Why Do the Packers and the Patriots Have Such an Easy Schedule Strength This Year?

[NYSportsGuy210]

I saw that video on SBR and took a look at the NFL schedule's for the top AFC and NFC teams from last year.

How do you give a team that were the AFC champions and had the easiest schedule last year too the easiest schedule this year again?

The Patriots played like two teams above .500 all last year in the regular season and you give them another pass for 2012-13?!?

And weren't the Packers 15-1 last year and destroying teams offensively left and right? Actually looking at the Packers schedule they probably aren't that easy....opening vs. the 49ers and having to face Detroit and Chicago twice.

But still they need to make things harder for some of these playoff caliber teams.

[HoulihansTX]

B/c the pakcers do not have to play the Packers twice, and Patriots share the same issue.

[NYSportsGuy210]

B/c the pakcers do not have to play the Packers twice, and Patriots share the same issue.

Yea Patriots were the "cream of the crop"....like 5-6 seasons ago

[acl123]

Weak divisions

[paco]

Weak divisions

NFC north aint that weak anymore. Detroit solid team now. Vikings ain't gonna be slouches either.

[acl123]

NFC north aint that weak anymore. Detroit solid team now. Vikings ain't gonna be slouches either.

Detroit is still Detroit.Viks and Bears not good.

[NYSportsGuy210]

NFC north aint that weak anymore. Detroit solid team now. Vikings ain't gonna be slouches either.

Vikings suck dude. It's the other three teams that are solid in that division.

[Balco10]

It's probably why their both 5-1 to win it all.

[NYSportsGuy210]

Weak divisions

I can understand 10 of the games the Patriots have no control over (2 division games each and the rotating schedule versus the NFC west this year) but did they NFL really have to give New England the Jaguars and the Colts in their two other games?

Can't give the defending AFC champs a team like the Saints or the Steelers?

[HoulihansTX]

Yea Patriots were the "cream of the crop"....like 5-6 seasons ago

Yep Patriots are a middle of the road team. Fresh off Super Bowl game, best QB/TE combo in the league, and their defense made great improvements through the drafts. Wht do you see this year. 8-8? 6-10?

[NYSportsGuy210]

Yep Patriots are a middle of the road team. Fresh off Super Bowl game, best QB/TE combo in the league, and their defense made great improvements through the drafts. Wht do you see this year. 8-8? 6-10?

With that pansy schedule? Same regular season result as last year....only this time I doubt they take on an 8-8 team in the second round of the playoffs

[paco]

Detroit is still Detroit.Viks and Bears not good.

Bears were Rollin till Cutler got injured.

[NYSportsGuy210]

Yep Patriots are a middle of the road team. Fresh off Super Bowl game, best QB/TE combo in the league, and their defense made great improvements through the drafts. Wht do you see this year. 8-8? 6-10?

Give them the Giants schedule and they will lucky to finish .500 in 2012-13.

[KingJD31]

Give them the Giants schedule and they will lucky to finish .500 in 2012-13.

giants didn't have it easy enough last year? worst super bowl team of all time

[NYSportsGuy210]

giants didn't have it easy enough last year? worst super bowl team of all time

Dude you're on crack.

[raydog]

Give them the Giants schedule and they will lucky to finish .500 in 2012-13.

absurd exaggeration, but we get the point...they appear to have quite the easier route for sure

[Djstucky]

You do realize there is distinct criteria (based on rotations mainly) that determine each teams schedule year in and year out correct? Of course the division games are pretty straight forward. The schedule was designed so every team plays each other every 3-4 years and in one anothers stadium once every 6-8. It would be pretty difficult to adhere to a schedule (that would be fair to all teams) if you deviate based on who was good last year...

[NYSportsGuy210]

You do realize there is distinct criteria (based on rotations mainly) that determine each teams schedule year in and year out correct? Of course the division games are pretty straight forward. The schedule was designed so every team plays each other every 3-4 years and in one anothers stadium once every 6-8. It would be pretty difficult to adhere to a schedule (that would be fair to all teams) if you deviate based on who was good last year...

Try reading a thread before pretending like you know something someone else already posted retard.

[Djstucky]

Your're the dipshit who opened a thread questioning the Pats/Packers schedule...in a later post in the thread (by you) you are still questioning why they cant they play the saints or the steelers...these types of threads arent really worth reading because its pretty obvious why the scedule is what it is...i was simply trying to help out a casual fan such as yourself...thats all...

