How the NFL Schedule works

[Amped]

So I was just thinking the other day how the people that make the nfl schedule choose what teams they play each year. I might be really late on this and the last person to find this out but is this how it works?
An example would be the Falcons. They are in the NFC South and every NFC and AFC division plays one NFC and one AFC Division a year, so this year the Falcons play the NFC North and AFC South. So since they are in the NFC and are already playing the NFC North, that would take up 4 games, the other 4 go to the AFC South since its 4 teams per division. So 8 games plus playing their division twice adds 6 more games which equals 14. That leaves 2 games for the schedule which go to the other NFC divisions in which the Falcons placed first in theirs last year. So they will play whoever got first last year in the NFC East and West since they are already playing North which would make it the Eagles and Seahawks. Then the divisions they play each year is in a cycle. Since last year Falcons played NFC West, this year the North, which means next year they should play NFC East right? I'm bored and just thought of this and wondered if this is how it works. Now idk how they choose when each team will play each other in the schedule I think that's random and they choose what will be the best games of the week.

[mestevo]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

I think you've just about got it.

• Each team plays home and away against its three division opponents, which accounts for six games on the schedule.

• Each team plays four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle, which accounts for four more games.

• Each team plays four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle, which accounts for another four games.

• Each team plays two intraconference games based on the prior year's standings. For example, the first-place team in a division will play against the first-place team from another division within the same conference. The second place team in a division will play against the second-place team from another division within the same conference, etc...

http://football.about.com/cs/football101/a/bl_schedproced.htm

You can find Atlanta's future opponents here to find out what divisions they play next:

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/schedule/future/

[ImTellinTim]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

They've been doing a rotation since 2001 I believe? If you look back, you essentially know who you'll play each year forever (other than the two positional games, obviously) - at least until they change the scheduling rules, expand, or add more games.

[slickdtc]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

Yeah, since Houston came on as an expansion team, it really worked out. 32 teams, 16 games, pi = 3.14 blah blah blah.

A good system and the big reason why they probably won't expand, opting instead to relocate teams if needed.

[xkevin]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

I think you've just about got it.

http://football.about.com/cs/football101/a/bl_schedproced.htm

You can find Atlanta's future opponents here to find out what divisions they play next:

http://www.atlantafalcons.com/schedule/future/

This is not 100% accurate there are exceptions. The colts and patriots play each other every year since several years ago. It mainly for ratings. If the green bay vs new orleans game is fantastic, don't be surprise if they make it annual event just like the pats vs colts. A Brady vs Manning - Rodgers vs Brees thing. The two best qbs in each conference playing against other.

I don't like this and I think it is unfair but the NFL is about making money.

[Overlast]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

This is not 100% accurate there are exceptions. The colts and patriots play each other every year since several years ago. It mainly for ratings. If the green bay vs new orleans game is fantastic, don't be surprise if they make it annual event just like the pats vs colts. A Brady vs Manning - Rodgers vs Brees thing. The two best qbs in each conference playing against other.

I don't like this and I think it is unfair but the NFL is about making money.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that the Colts and Patriots usually finish first in their respective divisions, right?

[ImTellinTim]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

I'm almost positive there are no "protected" rivalries currently in the NFL schedule.

In fact, here it is:

http://www.tealdragon.net/sports/nflschd.htm#2010

Colts-Pats has just worked out every year. You're going to get situations like that when two teams win their divisions every year. As you can see, all of the AFC East played the AFC South in 2003, 2006, and 2009. In 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008, the AFC East played their positional counterpart in the AFC South.

Even though it would have been a possibility in 2002, the Colts and Pats did not play.

So no, they will not be protecting the GB-NO game for ratings.

[cjonesfan921]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

Another reason why I don't understand the want for 18 games. 19 would make more sense.

With 19, then the other 3 games can be played against the out of conference division, that your division doesn't play. Of course, it would follow protocol. 1st vs 1st, etc.

I wonder how the 18 game would work.

[mestevo]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

Yeah, the only things done for ratings schedule-wise is the position of the games, flexible scheduling, etc, not the matchups themselves.

Consistently good teams consistently play other good teams every year by virtue of finishing first in their division.

[ImTellinTim]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

Yep, that's why they came up with flex scheduling for the last half of the season.

I think the only real restriction is that the final game for every team is a division game.

[Eton Rifles]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

it came in 2002 when the Texans came in to make it 32 teams. At the end of the 2010 every team has played each other at least 2 times since 2002

[kehlis]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

This is not 100% accurate there are exceptions. The colts and patriots play each other every year since several years ago. It mainly for ratings. If the green bay vs new orleans game is fantastic, don't be surprise if they make it annual event just like the pats vs colts. A Brady vs Manning - Rodgers vs Brees thing. The two best qbs in each conference playing against other.

I don't like this and I think it is unfair but the NFL is about making money.

Incorrect, there are no exceptions. You're opponents are strictly based on the system they have in place. Ratings are not considered.

They haven't finished in a different position in their respective division going back to at least 2002 which is why they are always playing each other.

In 08 and 02 they both finished second in the division, every other year since 2002 (possibly longer) they have both finished first.

[TDenverFan]

Re: How the NFL Schedule works

18 Games Could Work Like This:

Each Team plays their division twice, and 2 other division in their conference, (14 Games). Then, they could play 1 division in their other conference, or play the other conference's teams that finished in the same place they did.