I’m lucky enough to be married to a woman who is a die-hard football fan. My wife may be even more of a gridiron junkie than I am. So when the Giants kicked off the 2008 season with a win over the Washington Redskins, it should have been a festive evening in my home. But only part of my household was happy that night.
You see, my wife’s favorite team is the San Francisco 49ers. She hasn’t had a truly happy season since the Niners beat the Chargers in Super Bowl XXIX. But these days, she’s downright livid.
She’s not mad about San Francisco’s 16-32 record over the last three years. She’s not upset over the uncertainty at the quarterback position, or at the fact that the team’s owner, John York, is one of the worst in professional sports.
OK, she is upset about all those things. But right now, something else has her fired up.
- B/R Ticket Guide
The San Francisco 49ers went 5-11 last year and missed the playoffs, placing third in the NFC West. Their schedule, however, does not appear to reflect their 2007 record. This season, the Niners play six teams that made the playoffs last year, including the defending Super Bowl champion Giants, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New England Patriots.
That, in itself, would be bad enough. But I made the mistake of telling my wife about the New England Patriots’ schedule.
To recap the Pats’ 2007 season, they were the first team to have an undefeated regular season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins. Along the way, they rewrote the offensive record books. Quarterback Tom Brady broke the single-season record for touchdown passes. Wide receiver Randy Moss enjoyed a career renaissance, breaking the single-season record for touchdown receptions and re-establishing himself as one of the elite wideouts in the game.
The Pats also came agonizingly close to winning a Super Bowl, and despite losing that game, they are widely considered to be the best team in the NFL.
Guess how many 2007 playoff teams New England will face this year?
Four.
They don’t play against a playoff team until Oct. 12, when they visit the San Diego Chargers.
Seems a bit unfair, doesn’t it?
My wife asked me to write a brief article about the disparity between the two schedules. When I asked her, specifically, what I should say about this, she answered thusly:
“We’re getting screwed!”
I can’t say that I disagree.
comments (7) write a comment »
write a new comment
2 months ago
I don't think so. What about last year's schedule for the Patriots? It was one of the hardest: Colts, Chargers, Dallas, and the Steelers, not to mention the Eagles. From Mid-October to November, only one home game.
from 2 months ago
Aw, you're breaking my heart, Arthur. So the reward for going 18-1 is a soft schedule?
2 months ago
The Saints were not a playoff team last year. I think the schedule is fair. The goal is to try to win the division. Every team within a division has the same schedule except for two games. That's where the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place schedules come in. Seattle has to play Tampa and Green Bay, two division winners. Arizona has to play Carolina and Minnesota. San Francisco had New Orleans and Detroit. St. Louis has to play Atlanta and Chicago. While playing Tampa, Carolina and New Orleans may be fairly equal opponents, Minnesota and Green Bay are far tougher opponents than Detroit. St. Louis finished last so they get a gimme win against ATL. That's how it goes.
from 2 months ago
You got me there. The Saints didn't make the playoffs last year. But they're considered the NFC's sexy pick for the Super Bowl.
I don't expect a lot of sympathy for the Niners. They mortgaged their future in the '90s so they could win back then, and they're paying the price now. But their schedule is tougher than the best team in the league. Something is wrong with that.
2 months ago
I'm pretty sure the schedules are made a couple of years in advance so I've heard
2 months ago
As I said in the feedback, the Pats are the only team in their division to make the playoffs, while the Niners didn't make the playoffs and the Seahawks did in their division.
That makes two more right there, so, outside of the division, it's the same. Can't really help that.
If the Niners manage to be the best in their division, they'll have the same amount of games against the second-best team in their division and against 2007 playoff teams outside of it. Does that make it sound more fair?
2 months ago
This guy "49er Ratiocination Mike" is right. The divisions play each other each year, and that is set up in advance (I think it rotates)
The NFL can only decide two of the games a team plays. And thats only choosen between three teams. Because they had to of had the same standings in their division the year before.
good article though.
write a new comment