How is the NFL schedule chosen? Is it random or based on record?

Answer 1

Yes, it is random and yes, it is based on record.

Take the AFC East as an example. Every team has two games vs. teams in the division. The Patriots play two games vs. the Bills, Jets, and Dolphins. That is 6 games.

Then four four games they play a division in their conference. It rotates by year 2 years ago it was the AFC west. Last year it was th AFC South. This year it'll be the AFC North. Next year it will be the AFC West again. That is 10 games.

Then four games is vs. a division in the other conference. This year the AFC East plays the NFC East. Last year the played the NFC North. Two years ago it was the NFC South. Three years ago it was the NFC West. Next year it is the NFC West again. That is 14 games.

Two games are based on where in your conference you finished. The #1 finisher in the East will play the #1 finisher in the divisions in their conference they don't play. This year the AFC South and AFC West. Meanwhile the #4 team plays the #4 team of the divisions in their conference they don't play.

Answer 2

It is based on your record (really your divisional standing) and other teams divisional standing.
Every team knows the 8 teams they will play at home and the 8 road games for next season as soon as the regular season is completed.
The schedule goes like this:
Each team plays divisonal opponent twice (6 games)
Each team plays all 4 teams in one of the other three divisions within your conference. This rotates every 3 years. (4 games)
Each team plays one team each from the remaining two divisions that finished in the same position as you did. Second place teams play the other second place teams. (2 games)
Each team plays a division in the other conference. This rotates every 4 years. (4 games)
Home and road games are determined by formula. However if two teams have played 3 straight times at one place in regular season games (for example NE and IND) it gets switched.

Answer 3

In 2002, when the NFL realigned to 32 teams, they set every teams' schedule form 2002-2009. This is how it works:

Each team will play home and away against its three division opponents (6 games).


Each team will play the four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games). (ex. NFC North vs. NFC East)


Each team will play the four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games). (ex. AFC North vs. NFC West)


Each team will play a pair of intraconference games based on the prior year's standings (2 games), i.e. first-place teams in a division will play against the first-place teams from another division within the same conference, etc.

Answer 4

It rotates on a 4 year cycle
your division 6 games
one division from the other conference 4 games
one division from your teams conference 4 games
and the teams from your conference that finished in the same place as your team in their division 2 games
for this years schedule look back to the 03 season it should be almost the exact teams

Answer 5

Its based on divisions and records. You play home and away with teams in your division, every team from a non conference division, and the rest of the games are based on record.

Answer 6

I don't think its based on record, because on some team websites you can look at future opponents.(For example on the Atlanta Falcons website you can see the 2008 opponents)