Patriots 2014 Opponents announced (AFC West/NFC North)

[Norm loves Vera]

Home
Bills
Dolphins
Jets
Broncos
Bears
Bengals
Lions
Raiders

Away
Bills
Dolphins
Jets
Chargers
Chiefs
Colts
Packers
Vikings
 
I am definitely going to the KC Chiefs game... While a lot can happen over the course of a year, but this looks like a pretty tough road schedule.. 
 
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4755928/patriots-2014-opponents-set

 

[rslm]

Gotta cross Lambeau off the bucket list. Hope that one's earlier in the season before it's frigid in Green Bay.

 

[dynomite]

Gotta cross Lambeau off the bucket list. Hope that one's earlier in the season before it's frigid in Green Bay.

 
Not to mention it's probably destined for Sunday/Monday Night Football and an evening start time.

 

[Leather]

Keep in mind the Minnesota game will be outdoors at the University of Minnesota stadium.
 
And I will be there.

 

[Al Zarilla]

Keep in mind the Minnesota game will be outdoors at the University of Minnesota stadium.
 
And I will be there.

I assume that's an interim thing while a new stadium is being built for the Vikings? Domed or not domed?

 

[shoosh77]

I've been taking my oldest (now 8) the last couple years to home games to see potential HOF's on away teams.  Did Larry Fitz last year, Drew Brees this year.  Might have to up the budget for Broncos at home, and Minny on the road.  Also looking at that Green Bay game for the bucket list, as mentioned above.

 

[Leather]

I assume that's an interim thing while a new stadium is being built for the Vikings? Domed or not domed?

 
Domed.

 
And prowed.
 

 

[Kliq]

At least this year the league didn't have to squeeze Denver in there, saddled us with CIN and IND instead.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Gotta do Green Bay. Hope it's in December so I can make it with my work schedule.

 

[DJnVa]

At least this year the league didn't have to squeeze Denver in there, saddled us with CIN and IND instead.

 
Am I missing something? Denver is on the schedule.

 

[Super Nomario]

At least this year the league didn't have to squeeze Denver in there, saddled us with CIN and IND instead.

?????

 

[E5 Yaz]

Is that Minn stadium near Target Field at all?

 

[Leather]

Is that Minn stadium near Target Field at all?

 
The new one?  It's on the other side of downtown, which will be either a 20 minute walk through the skyways/on the streets, or a 6 minute ride on the lightrail.

 

[Kliq]

 
Am I missing something? Denver is on the schedule.

 

?????

 
Should have clarified. Every year the NFL makes the Pats play Manning (even when he was on Indy). For the two games that do not involve the AFC East or the other two divisions that we have to play, you could bank on one of those games being against Manning. This year they didn't have to do that because the division cycle made it so that they don't have to go out of there way to scheulde the Pats against Denver.

 

[mpx42]

That's not how it works at all...the Patriots would always play the Colts because both teams always won their divisions every year.

 

[Euclis20]

 
 
Should have clarified. Every year the NFL makes the Pats play Manning (even when he was on Indy). For the two games that do not involve the AFC East or the other two divisions that we have to play, you could bank on one of those games being against Manning. This year they didn't have to do that because the division cycle made it so that they don't have to go out of there way to scheulde the Pats against Denver.

 
The NFL doesn't "make" the Pats play Manning every year.  They play every year because 1st place teams always play the other 1st place teams in the conference, 2nd place teams always play 2nd place teams, etc etc.  Manning's Colts (now Broncos) and Brady's Patriots almost always won their respective divisions, so they almost always played in the regular season. 
 
*edit-Not the hardest or easiest schedule.  The ACF west is a tough division to draw, but the NFC north doesn't exactly have any world-beaters (although a healthy Rodgers might change that).  Likely that only 7/16 games will be against playoff teams (only 5, if Miami doesn't make it), and an overall record of 103-105-2, or .495. 

 

[JerBear]

 
 
Should have clarified. Every year the NFL makes the Pats play Manning (even when he was on Indy). For the two games that do not involve the AFC East or the other two divisions that we have to play, you could bank on one of those games being against Manning. This year they didn't have to do that because the division cycle made it so that they don't have to go out of there way to scheulde the Pats against Denver.

The schedule is completely set by formula.  You play 6 games in division, 4 games against a complete in conference division, 4 games against a complete out of conference division, and the remaining 2 games against the in conference division teams with the same position in the division as you did in the previous year. Brady/Manning is because they were always the number 1 team in their division so it didn't matter what other division they were playing.

