[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

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.

I knew that!

Originally Posted by Schneed10

- 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.

I did NOT know that! Makes sense. Thanks!