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NFL Schedule change NFL Schedule change

11-18-2008 , 12:42 AM
I think they should change the way they schedule games for the season. I apologize if this was spoken of already in another thread somewhere. But here is what I think.

First off last year is a perfect example of why I think this should occur. If you remember correctly, The Browns played OOC in week 17 and their particular game had no meaning. If they won lost or tied, they had to wait on another team as to whether they won or lost to determine whether they were in the playoffs or not. Week 17 and you are not mathematically in or out of the playoffs and your game doesn't matter.

Now I think they should have all the OOC scheduling done at least by week 8 (I actually think it should be done in week 6). Teams only play 4 games OOC anyway, so get those out of the way. Alot of times teams are trying to find themselves, so to say, anyway in the early season. How many teams have you seen start hot only to fail down the stretch and how many teams have you seen start slow only to turn it on down the stretch.

Now likewise I think that the division games (6 only) should be played down the stretch when every game has the most meaning and teams are jostling for playoffs, division titles and such. Now why have a week 1 game against a division opponent when by week 10 they are both completely different teams.

This isn't like when there were 30 teams and 6 divisions when you played half your games against division opponents. Now it is just slightly less than 1/3 of your schedule instead of 50%. Imagine now, with the close divisions (basically all but NFC West and AFC South) and you have to play each other in these divisions. These games would be huge. Week 1 had 7 division games. Lets use that week as an example. Now NYJ vs MIA, both those teams I would say are a far cry from the 2 teams that played in week 1. GB vs Min, although I don't think they are far cry's they are different teams and things might have been different.

I just think the games that have no meaning in the initial tie break and teams are still finding them selves should be played early in this long season. Save the ones with the most meaning for when the games have the most meaning.

With flex scheduling imagine if in week 16 there is some game that is determining the winner of a division and at least a bye locked but loser goes all the way to seed 5. This would be so much better for the NFL.
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11-18-2008 , 12:52 AM
Cliff notes. They should get the OOC games out of way early because they don't mean anything in tie break and teams are still finding groove.




SF and Balt both have 6 games left 3 of which are OOC. Now Balt is right in the playoff mix but like I said half their remaining games are OOC.
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11-19-2008 , 12:47 AM
By the lack of responses I see no one cares but to prove my point further I am going to use this season as an example of how the Bears could be this seasons Browns like last year. Now assume all this pls. The packers and Bears are tied with the division lead after week 16, and also assume Min is not anywhere near them to win the division. Now lets also assume that the Bears have the same losses in division as GB.

Now here is where the Bears game in week 17 means absolutely squat to them and the GB Det game is only game that matters for them. They play HOU. Basically the scenario I gave you is that if GB wins they get division, if GB loses the Bears get division. So Bears could lose the game and still win the division in week 17.

I just trying to say week 17 game should have much more meaning than week 1 game. I think that going into week 17 that no matter what you should have to be looking to win game and not help from another game to affect your playoff scenario, not our game doesn't matter it is all up to this other game. I mean all week preparing, what are you preparing for in week 17 then. That particular game should have playoff intensity for the Bears but might not because it just doesn't matter.
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11-19-2008 , 02:03 AM
So you're basically saying that all week 17 games should be division games? I see nothing wrong with that, and think it kinda makes sense. Seems like an awfully long series of 3 posts to say that though. Could be why it's not getting many responses.
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11-19-2008 , 08:03 AM
There will be exciting implications in the AFC East with the Jets and Dolphins, and Pats and Bills playing each other in week 17.
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11-19-2008 , 11:09 AM
I kind of like your idea actually. Play the 4 OOC games in the first half of the season and then play divisional games the last 3 weeks sounds like a nice idea.
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11-19-2008 , 12:29 PM
I agree with the OP. I think the schedule should be:

weeks 1-4 OOC
weeks 5-7 division
weeks 8-14 intra conference and byes
weeks 15-17 division

Following weeks 4, 7, and 14, the schedules would be balances (as much as possible in the case of week 14) making for fair playoff race comparisons.
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11-19-2008 , 12:50 PM
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Originally Posted by bnrocks
There will be exciting implications in the AFC East with the Jets and Dolphins, and Pats and Bills playing each other in week 17.
exactly and they can control their own then not play but have to wait out another game no matter how theirs went. I mean the Pats may need the Jets to lose to MIA or something but they will "have" to win theirs first this way. After head to head tie break division record is next in line. Plus the MIA NYJ game might just be a playoff game itself.
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11-19-2008 , 12:52 PM
Having every team play a division game on week 17 would greatly restrict the number of good division rivalry games available on a weekly basis to fill the nationally broadcast spots.