 

[Kliq]

The schedule is completely set by formula.  You play 6 games in division, 4 games against a complete in conference division, 4 games against a complete out of conference division, and the remaining 2 games against the in conference division teams with the same position in the division as you did in the previous year. Brady/Manning is because they were always the number 1 team in their division so it didn't matter what other division they were playing.

 
Okay, my bad. I read in an SI article about a month ago that Brady and Manning had faced each other an abnormal amount of times, but I was unaware of the division champion formula. Thanks, for clarifying.

 

[ivanvamp]

Home
Bills
Dolphins
Jets
Broncos
Bears
Bengals
Lions
Raiders

Away
Bills
Dolphins
Jets
Chargers
Chiefs
Colts
Packers
Vikings
 
I am definitely going to the KC Chiefs game... While a lot can happen over the course of a year, but this looks like a pretty tough road schedule.. 
 
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4755928/patriots-2014-opponents-set

 
Seriously, not that I'm complaining, but how come they keep getting Denver at home?  How do they decide these things?  
 
Note:  This isn't a question about why NE plays Denver.  It's about why NE keeps getting Denver in New England.  How do they decide who plays *where*?

 

[mpx42]

 
Seriously, not that I'm complaining, but how come they keep getting Denver at home?  How do they decide these things?  
 
Note:  This isn't a question about why NE plays Denver.  It's about why NE keeps getting Denver in New England.  How do they decide who plays *where*?

 
It's on a rotating three-year schedule. In 2015-17, all games between the two teams will be in Denver.
 
Or to explain it better: in 2017 the Patriots are scheduled to play the Broncos on the road, and in 2015 and 16 AFC West teams are scheduled to host AFC East teams that finish in the same divisional ranking they do. That home/away designation flips every three years.

 

[MJM2344]

Green Bay, Denver, Indy, Jets? for primetime games? Wonder if they'll play on Thanksgiving in Detroit again this year, or maybe in 2015 in Dallas.  

 

[Senator Donut]

Green Bay, Denver, Indy, Jets? for primetime games? Wonder if they'll play on Thanksgiving in Detroit again this year, or maybe in 2015 in Dallas.  

The Lions game is in Foxboro next year. Their Thanksgiving game will almost certainly be the Dolphins. (Bills are the only other option for CBS.)

 

[Byrdbrain]

 
Seriously, not that I'm complaining, but how come they keep getting Denver at home?  How do they decide these things?  
 
Note:  This isn't a question about why NE plays Denver.  It's about why NE keeps getting Denver in New England.  How do they decide who plays *where*?

Tom Jackson would like to know the same thing not that he is saying anything funny is going on but it sure seems funny doesn't it.

 

[snowmanny]

Pats had to go to Indianapolis three years in a row when Manning was there (2007-9).

 

[PseuFighter]

keep thinking patriots/packers will be the evening thanksgiving game, but i'm probably wrong.
 
anyway, i'm about 90% sure i'll be at that game. looks like a lot of others will be making that trip too.

 

[NoXInNixon]

I've been taking my oldest (now 8) the last couple years to home games to see potential HOF's on away teams.  Did Larry Fitz last year, Drew Brees this year.  Might have to up the budget for Broncos at home, and Minny on the road.  Also looking at that Green Bay game for the bucket list, as mentioned above.

I would think HOF bucket player for next year would be Megatron, wouldn't it?

 

[Dogman]

I'm most likely going to head to Lambeau as well.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Most likely prime time games would be Broncos and Bears at home and Green Bay and Indianapolis on the road.

 

[shoosh77]

I would think HOF bucket player for next year would be Megatron, wouldn't it?

That's a home game right?  If so looks like Stubhub will be getting some serious business.

 

[Leather]

When is the actual schedule released?

 

[Corsi]

When is the actual schedule released?

 
Usually mid-April, but it could be later with the draft being moved back this year.

 

[54thMA]

The Vikings should have sacked up and built an outdoor stadium for the Vikings, they had one of the best HFA's at the old Met in Bloomington.  They were virtually unbeatable in the playoffs there from the late 60's to the mid 70's, having a very good team helped, but they had a huge advantage over teams like the Rams who'd come there and soil themselves in those frigid conditions.

 

[Al Zarilla]

The Vikings should have sacked up and built an outdoor stadium for the Vikings, they had one of the best HFA's at the old Met in Bloomington.  They were virtually unbeatable in the playoffs there from the late 60's to the mid 70's, having a very good team helped, but they had a huge advantage over teams like the Rams who'd come there and soil themselves in those frigid conditions.

If the Packers can play outside...Patriots, Giants, Eagles, Bills, etc..
 
Remember Tarkenton running on ice and snow keeping away from defenders for what seemed like a half a minute. That was fun.