2009 Opponents

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by Keith

The Texans get the NFC West and AFC East next season as part of the the regular season schedule.

Home:
49ers, Seahawks, Patriots, Jets, Colts, Titans, Jaguars, +AFC West
...looks like either the Raiders or Chiefs.

Away:
Cardinals, Rams, Bills, Dolphins, Colts, Titans, Jaguars, +AFC North
...looks like the Browns here.

Seems like a FAR more favorable schedule next year, though the AFC East is quite formidable based on 2008 performance. It's probably countered by the weakness of the NFC West, but conference record could play a factor in tie-breakers, too.

At first blush, I'm hoping to avoid a December trip to Buffalo; but then again, the frigid temps haven't been a problem for the Texans in the past.

From a scheduling standpoint, my only real request would be that we get the Patriots early when Brady may still be a little rusty. There are apparently some rumors that his knee isn't doing as well as they would like so maybe he wouldn't even be ready to go at all. Certainly don't wish any player ill will (well, not most players) but considering the Texans have led the league in players on IR several years of our short existence, I have no problem benefitting from the other end of that for once.

[TheMatrix31]

I can see us going 10-6 next year, which is an opinion based off nothing of substance, really.

[HPF Bob]

Isn't it in the contract that we have to play the Raiders and Browns every year, usually on the road? Sure seems that way.

There have been rumblings that Goodell wants to expand the season to 18 games and mix up the schedules. Personally, I love it the way it is because you can tell when the regular season is over who all your opponents will be and you are guaranteed to see every team at least once every four years. Unless you play a 31-game round robin every season, there is no way to make the schedules entirely fair but the way they do it now is, at least, transparent.

Just on first blush:

Wins: 49ers, Seahawks, Jets (if no Favre), Titans (H), AFC West, Rams, Bills, Browns, Jaguars (A), Dolphins (our bitch).

Losses: Patriots, Jets (with Favre), Titans (A), Colts (H), Colts (A), Jaguars (H), Cardinals.

That's 10-6 or 9-7 depending on whether Favre plays another year. Of course, the four-game win streak may make me overly optimistic but that's how I see it. I could see us going 10-6 and still finishing third in our own division.

[Joshua]

Originally Posted by HPF Bob

Just on first blush:

Wins: 49ers, Seahawks, Jets (if no Favre), Titans (H), AFC West, Rams, Bills, Browns, Jaguars (A), Dolphins (our bitch).

Losses: Patriots, Jets (with Favre), Titans (A), Colts (H), Colts (A), Jaguars (H), Cardinals.

That's 10-6 or 9-7 depending on whether Favre plays another year. Of course, the four-game win streak may make me overly optimistic but that's how I see it. I could see us going 10-6 and still finishing third in our own division.

I'm even more optimistic -

Games we should win: 49ers, Seahawks, Jets, Titans, AFC West, Rams, Bills, Browns, Jaguars (twice), Dolphins, Colts, Cardinals

Games I think we will lose: Patriots, Titans, Colts

Now, I realize we're not likely to go 13-3 and I suspect we'll drop a couple of the winnable games, but I could see 11-5 with this schedule.

Arizona has been terrible outside their crummy division (3-6). The AFC East got to play both the AFC West (DEN, SD, OAK, KC) and the NFC West (ARI, STL, SEA, SF). I think you will see the Jets and Dolphins come back to earth next year when they have to play a real schedule.

[Nconroe]

Like ya'll said, right now the opposition looks like it will give us a fair chance at a good season making the playoffs.

[jppaul]

Just saw this:

Houston Texans

Home: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, New England, N.Y. Jets, Oakland, San Francisco, Seattle

Away: Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Tennessee, Buffalo, Miami, Cincinnati, Arizona, St. Louis

That schedule is noticeably easier than our last three years. Notably, Jets without Favre, Oakland (despite our last crappy outing), San Francisco (who will likely not be in good shape next year) and Seattle who is a total mess and lost thier head coach).

This is a marshmallow puff schedule. Playoffs here we come.

[HPF Bob]

We catch a break that we don't have any West Coast road games. Arizona is Mountain time and St. Louis, of course, is Central. In addition, all our road games are before fan bases that can be lukewarm towards their teams. Still, the AFC East is not an easy division to get through. None of them are going to be easy although our personal bitch, the Dolphins, are one of them.