Comments on: NFL Hates Steelers; 2008 Schedule Released

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 08 May 2008 10:53:59 +0000

Are you aware of the system that is actually used to determine schedules in the NFL? Six games out of ten are divisional opponents (of course). But the remaining 10 are pre-determined by a strict system. You play one division in your own conference and one division in the other conference (these are chosen by rotation). That means that only two games are not pre-determined years in advance. But even those two games are determined by a system. From the two divisions in your own conference that you are not scheduled to play, you play the two teams that had the same divisional finish that you did the year before.

In most cases, this provides a pretty equitable schedule. But in this particular year, the divisional assignments just so happened to fall when the AFC South and NFC East (whom the Steelers play) was strong and the AFC West and NFC West (whom the Patriots play) are weak. This is not the NFL ‘hating’ the Steelers. It is just pure dumb luck.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:57:38 +0000

Here’s the strength of schedule grid: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3347716

I probably should’ve put that in my post but I was too busy looking for pictures of monkeys sitting at typewriters.

Your point is a good one, tho. What looks murderous now might not be so bad since the NFL season has such highs and lows. For example, the Cowgirls played like crap whenever TO was out and you never know which Eli will show up.

Still, I hate the Patriots so any chance I have to bitch about them, I’ll take it.

By: The Duke from Dukes Court

The Duke from Dukes Court — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 14:00:52 +0000

The easiest schedule went to the Pats? How could that happen? I thought that if you won your division you had to play the 1st place team in the other divisions, am I missing something here?The one thing about strength of schedule that should be taken into consideration is that some of the good teams from last year will be bad, and vice versa, so you can’t look at the schedule too hard.