View Full Version : 2006 Schedule Now Set
DomCasual
12-25-2005, 01:29 AM
Well, it's kind of set - there are obviously no dates yet. But we know the teams.
Home
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
Indianapolis
Baltimore
Cincinnati
San Francisco
Seattle
Away
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
New England
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Arizona
St. Louis
Overall, I'd say it's not too bad. There are some winnable games on the road, and we get the tougher part of the schedule at home.
OrangeShadow
12-25-2005, 05:28 AM
thats a pretty tough looking schedule
Rausch
12-25-2005, 05:48 AM
Not an easy schedule...
very true, however, the same was said about this year's schedule, too, with the Eagles and Patriots coming to town. This year's schedule was not easy by any means, however, some of the games we expected to be nail-biters - weren't.
Regardless, next year's schedule will provide another series of exciting home games :)
~Crash~
12-25-2005, 05:59 AM
want to bet we get to go to KC late again !
~Crash~
12-25-2005, 06:02 AM
that is another brutal schedule well atleast they cannot cook us at the start of the season except Arizona and dry heat is not that hard to play in at all.
want to bet we get to go to KC late again !
Not that the NFL should consider "fairness" in setting the schedule but giving the Chiefs two HOME games against divisional opponents in December is a tremendous advantage for the Chiefs. With a four month schedule and three divisional opponents, it's statistically unlikely that should happen (that they get two home games against divisional opponents in the same month, especially December).
SpringStein
12-25-2005, 06:52 AM
want to bet we get to go to KC late again !
This was two consecutive years going to Arrowhead in December, I believe we will play there first next year and then here for the second game.
BroncoBuff
12-25-2005, 07:43 AM
Oh, well . . . the Seahawks game is in Denver so I guess I won't be going . . .
Hogan11
12-25-2005, 10:20 AM
Well, barring something happening on the homefront or the game set on a tricky day (like Xmas) the home game to attend for me is pretty much the KC game from here on out.
Cleveland looks real good for the away one, being so close and all.....if SD is a great time, a return there wouldn't be out of the question either.
Hey, never too early to start planning and saving for game trips and tailgating :thumbs:
The Big E
12-25-2005, 10:22 AM
When do they set the dates?
Hogan11
12-25-2005, 10:24 AM
When do they set the dates?
Can't really remember but I believe it's in April.
That's when both my trips were booked anyways and I know we did it straightaway after the schedule came out.
Rascal
12-25-2005, 10:26 AM
Well, it's kind of set - there are obviously no dates yet. But we know the teams.
Home
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
Indianapolis
Baltimore
Cincinnati
San Francisco
Seattle
Away
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
New England
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Arizona
St. Louis
Wow...tough schedule IMO. Seattle, Indy, and Bengals...woof. Three of the best offenses in the league.
New England will be tough as will the Steelers especially away.
rodr88
12-25-2005, 10:27 AM
want to bet we get to go to KC late again !
I expect so, got to give the cheaps fans their "Superbowl". Otherwise they don't get close to one.
The Big E
12-25-2005, 10:29 AM
Can't really remember but I believe it's in April.
That's when both my trips were booked anyways and I know we did it straightaway after the schedule came out.
Thanks Hogan. I want to see if the Broncos will be playing at home the same weekend my Sun Devils play at Colorado. If so, I want to start planning early to get there.
Jens1893
12-25-2005, 10:47 AM
Thanks Hogan. I want to see if the Broncos will be playing at home the same weekend my Sun Devils play at Colorado. If so, I want to start planning early to get there.
You better hope the Broncos open up the new season away then as the Buffs play ASU on September 16th. Canīt see us opening up with 2 straight home or away games.
watermock
12-25-2005, 11:29 AM
Sheesh...Hannable had an easier schedule. Or Jesus. You can expect a tough schedule with our record, but that's rediculous. We play all 3 divisional AFC winners plus Seattle and Pittsburg. They threw in some dogs, but man.
Jens1893
12-25-2005, 11:35 AM
Sheesh...Hannable had an easier schedule. Or Jesus. You can expect a tough schedule with our record, but that's rediculous. We play all 3 divisional AFC winners plus Seattle and Pittsburg. They threw in some dogs, but man.
