Scheduling

Here's a simple yet deep look at how the NFL makes it schedules. This insight comes from years and years of studying schedules as part of my pre-season previews of each division. None of this information came from any actual articles or real research but from years and years of experience. 1st Component to the NFL Schedule In-Division Games - Everyone gets this piece of the pie. You play the teams in your own division twice. Once at home, once on the road. This accounts for 6 of a team's 16 games during the season. 2nd Component of the NFL Schedule Cross Division Match-ups - Each Division of teams takes part in match-ups across two other divisions. Each team will split home and away games with one division in the NFC and one division in the AFC. For example the NFC South this season will play each team in the NFC West and the AFC North. These cross division games count for 8 of a team's 16 games. 3rd Component of the NFL Schedule Placement Games - In the NFL's constant attempt to produce parity and close competition week to week they have decided to match-up good teams with good teams and bad teams with bad teams as much as possible. These games are determined by where teams finished in the standings last year. For example the Atlanta Falcons finished in 2nd place in the NFC South so they get to play two teams who finished 2nd in their divisions split home and away. This year The NFC South is playing against the NFC North and NFC East in their Placement Games, so the Falcons play Green Bay (the 2nd place team from the NFC North in 2009) and the Philly Eagles (the 2nd place team from the NFC East in 2009) in what the NFL sees as two teams who should be close to the Falcons level of competition. The Placement Games make up only 2 of a team's 16 games. So, there is your break-down of how the NFL Schedules teams seasons.    6   - In-Division Games    8   - Cross Division Games    2   - Placement Games = 16 - Total Games I haven't heard anything about where the next 2 games would come from if the NFL goes to an 18 game regular season but my bet would be that they add an additional 2 placement games with other divisions to produce even more parity. You Are Welcome, The Chairman for entertainment purposes only. K&S Enterprises fully supports the views and opinions expressed by this writer and takes them as verified facts.