NFL ready to release long-awaited schedule today at 1:00 EST

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2832754

Although the schedule isn't everything in determining the fate of an NFL team, it means a lot more than coaches want to admit.

SportsCenter Special: 2007 NFL Schedule Release
ESPN will have the release of the 2007 schedule covered, with a special edition of SportsCenter today (1-3 ET, ESPN). Trey Wingo, Mark Schlereth and Darren Woodson will be on set to break down the schedule. Also appearing on the show to offer analysis will be Ron Jaworski, Tony Kornheiser and Chris Mortensen. Guests will include Tony Dungy and Joey Porter.

On Wednesday at 1 p.m. Eastern, everything about the 2007 NFL schedule will be revealed. The schedule release day is becoming more and more like an unofficial holiday every spring. ESPN and The NFL Network each have two-hour specials. Fans have opportunities to study their schedule and map out their falls, particularly if they plan to travel to a few road games of their favorite teams.

Those who are traveling spring to their phones in order to book hotel rooms, particularly for some of the hard-to-get hotels over busy fall weekends. Other fans rush to book air travel. Teams scramble to get the right hotel locations.

NFL schedule sneak peek
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced the following games for the 2007 NFL schedule last month.

Week 1
Thursday Night: Saints at Colts (NBC)
Sunday: Bears at Chargers (FOX)
Sunday Night: Giants at Cowboys (NBC)
Monday Night: Ravens at Bengals and Cardinals at 49ers (ESPN doubleheader)

Thanksgiving
Packers at Lions (FOX)
Jets at Cowboys (CBS)
Colts at Falcons (NFL Network)
From the competitive standpoint, how the schedule breaks down determines a team's chance. Last year, for example, the Colts had three AFC South home games scheduled during the first five weeks of the season. Win those games and Indianapolis could take early control of its division. The Colts won the games and eventually won the Super Bowl. Cold weather teams look for the chance to get four home games in the final six weeks of the season. Warm weather teams hope for an extra September home game to wear out a visiting team not used to heat and humidity.

The newest twist involves the additional night games and flexible scheduling. The eight Thursday or Saturday games given to The NFL Network plus the post-Thanksgiving ability of NBC to move Sunday day games into the night also play a big impact. NFL players and coaches love consistency, but the weekly challenge of playing a day game one week and a night game the next tends to mentally wear on a team.

Those stories will be unveiled Wednesday.
 
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