2016 Schedule Thread

[RedOctober3829]

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4789418/2016-patriots-opponents-home-and-away-opponents-determined

Home opponents (*playoff team): Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals*, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks*, Houston Texans*, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

Away opponents (*playoff team): Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers*, Arizona Cardinals*, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos*, New York Jets, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

Heard last night from a very reliable source that the Pats and Rams will most likely play each other on Christmas Day.

Mod Note: More substance is needed when starting conversation topics like this. Passing along info a friend or acquaintance told you may happen isn't thread worthy in and of itself.

 

[jacklamabe65]

In Foxboro?

 

[axx]

Yeah, it would be at home if they are playing LA.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Bump for the announcement coming today of the preseason schedule and preseason national TV games. According to Mike Reiss, it will be announced at 4 pm.

 

[tims4wins]

Mike Reiss ‏@MikeReiss 13m13 minutes ago


Patriots preseason: Week 1: vs. Saints (Aug. 11-15) Week 2: vs. Bears (Aug. 18-22) Week 3: at Panthers (8/25-28) Week 4: at Giants (9/1-2)

 

[dbn]

Denver hosts both NE and Carolina this year. One of those would likely be the league opener, I suspect.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

All eyeballs will be on the opener no matter what. Gotta think the league will save one of those prime match ups for another week.

 

[dbn]

So you are saying that Denver won't host both NE and Carolina week one? Interesting.

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

It'll be Indy for a joint retirement ceremony.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

So you are saying that Denver won't host both NE and Carolina week one? Interesting.

Ha! Oops. Phrasing issue. To be clear, I believe the NFL will not waste either of those top matchups with Denver for a game that practically every football fan will be watching, regardless of opponent.

 

[mwonow]

Ha! Oops. Phrasing issue. To be clear, I believe the NFL will not waste either of those top matchups with Denver for a game that practically every football fan will be watching, regardless of opponent.

Guess I'm not really a fan any more - I don't care at all about games not involving TB12 and BB

 

[NortheasternPJ]

It'll be Indy for a joint retirement ceremony.

This is my guess as well. Indy @ Denver.

 

[E5 Yaz]

This is my guess as well. Indy @ Denver.

Nantz better wear the extra-absorbant Depends

 

[RedOctober3829]

It will be scary when Nantz, Simms, and Peyton Manning are a 3-man booth next year.

 

[RedOctober3829]

The same NFL source who told me about the Rams/Pats said all indications are that the schedule won't be released until the week of the draft.

 

[RedOctober3829]

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

NFL getting killed on Twitter for this. C L O W N S H O E S

 

[RedOctober3829]

Schedule now will be released tomorrow at 8:00 pm.

 

[jablo1312]

Predictions: Pats-Jets on Thursday night, Pats-Cardinals on Sunday night, Pats-Seahawks at 4:25 on Sunday afternoon , Pats Ravens on Monday night, Broncos-Patriots on Sunday night.

Pats-Texans is a Monday night sleeper game.

 

[fieldslikebuckner]

Predictions: Pats-Jets on Thursday night, Pats-Cardinals on Sunday night, Pats-Seahawks at 4:25 on Sunday afternoon , Pats Ravens on Monday night, Broncos-Patriots on Sunday night.

Pats-Texans is a Monday night sleeper game.

Good guesses but I'll disagree on Pats-Seahawks. That's got Sunday night or Monday night written all over it.

 

[Cousin Walter]

Good guesses but I'll disagree on Pats-Seahawks. That's got Sunday night or Monday night written all over it.

Monday night has not been used to showcase juicy matchups and hasn't been since 2006 when NBC got the deal to show the featured games on Sunday night. Monday night is now for mostly junk games to show on cable that used to be shown on Sunday night.

 

[RedOctober3829]

This backs up my information from my NFL source.

The NFL’s teams and the league’s in-house TV network were expecting the sheet to be removed from the 2016 regular-season schedule next week. Obviously, that won’t be happening.

The change, which was first hinted at on Wednesday when league spokesman Brian McCarthy announced that an announcement regarding the announcement was coming, caught the teams and NFL Network unprepared, forcing both to scramble to react to the news that the news would be released on Thursday.

So why is the schedule being release this week?

“Schedule got done, approved and so it was time to get it out,” McCarthy told PFT via email. “I think everyone just assumed based on previous years that it would get released next week.”

He’s right; that’s what the teams and NFL Network assumed. And the teams and NFL Network got word along with the rest of us that the assumption was ass-u-me wrong.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/04/14/schedule-release-caught-teams-nfl-network-unprepared/

 

[RedOctober3829]

I did a quick mock.

Week 1 at Buffalo 1:00 CBS

Week 2 vs. Houston 4:25 CBS

Week 3 at. Cleveland 1:00 CBS

Week 4 at NY Jets 4:25 CBS

Week 5 vs. Seattle 8:25 CBS Thursday

Week 6 at Denver 8:25 NBC SNF

Week 7 BYE

Week 8 vs. Buffalo 1:00 CBS

Week 9 vs. Miami 1:00 CBS

Week 10 at Arizona 8:25 SNF NBC

Week 11: at San Fransisco 4:25 CBS

Week 12: vs. NY Jets 4:25 CBS

Week 13: vs. Baltimore 8:30 MNF

Week 14: at Pittsburgh 4:25 CBS

Week 15: vs. Cincinnati 8:25 NBC SNF

Week 16 vs. St. Louis 1:00 FOX

Week 17 at Miami 1:00 CBS

 

[tims4wins]

Highly doubt they would get a bye after a Thursday game since that is like a built in mini-bye anyway

 

[ifmanis5]

Can't wait for that week of garbage Spygate stories when we play the Rams.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Highly doubt they would get a bye after a Thursday game since that is like a built in mini-bye anyway

Guess you could flip the Denver game to after the Seattle game and put the bye in Week 7.