[HoulihansTX]

I'm lost. It seems he is arguing that the Patriots are getting the gift of a weak schedule, but @ the same time saying the the Patriots are a mediocre team. If the Pats are mediocre, then what is the point of this thread?

[Djstucky]

I'm lost. It seems he is arguing that the Patriots are getting the gift of a
weak schedule, but @ the same time saying the the Patriots are a mediocre team. If the Pats are mediocre, then what is the point of this thread?

The guy is obviously drunk...ask why the schedule is what it is then acts like he knows everything about the schedule and why it is what it is...wow...

[NYSportsGuy210]

I'm lost. It seems he is arguing that the Patriots are getting the gift of a weak schedule, but @ the same time saying the the Patriots are a mediocre team. If the Pats are mediocre, then what is the point of this thread?

So are you saying that when a slightly above average team plays a "soft" schedule they shouldn't have 2-3 wins above the type of team they really are?

Forgive me but it's just really hard to respond to idiots that either never read what other people write to begin with in a thread (aKa Stuckwad) or just can't put two and two together (aka - you).

[Ockert12]

Because the Pats are the fukkin best.

[greenhippo]

Try reading a thread before pretending like you know something someone else already posted retard.

No one came close to explaining the schedule like DJ did. He's obviously not pretending to know, he does know. Next time instead of utterly embarrassing yourself, go to google.com and type in 'nfl schedule criteria' save yourself from above average thinkers wondering what's wrong with you. Thanks kid.

[NYSportsGuy210]

No one came close to explaining the schedule like DJ did. He's obviously not pretending to know, he does know. Next time instead of utterly embarrassing yourself, go to google.com and type in 'nfl schedule criteria' save yourself from above average thinkers wondering what's wrong with you. Thanks kid.

Another fcuktard who thinks he knows it all. You're the only one embarrassing yourself on this thread here chief. Now get lost and stop pretending your normal cause you gang up with other idiots in here who can't read what I or other people write.

[GunShard]

I also found it odd that these strong teams get an easy schedule.

Betting on these teams to win the Super Bowl should be a good bet.

[cankid]

seems strange that both teams have a easy go

[iQon]

Pre-season SOS means absolutely NOTHING when the season starts. Just something for media heads and the forums to bicker about.

You play the game on the field, not what was accomplished 12 months prior.

2011 Pre-season

http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/_/id/35095/2011-strength-of-schedule

2011 Week 17


See, irrelevant...

[LT Profits]

Guys, schedules are determined years in advance and prior year's finish only affects 2 games on the schedule. No team is "assigned" anybody by the league. The reason Pats' schedule is so easy is because AFC East faces NFC West and AFC South this year. The only 2 games affected by Pats finishing first last year is they play the first place teams in the other two divisions in conference, and one of those is 8-8 Denver.

[rm18]

houlihans got the answer right in the first post then a bunch of stupid answers

[HoulihansTX]

So are you saying that when a slightly above average team plays a "soft" schedule they shouldn't have 2-3 wins above the type of team they really are?

Forgive me but it's just really hard to respond to idiots that either never read what other people write to begin with in a thread (aKa Stuckwad) or just can't put two and two together (aka - you).

How are the Patriots "slighty above avg", and the season win total is 12? Which is among the highest of the league. The Patriots have been the class of the AFC, and league for the past decade. This whole thread fails b/c its based on the false premise that the Patriots are avg.

[slacker00]

Get rid of divisions and have everyone play everyone in each conference, which would be 15 games.

[Redchevy]

Why even bother trying to explain how the NFL schedule is determined, the OP, with 7500+ posts obviously knows the deal. Focus on your own handicapping for the upcoming season, don't bother with these loser posts!!! Good luck to everyone this year!!!!!!!!

[raydog]

Why even bother trying to explain how the NFL schedule is determined, the OP, with 7500+ posts obviously knows the deal. Focus on your own handicapping for the upcoming season, don't bother with these loser posts!!! Good luck to everyone this year!!!!!!!!

actually, he doesnt have a fukkin clue or else he wouldnt have made the post asking why the nfl is "giving" teams easier schedules ... we all agreed that the schedule looked a little weak, but even after he was told why things are the way they are, he still wanted to argue with the facts...its a common thing for this kid..he has strong opinions...too bad i rarely see any of them being remotely close to correct... its the new york way

[jjgold]

No game in the NFL is easy period

Parity