Well, no surprise we got Pitt and Seattle as we were going to play the NFC West and the AFC North anyway. We couldīve gone 0-16 and weīd have played them. New England and Cincy are the teams we get for winning the division.
Clockwork Orange
12-25-2005, 11:36 AM
Looks like a pretty standard first place schedule.
TexanBob
12-25-2005, 11:50 AM
That looks like an 11-5 or 10-6 schedule to me.
BTW, how do you know home and away opponents, particularly since Baltimore and Cleveland still haven't decided their places in the standings?
Woohoo Arizona road trip for me !
Clockwork Orange
12-25-2005, 11:59 AM
Woohoo Arizona road trip for me !
With the amount of Bronco fans that show up in Arizona for those games, that's practically a bonus home game for the Broncos.
Jens1893
12-25-2005, 12:01 PM
Donīt the Cardinals move into their new stadium next season?
Rausch
12-25-2005, 12:03 PM
Where'd you guys find this?
I'd like to check the Chiefs schedule for next year...
Rock Chalk
12-25-2005, 12:04 PM
Not an easy schedule...
Understatement of the year.
Indy, Pitt, New England, Cincy and Seattle are all going to be good teams next year, just like this year.
The only thing is, the division doesn't quite look as tough anymore.
With strife in Jokeland and Vermeil's imminent retirement, coupled with Schotty syndrome, I do not know that the other teams in teh AFC West are going to be doing much next year.
Tell you what, we got some soft games too. Baltimore, Cleveland, Arizona, St. Louis, and San Francisco. Five very winnable games. Add in the sweep of the division next year and guess what, you get at least an 11-5 team.
Sheesh...Hannable had an easier schedule. Or Jesus. You can expect a tough schedule with our record, but that's rediculous. We play all 3 divisional AFC winners plus Seattle and Pittsburg. They threw in some dogs, but man.
Actually, the entire NFL schedule is set on a rotational basis through 2009, with the exception of one home and one away game for each team each season. Those two games are based on how teams finish in their division. For example, the reason the Broncos play the Colts and Patriots next year is because they and the Broncos finished in 1st place.
Here's a great source if you want to plan ahead for future Broncos' opponents, http://www.johnnyroadtrip.com/schedules/nfl_future_afcw.htm
Jens1893
12-25-2005, 12:07 PM
Where'd you guys find this?
I'd like to check the Chiefs schedule for next year...
The teams are the same except for Cincy and New England. The AFC West plays the AFC North and the NFC West next season. If you finish second you get Jacksonville and Miami, if you finish third you get Buffalo and Tennessee.
orinjkrush
12-25-2005, 12:36 PM
looks like just a tad harder than this year. remember how people were gnashing their teeth when this year's schedule came out? well, this team has grown by facing the best all year.
Goobzilla
12-25-2005, 12:37 PM
Oh, well . . . the Seahawks game is in Denver so I guess I won't be going . . .
Yeah, that sucks. Coulda had quite the NW Orange party going. Back when I was living in Bremerton a bunch of us would go to the annual Broncos-Hawks game. We'd usually get our full Bronco gear on and ride the ferry over. The ride over was always a blast and more often than not it was a fun ride home _i_O_i_
Moving Seattle to the NFC West was a dark day for me and the rest of us mossbacks.
Ballhawk
12-25-2005, 12:40 PM
Schedules like these are what makes back to backs tough.
phillybroncosnut
12-25-2005, 12:56 PM
We'll I was gonna say the game at Pittsburgh is a lock for me to attend. only a 6 hour drive for me.
I'm thinking though, That I should start planning now for a game IN DENVER! It's about time I get back out there to see a game. Maybe I wait to see which game the Orangemane crew is attending (Sass, Blue, Hog, Pez, TJ, etc).
We should all try to make a set game to attend. That Tailgate would kick ass!
I'm just glad we managed to draw the NFC West and Seattle at home.
Indy will be tough but it is in Denver... NE should be tough on the road but they are getting older... Dillon, how much time does that guy have left? Just some money on this but I imagine the schedule makers will have our December schedule looking something like this... 3 games on the road...
-@ KC
-@ NE
-Indy
-@ SD
They do it to us every year. I'm just happy that they can't send us to FLA for the third consecutive year in the heat of September.
