Let's Discuss the 2007 Schedule

You know on paper this schedule looks to be pretty favorable for the Skins.

I think so. I think the only teams that we need to actually fear are those in our division and the Pats. Outside of them, every other team is beatable.

The toughest thing early is having to face the Eagles, likely divisional champs (besides us), on their turf on MNF week #2. That looks like a tough loss for us, but an upset would be an incredible tone-setter to the season.

Then, we face the Eagles a 2nd time sandwiched in that brutal 4-game midseason stretch. We can't go 0-2 in those games.

The good news is that by the time we face the Cowboys, we're going to be supremely battle tested and ready. I just hope we won't be coming off an 0-3 stretch when we face the Cowboys. Even 1 win against New England, Jets, Philadelphia is going to feel damn good, and 2 would be unbelievable.

I notice the Patriots play the Colts the week after they play us, so we might catch them looking past us.

No. The formula is:

- Every year, you play your division foes twice apiece, home and home.
- Each year, you rotate against an out of conference division. For example, year one, you play all four teams in the AFC East, as do the other teams in your division. The next year, you face the AFC North. And so on. This year, the AFC East squares off against the NFC East.
- Each year, you rotate against the 3 other divisions within your conference. This year, the NFC East faces the NFC North, and the NFC South faces the NFC West. You rotate this every year.

That makes a total of 14 common opponents between division rivals. It balances the schedule.

- The remaining two games on the schedule are against two teams from your conference, outside of your division, outside of the division you're already facing, and who finished the same place as you last year in their division. Last year, we were last in the NFC East. Last year, the Bucs were last in the NFC South. So we match up. We also match up against the Cards, who were last in the NFC West. Meanwhile, the Eagles (first in the NFC East) get the Saints (first in the south) and the Seahawks (first in the West).

So, the reason we've faced Tampa every year is simply luck of the draw. We've finished in the same place as them just about every year.

ok, so I at least was on track w/the w-l part of it.
Maybe I was confusing the regional aspect w/the actual realignment of the divisions themselves.

Not too happy on the week 4 bye but we do end at home with Dallas.

Oct 28 @New England 4:15pm
Nov 4 @N.Y. Jets 1:00pm
Nov 11 Philadelphia 1:00pm
Nov 18 @Dallas 1:00pm
Nov 25 @Tampa Bay 1:00pm


That stretch is rough but nothing stnds out to me as terrible. Other than the bye. I much rather have the week 11 bye or something.I agree. Weeks 8-11 look brutal. The good news is that those out of conference road games are probably the least critical games on the entire schedule. What I'm worried about is the effect that a 2 week road trip to the northeast may have on our performance against two straight division opponents.

If we want to contend for the division, I don't see anyway we could do with without beating Philly at home on Nov. 11.

The key to the whole season is to get off to a good start in our first six games. We can't afford to be any worse than 4-2 over that stretch.

I like that we get the toughest game on our schedule, a road game at Philly, in the seasons second week. The chances that we are healthy then are much greater than at any other point in the season, and Philly's strong depth won't play as much of a factor in Week 2 as it will later in the season, when we get them in Landover. We might need to win both to take the division.

All in all I think this is a realitively advantageous schedule. Outside of that one stretch in the middle of the season, our weak opponents are spaced out, which does decrease the chances that we get beat by one of them.

9 wins doesn't seem too unreasonable.

Having to play the Bears on only 4 days rest is going to BLOW, even if the game is at home!Well, the Bears are also playing us on 4 days rest and both teams get 10 days to prepare for their next opponent.

For us, its a game at the Giants.

I'd say that this is adventageous actually.

I agree. Weeks 8-11 look brutal. The good news is that those out of conference road games are probably the least critical games on the entire schedule. What I'm worried about is the effect that a 2 week road trip to the northeast may have on our performance against two straight division opponents.

If we want to contend for the division, I don't see anyway we could do with without beating Philly at home on Nov. 11.

The key to the whole season is to get off to a good start in our first six games. We can't afford to be any worse than 4-2 over that stretch.

I like that we get the toughest game on our schedule, a road game at Philly, in the seasons second week. The chances that we are healthy then are much greater than at any other point in the season, and Philly's strong depth won't play as much of a factor in Week 2 as it will later in the season, when we get them in Landover. We might need to win both to take the division.

All in all I think this is a realitively advantageous schedule. Outside of that one stretch in the middle of the season, our weak opponents are spaced out, which does decrease the chances that we get beat by one of them.

9 wins doesn't seem too unreasonable.

I completely agree about the importance of that Philly game (week 2). Both teams will be jacked since it's MNF, and we'll most likely be 100% (knock on wood). And Philly most likely will not. Last I heard McNabb probably won't play until October. Philly is apparently being very cautious that Donovan doesn't pull a Culpepper. That means we'll be facing either AJ Feely or a Kelly Holcomb who hasn't run a west-coast offense before. Fine with me!

One thing I noticed is that in the first half of the season (warmer weather) we play our away games in cold areas against Greenbay & Pats. Our second half away game are in warmer areas as Tampa and Dallas. That could help us some in our away games.

Sep 9 Miami 1:00pm
Sep 17 @Philadelphia 8:30pm
Sep 23 N.Y. Giants 4:15pm
Week 4 BYE
Oct 7 Detroit 1:00pm
Oct 14 @Green Bay 1:00pm
Oct 21 Arizona 1:00pm
Oct 28 @New England 4:15pm
Nov 4 @N.Y. Jets 1:00pm
Nov 11 Philadelphia 1:00pm
Nov 18 @Dallas 1:00pm
Nov 25 @Tampa Bay 1:00pm
Dec 2 Buffalo 1:00pm
Dec 6 Chicago 8:15pm
Dec 16 @N.Y. Giants 8:15pm
Dec 23 @Minnesota 1:00pm
Dec 30 Dallas 1:00pm

kind of pissed that the skins never seem to get tampa bay,green bay,at home hardly ever.i dread thaat game oct 28th in patriotville!

Pretty cool that both Smoot and Fletcher get to play against their former teams. I want to see Fletcher shake off a block from Dockery to make a tackle for a loss against whatever bum will end up running the ball for the Bills.

I like the fact that we get to play Miami first. With Goodell takin the belt to all the screw ups I would definitely expect Porter to be suspended atleast 2 games for wooping Jone's ass in Vegas. I can't see him being aloud to suit up against us.