NFC East and South Face Daunting Schedules in 09
Cutler and Bears Have Easiest Schedule In The League
The countdown to the 2009 NFL season is now in full swing with the release of the team's schedules for the season. The NFC Conference has been thrown wide open as the two harder divisions within the conference (NFC East and South) must face each other throughout the season.
Who Has The Easiest Schedule?
A few weeks ago many people questioned why Jay Cutler would want to leave the Denver Broncos for the Chicago Bears. Well Cutler will certainly breathe a lot easier after the Bears received, quite possibly, the easiest 2009 schedule in the NFL.
The Bears open up with a Sunday night encounter against divisional rivals Green Bay Packers and then Superbowl Champs the Pittsburgh Steelers. However from week 2 through to week 9, which includes a bye, the Bears face five teams they should beat on last year's form.
Not only this but when you consider that the Bears have to face the NFC West, the Bears will know a 9-7 record may be enough to get a play-off spot with the NFC East facing off against the NFC South.
The determining factor to the success of the Bears campaign will be the four game series against fellow NFC opponents from week 9 through to week 13. If the Bears go 3-1 or 2-2 in this patch they will be in pole position for a play-off place.
Who Has The Toughest Schedule?
While the Bears will be pleased with the way their schedule has been formulated, there are a host of other teams who will facing a daunting prospect in 2009.
The Panthers could struggle with fixtures against the NFC East and AFC East. A bye week in week 4 will come as no positive to coach John Fox as it will mean Carolina will face a stretch of 12 games including a tough 3 week schedule in the middle of the season. In this time they will face divisional rivals the Saints and Falcons; plus a Thursday night encounter against the Dolphins. Fox will know he will need to produce a robust, injury-free roster if the Panthers wish to repeat their success of winning the NFC South.
The NFC East teams also have a tough schedule by facing the NFC South and AFC West; it is already evident that the divisional games between these franchises will be pivotal in deciding the outcome of this division.
Which Franchise Could Be A Surprise?
Though the NFC East and South are facing difficult schedules, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be the surprise element in the NFC.
The Bucs do face a tough start by playing the whole of the NFC East, the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers before their bye week in week 8. However from then on their run in comprises of tight games that if the Bucs find a way to win will put Raheem Morris's men in with a genuine shot at a play-off berth.
Another advantage for Tampa is the fact that they have few, if any, nationally televised fixtures. Hence Tampa's weekly schedule will almost remain a constant pattern, with Sunday games at either 1.00 pm ET or 4.15 pm ET. As a result the franchise will be able to get into a pattern of work in which they can generate momentum from.
Attention will now turn to the draft in a little over a week's time. Teams now know their schedules but will recognise a lot of hard work still needs to be put in before that opening week of the season in September.
What do you think about this article?
Latest Articles