Am I wrong or does it seem like the Patriots have an easy schedule?

Question

If you do agree, then how did this happen when they finished so high in the standings last year.

Answer 1

They've definitely played some poor teams this year, but they've also played some very good ones, including Dallas
(9-1) and Indianapolis (8-2), and they play Pittsburgh (7-3)later.

There's no doubt they've played some bad teams too, but it has nothing to do with their finish last year. 14 of the 16 opponents on every team's schedule are determined years in advance.

Every NFL team plays 6 games in its own division, plus 8 games against all the teams in one AFC and one NFC divsion. The divsions rotate from year to year and are the same for all teams in any particular division.

This year they play 6 games in the divison of course, plus 4 games against the NFC East and 4 games against the AFC North--the same schedule as the other 3 teams in the AFC East.

In fact the only two games that weren't predetermined were against the Colts and Chargers. Indy is one of the best teams in the conference. San Diego isn't playing that well this year but last year they were 14-2; when they were put on the schedule they were expected to be better.

Answer 2

Based on last years records, Patriots had 3rd toughest schedule ranked behnd Jets 1st and Buffalo 2nd. When you see the Patriots crushing opponents each week, it shows they have improved on the good team they had last year. This is how the schedule works:
Teams face their div opp twice each = 6 games
Teams face each team in a div from their conf rotated each year = 4 games
Teams face other two 1st place teams in other 2 conf div = 2 games
Teams face each team in a div from opp conf rotated each year = 4 games.

This is a predetermined schedule system. It cannot predict who might be the best teams in the year to come.

Regardless, the top teams this year that even come close to the Patriots talents are The Colts, Steelers, Cowboys, Packers. Patriots play all but Packers. It's unfortunate that the Pats are in a division with 3 teams with declining talent. When they go 19-0 I would want people to say they did that against the best possible opponents. Sorry but there just is no team in the league right now that can beat the Patriots.

Answer 3

Look, when the schedule was put out for the 2008 season, people were saying the Pats would lose to San Diego, Dallas, Indy and Pittsburgh making them a 12-4 team! Now they're blowing teams away and all of a sudden they have an easy schedule? Give me a break! The fact that a team that was the door mat for the NFL for decades come sout with the best team in NFL history, yes IN NFL HISTORY, everyone wants to call them lucky, mediocore, etc....

I think it's high time alot of you NFL fans out there take notice of this team and realize the fact that you're witnessing history here. If it were your collective teams rolling over their weekly opponents you wouldn't be calling that schedule easy would you? I don't think so.

So sit back, relax and watch the Patriots steam roll the NFL and finally get the respect they've deserved!

Answer 4

Well, they have to play the other 3 teams in their division twice each year, and those other 3 teams can't come close to competing with the Patriots. The Bills are arguably the best out of the other 3 AFC East teams, but we all saw what the Pats did to them last night.

The Colts, on the other hand, are in one of the most competitive divisions in the league this year, plus they are the defending champs, so their schedule is a bit tougher.

Answer 5

Stop looking for reasons to down play their success...

They are playing 16 professional football teams...

They beat Dallas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, who all have winning records. They beat the Redskins and Chargers who are both in playoff contention, the Chargers are #1 in their div, they beat alot of solid teams. As far as the Chargers go, they beat the Colts last week. And I know people dismiss the win last night over the Bills as easy but keep in mind the Bills had won four straight and were 5 - 4 going into the game and at home...

Patriots still have Pittsburgh and the Giants ahead of them.

Answer 6

First, each team plays their division opponents twice a year. For the Patriots, they play Jets, Bills, and Miami every year, twice. Obviously, those teams really suck compared to the Patriouts. There's an easy 6 wins right there. Then that division will play a select afc division and nfc division, and then I'm not sure about the other two teams. Yes, I think they have an easy schedule, but they are that good though too. It's almost makes me puke.

Answer 7

When they are that much better than the rest of the NFL, it just seems easy. ;)

Aside from the rest of the AFC East, which is abyssmal, it looks like they have a pretty average schedule. They play the entire NFC East, which seems to be one of the strongest divisions. And they played the Colts.

I'd say they're schedule is okay.

Answer 8

They're only making it LOOK easy.

They beat the defending champion Colts in Indy, destroyed the AFC/Super Bowl favorites, the Chargers, and destroyed the best team in the NFC, the Dallas Cowboys, in Dallas.

If the Packers were on their schedule, the Patriots would destroy them too.

The win over Indy was the Colts first loss, and they're the only team to beat the Cowboys.

Answer 9

I would say that the bulk of their schedule is easy, considering that six games are against some of the three worst teams in the AFC. Because everyone else in their division blows.

But they do play Indy, Dallas, Pittsburgh and Jax, so they do have tough games.

Answer 10

It seems the asker of our question has been seeking knowledge from the sports experts on TV. They all talk about is how easy it will be for the Pats to sweep aside their remaining victims until they get to the Steelers. But to be truthful I don't mind, the sensation of the soundwaves bouncing off my forehead is relaxing. I don't even bother watching the games anymore, I just sit on the couch with my eyes closed and let the sports blather massage my poor aching muscles.