 

[LesterFan]

Panthers @ Broncos to kick off the season on Thursday night

 

[RedOctober3829]

Volin suggests that Pats are opening up at AZ.

 

[ifmanis5]

So the NFL stole the schedule show from ESPN?

 

[Rudy's Curve]

Week 16 vs. St. Louis 1:00

If the Pats and Rams play on Christmas Day per your source, it's not going to be at 1:00.

 

[Stitch01]

Id guess something like @ Arizona @NYJ vs. Sea @ Denver first four games.

 

[ifmanis5]

ESPN seems to think the opener will be Broncos/Panthers.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Packers/Vikings is Week 2 per media reports out of GB.

Another rumored game for Week 1 is Dallas at NY Giants.

Edit: We now know this will be NY Giants at Dallas due to Jets opening at home.

 

[RedOctober3829]

PFT says Minnesota at Detroit will be the 12:30 game on Thanksgiving.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Rich Cimini ESPNNY

@RichCimini: Jets have 2 straight short weeks in Dec -- 5 v IND, 11 at SF, 17 v MIA. Close with BUF. Again. #NFLSchedule

Per NJ.com, the Jets will open up at home against the Bengals and have 6 of their first 9 games on the road.

http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2016/04/nfl_schedule_2016_jets_to_open_season_sept_11_vs_c.html

 

[snowmanny]

Id guess something like @ Arizona @NYJ vs. Sea @ Denver first four games.

Well that would suck, depending on the quarterback.

 

[Stitch01]

That's why Im thinking the Pats might get a tough first month draw.

 

[RedOctober3829]

That's why Im thinking the Pats might get a tough first month draw.

There's a Reddit thread on the schedule leaks and it has Seattle at NE Week 10 on SNF. Hopefully that is correct and Pats avoid Seattle D in first 4 weeks. They already have to deal with Arizona.

 

[Dehere]

If the Pats and Rams play on Christmas Day per your source, it's not going to be at 1:00.

Week 16 games are on Saturday, Christmas Eve.

 

[RedOctober3829]

This is the rumored Seattle schedule

 

[RedOctober3829]

Manish Mehta ‏@MMehtaNYDN 4m4 minutes ago
Marquee game on Jets 2016 schedule: Week 12. Primetime. Patriots at Jets on Sunday, Nov. 27, I'm told.


Well, my source is wrong.....
Manish Mehta ‏@MMehtaNYDN 35s35 seconds ago
Jets vs Patriots Round 2: Christmas Eve. ... Week 16: Jets at Patriots, SATURDAY, Dec. 24, I'm told. .... Not in primetime.

 

[Rudy's Curve]

Week 16 games are on Saturday, Christmas Eve.

Yes, except for SNF on Christmas and MNF. Ergo, if it's at 1:00, it's not on Christmas.

 

[jablo1312]

The reddit schedule leak thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comments/4et8k2/2016_nfl_schedule_leak_organized_thread

I thought Seahawks Pats might end up on CBS/FOX at 4:25 for the same reason that Pats-Giants did this year- either netowrk would protect it above virtually any other game. I guess the Seahawks aren't quite the national draw that the Pats/Giants/Cowboys/Steelers are.

Sneaky downside of primetime games against the Hawks and Cardinals is running into the Circadian Rhythm Effect twice (yes I understand the effect is minimal at most, I'm just being paranoid and enjoy bringing this theory up whenever possible. http://deadspin.com/5934440/the-circadian-advantage-how-sleep-patterns-benefit-certain-nfl-teams

 

[PseuFighter]

I also figured Fox would protect the Seattle game. Bummer.

Jets at Pats is week 16.

 

[PseuFighter]

Pats/Bills weeks 4 and 8 per nfl_leaks

 

[LesterFan]

 

[Dehere]

NE-PIT is week 7. NE-DEN is week 15. Both 4:25 games. The other big NE games are already on the Reddit thread.

Edit - Nice pic Lesterfan! Had not seen that first.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Someone took a screen shot of the Pats schedule on NFL Network.

Looks like this
Week 1 at AZ
Week 2 vs. Miami
Week 3 vs. Houston
Week 4 vs. Buffalo
Week 5 at Cleveland
Week 6 vs. Cincinnati
Week 7 at Pittsburgh
Week 8 at Buffalo
Week 9 BYE
Week 10 vs Seattle
Week 11 at SF
Week 12 at Jets
Week 13 vs. STL
Week 14 vs. Baltimore
Week 15 at Denver
Week 16 vs. Jets
Week 17 at Miami


4 of first 6 including 3 in a row at home in a possible Brady suspension. Bye week in the perfect spot. Without knowing short weeks, I don't really see any horrific stretches. Only one back to back road game scenario.

 

[BannedbyNYYFans.com]

4 of first 6 including 3 in a row at home in a possible Brady suspension. Bye week in the perfect spot. Without knowing short weeks, I don't really see any horrific stretches. Only one back to back road game scenario.

And it's always a good thing when NE isn't playing at Miami with the temperature in the mid 80s.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Looking at the pre-bye schedule, it's very tough with @Arizona, Houston, Cincinnati, and @Pittsburgh all early. Also in there is an always tricky trip to Buffalo. Can they make it to the bye 6-2 or 7-1? If they do, then the 2nd half of the schedule gets easier with San Fransisco, St. Louis, Baltimore, and the Jets twice.