or make the playoffs.

We have the Jets which will be a tough game followed by an improved Bears defense in the windy city,a future Elite QB in Aaron Rodgers and a solid GB D,and even the Bills in Buffalo which could be a snow blast and -10 wind chills won't likely be a cakewalk.

We are pretty much in the same boat I would say,Whoever has the most wins on december 1st in this division is in decent shape.

This Eastern division will be a dogfight

I haven't really looked at the Pats' schedule. Personally, I think looking at strength of schedule in April is an exercise in futility. I guarantee you there will be teams that the Pats will face this year that we expect to be a contender and they will finish 8-8 or less. And there also will be a team we expect to have no more than 6-7 wins that will have at least 9-10. It happens almost every year (see Miami and Tennesse on the Pats' schedule last year as teams we expected to be far better than they were).

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I haven't really looked at the Pats' schedule. Personally, I think looking at strength of schedule in April is an exercise in futility. I guarantee you there will be teams that the Pats will face this year that we expect to be a contender and they will finish 8-8 or less. And there also will be a team we expect to have no more than 6-7 wins that will have at least 9-10. It happens almost every year (see Miami and Tennesse on the Pats' schedule last year as teams we expected to be far better than they were).

I know many of us say this every year but this time I am more confident that the loser of the super bowl jinx will be in effect this season....the Colts will miss the playoffs....Houston (who has the NFLs toughest schedule on paper) or the Titans who were a different team with Vince Young will win the South

I have a hunch Peyton will have problems this season whether its injury or 2nd year problems with his WRs

 

[patsinthesnow]

Ravens get a gift. They face the Jets with both Santonio Holmes and Braylon Edwards on suspension. The Jets starting WRs that game will likely be Jerricho Cotchery and David Clowney. I think the Jets may be facing the Pats 0-1.

I

I didn't know about Edwards, that is huge for the Ravens. They should win that game.

The pats may have a chance to set the Jets lockeroom ablaze by making them 0-2.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

...

The pats may have a chance to set the Jets lockeroom ablaze by making them 0-2.

...and heading to Miami to play the Dolphins in their home opener...but that's why you have guys like Cromartie and Holmes your team...to provide real character and leadership at times of distress...can you say 0--3? :singing: