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Another unpredictable NFL season is ahead
Some of the key matchups on the league's schedule
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The Cowboys lead the way with seven nationally televised games. The Buffalo Bills and the Oakland Raiders have the toughest strength of schedule, as their opponents had a .539 winning percentage last season.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints have the toughest opening stretch, with both playing their first two games on the road. But the Jacksonville Jaguars are the only team with a three-game road swing during the season, as they go to Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Tennessee in back-to-back-to-back weeks in the middle of the year.
Here are some intriguing games on the schedule:
Sept. 6 – New Orleans at Indianapolis – Peyton Manning opens the season against his hometown team.
Sept. 9 – Chicago at San Diego – The Bears went 13-3 last season; the Chargers were 14-2. One of them will have a loss in Week 1.
Sept. 16 – Houston at Carolina – Panthers backup quarterback David Carr has to be praying for a chance to play against his former team.
Sept. 30 – Pittsburgh at Arizona – In hiring Mike Tomlin as their head coach, the Steelers passed on assistants Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt, who now are in Arizona.
Oct. 7 – Atlanta at Tennessee – Michael Vick set a record for rushing yards by a quarterback; Vince Young set a record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback.
Oct. 7 – NY Jets at NY Giants – The New York teams share a stadium, but they’ve met only 10 times in history with the Giants holding a 6-4 series edge.
Oct. 7 – Seattle at Pittsburgh – A rematch of Super Bowl XL, won by the Steelers 21-10.
Oct. 21 – Chicago at Philadelphia – The defending NFC North champions travel to the defending NFC East champions.
Oct. 28 – NY Giants vs. Miami in London – The NFL plays its second regular-season international game after the success of last year’s game in Mexico.
Nov. 4 – New England at Indianapolis – The Colts rallied from a 21-3 deficit to beat the Patriots 38-34 in the AFC title game, Indy’s third consecutive victory over NE.
Nov. 4 – Dallas at Philadelphia – T.O. returns to Philly, Part II.
Nov. 11 – Indianapolis at San Diego – Peyton Manning vs. LaDainian Tomlinson. It could be for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Nov. 18 – Chicago at Seattle – The Bears beat the Seahawks 27-24 in overtime during the playoffs last season.
Dec. 9 – Indianapolis at Baltimore – The Colts return to their former home, having beaten the Ravens 15-6 in the playoffs last season.
Dec. 30 – Kansas City at NY Jets – Herman Edwards ends the season against his former team.
Dec. 30 – New Orleans at Chicago – A rematch of the NFC Championship game won by the Bears 39-14.
Dec. 30 – Detroit at Green Bay – Could it be Brett Favre’s last home game?
- - Charean Williams, 817-390-7760 cjwilliams@star-telegram.com
Some of the key matchups on the league's schedule
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
The Cowboys lead the way with seven nationally televised games. The Buffalo Bills and the Oakland Raiders have the toughest strength of schedule, as their opponents had a .539 winning percentage last season.
The Kansas City Chiefs and the New Orleans Saints have the toughest opening stretch, with both playing their first two games on the road. But the Jacksonville Jaguars are the only team with a three-game road swing during the season, as they go to Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Tennessee in back-to-back-to-back weeks in the middle of the year.
Here are some intriguing games on the schedule:
Sept. 6 – New Orleans at Indianapolis – Peyton Manning opens the season against his hometown team.
Sept. 9 – Chicago at San Diego – The Bears went 13-3 last season; the Chargers were 14-2. One of them will have a loss in Week 1.
Sept. 16 – Houston at Carolina – Panthers backup quarterback David Carr has to be praying for a chance to play against his former team.
Sept. 30 – Pittsburgh at Arizona – In hiring Mike Tomlin as their head coach, the Steelers passed on assistants Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt, who now are in Arizona.
Oct. 7 – Atlanta at Tennessee – Michael Vick set a record for rushing yards by a quarterback; Vince Young set a record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback.
Oct. 7 – NY Jets at NY Giants – The New York teams share a stadium, but they’ve met only 10 times in history with the Giants holding a 6-4 series edge.
Oct. 7 – Seattle at Pittsburgh – A rematch of Super Bowl XL, won by the Steelers 21-10.
Oct. 21 – Chicago at Philadelphia – The defending NFC North champions travel to the defending NFC East champions.
Oct. 28 – NY Giants vs. Miami in London – The NFL plays its second regular-season international game after the success of last year’s game in Mexico.
Nov. 4 – New England at Indianapolis – The Colts rallied from a 21-3 deficit to beat the Patriots 38-34 in the AFC title game, Indy’s third consecutive victory over NE.
Nov. 4 – Dallas at Philadelphia – T.O. returns to Philly, Part II.
Nov. 11 – Indianapolis at San Diego – Peyton Manning vs. LaDainian Tomlinson. It could be for home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Nov. 18 – Chicago at Seattle – The Bears beat the Seahawks 27-24 in overtime during the playoffs last season.
Dec. 9 – Indianapolis at Baltimore – The Colts return to their former home, having beaten the Ravens 15-6 in the playoffs last season.
Dec. 30 – Kansas City at NY Jets – Herman Edwards ends the season against his former team.
Dec. 30 – New Orleans at Chicago – A rematch of the NFC Championship game won by the Bears 39-14.
Dec. 30 – Detroit at Green Bay – Could it be Brett Favre’s last home game?
- - Charean Williams, 817-390-7760 cjwilliams@star-telegram.com