The networks will not go for that.

Through this week, nearly half of the SNF, MNF and Thursday night matchups have been division rivalry games (11 of 24). As a fraction of all games, division games are only 3/8 of all games (96/256). Playing all division games the last week means there are only 80 available the rest of the year.

Play all division games the last three weeks, and then there would only 48 division games to choose from for filling the national slots for the first 14 weeks.
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11-19-2008 , 01:37 PM
Not to mention the difficulty that is scheduling for the NFL. Ignoring the Giants/Jets issue, you have college games, high school games, state fairs, baseball games, east-west coast trips, monday night, thursday night ect. games. The NFL schedule is extremely difficult to put together as is, I think they do a hell of a job most of the time at making it as fair as possible(some teams do get the shaft, its true, but overall its a hell of a job).

Jaguars were in a similar situation in 2006 when they played the Chiefs the last game of the year, their game didn't mean anything and it was still an AFC game. I think if you are in that situation you treat it as if you had clinched a playoff berth. Rest the players that need to be rested and hope for the best...I don't see it as a bad thing to be honest.
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11-19-2008 , 01:47 PM
The Cardinals had a similar kind of schedule this season. Only 1 division game the first 8 weeks of the season, followed by 3 consecutive division games. Week 17 is a battle between the two teams thought, during the preseason, to have the best shot at vying for the division title.

And what happens? The Cardinals can clinch the division as early as this week.

The best laid plans . . .
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11-19-2008 , 01:59 PM
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Originally Posted by gusmahler

The best laid plans . . .
lol
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11-19-2008 , 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by sumpy
I agree with the OP. I think the schedule should be:

weeks 1-4 OOC
weeks 5-7 division
weeks 8-14 intra conference and byes
weeks 15-17 division

Following weeks 4, 7, and 14, the schedules would be balances (as much as possible in the case of week 14) making for fair playoff race comparisons.
ya but it might be impossible to perfectly schedule this or something like it every year for all 32 teams. if its possible that would be great, but i feel like it would be super hard

making just the final week all division games tho, i am def a fan
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11-19-2008 , 02:35 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Needle77
Not to mention the difficulty that is scheduling for the NFL. Ignoring the Giants/Jets issue, you have college games, high school games, state fairs, baseball games, east-west coast trips, monday night, thursday night ect. games. The NFL schedule is extremely difficult to put together as is, I think they do a hell of a job most of the time at making it as fair as possible(some teams do get the shaft, its true, but overall its a hell of a job).
QFT.

OP, sit down and try to schedule every game this season under your guidelines. You'll be pulling your hair out in no time.

Also, division games aren't a magical elixir, the Colts laid down against the Titans last year to end the season, and the Titans look likely to do the same this year against the Colts.
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11-19-2008 , 02:36 PM
Yeah, I just thought of the problem which is that for the first part of the season, you need 3 somewhat big games usually. There's the game for the nationally televised 4:15 slot, the SNF game, and the MNF game. I doubt they'd be on board for one of them getting stuck with Bears-Jets as their primetime game.

I don't think it's unreasonable to schedule all division games (especially the big rivalries) in week 17 so those games carry a bit more weight, but for the last 3 weeks of the season to be all divisional games is a bit much to ask imo.
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11-19-2008 , 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by TheNoodleMan
QFT.

OP, sit down and try to schedule every game this season under your guidelines. You'll be pulling your hair out in no time.
That would be easy actually. You make week one OOC which means for instance AFCE plays NFCW on the season. You have to do this 4 weeks of the season. Then you play in conference but out of division but say NFCE plays NFCW so there are 4 more weeks. Then the other 2 in conference games are by place of previous season. You just pick 2 weeks to play these in. Now it is just a matter of picking say week 1,2,4, and 6 for OOC. Weeks 3,5,9,11,13,15 And the bye weeks you just throw in there as well. The NFCE takes bye in same week as other NFCE teams.
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11-19-2008 , 04:11 PM
Since it is so easy.
Take the 2008 slate of games, all of them, reorder them to fit your master plan and post it.
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11-19-2008 , 06:25 PM
Will do.
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