Yeah, that sucks. Coulda had quite the NW Orange party going. Back when I was living in Bremerton a bunch of us would go to the annual Broncos-Hawks game. We'd usually get our full Bronco gear on and ride the ferry over. The ride over was always a blast and more often than not it was a fun ride home _i_O_i_
Moving Seattle to the NFC West was a dark day for me and the rest of us mossbacks.
If the current layout continues beyond 2009, the next time the Broncos would play AT Seattle would be 2010.
No1BroncoFan
12-25-2005, 02:50 PM
Moving Seattle to the NFC West was a dark day for me and the rest of us mossbacks.
I was initially upset to see the Seachickes leave the AFC west, especially since I was stuck in the Pacific Northwest there for a while. But, it's really the only team that made sense. Denver, Oakland, KC (Dallas) and San Diego (Los Angeles) were the original teams in the division. Seattle didn't join up until the '70s and their first year was in the NFC.
Ben
-Slap-
12-25-2005, 02:57 PM
With the amount of Bronco fans that show up in Arizona for those games, that's practically a bonus home game for the Broncos.
I'll be there.......:)
I'm just delighted we pulled the feeble NFC West.
Broncos4tw
12-25-2005, 03:11 PM
It changes every year. With all the free agency signings, changes in coaches and team philosophies, it's a strange chance when a team is repeatedly good unless they have some very solid talent. This doesn't look much worse than this year really. We get Colts at home at least!
If we win the SB this year, it doesn't matter who we play.
eddie mac
12-25-2005, 03:30 PM
Tough schedule with some hard teams on there but then again I'm sure the likes of Indy and Seattle arent looking forward to playing an undefeated home team next season.
I'll go ahead and make an early prediction of 13-3.
sledgehammer
12-25-2005, 06:44 PM
WINS
Kansas City
Oakland
San Diego
Baltimore
Cincinnati
San Francisco
Seattle
at Oakland
at Cleveland
at Arizona
at St. Louis
LOSSES
Indianapolis
at Kansas City
at San Diego
at Pittsburgh
at New England
Hercules Rockefeller
12-25-2005, 06:49 PM
With the amount of Bronco fans that show up in Arizona for those games, that's practically a bonus home game for the Broncos.
Arizona fans think (or at least they thought a few weeks ago), that this game should be one of the primetime games to open the season since they've got a new stadium. Don't know why they think they deserve a primetime game next year though.
For Denver though:
All AFCW games, Indy, Pitt, Cincy, Seattle, and the Pats look like primetime possibilities.
ludo21
12-25-2005, 06:56 PM
SWEEETTT!!!!
AZ game is my time to go!! WOO!!, ill be their for that game for sure!!
24champ
12-25-2005, 08:27 PM
Ill be heading to some of the Denver home games next year since ill be moving to Denver. I got that Colts game circled already.
Rock Chalk
12-25-2005, 08:39 PM
I'm just glad we managed to draw the NFC West and Seattle at home.
Indy will be tough but it is in Denver... NE should be tough on the road but they are getting older... Dillon, how much time does that guy have left? Just some money on this but I imagine the schedule makers will have our December schedule looking something like this... 3 games on the road...
-@ KC
-@ NE
-Indy
-@ SD
They do it to us every year. I'm just happy that they can't send us to FLA for the third consecutive year in the heat of September.
We won't go to the playoffs with that ending schedule next year, I promise you.
I love my team but that's freakin brutal. Larry Johnson, Tom Brady, Edge/Manning/Harrison, Tomlinson/Gates in consecutive weeks and 3 of them on the road?
Id be happy with 1-3.
I bet we get 4 overall primetime games (SNF and MNF football) with 2 being divisional games with KC and SD (Oakland probably wont improve enough in the eyes of the nFL to merit a primetime appearance) and the other two being with whoever we beat in the playoffs this year on our way to the Superbowl.
big56fan#1
12-25-2005, 08:51 PM
Ill be at the Steelers game since its 30 mins away. Been waiting for the game for 3yrs since i moved here. Cant wait,yaahoooooo!!!
The Big E
12-25-2005, 10:42 PM
Arizona fans think (or at least they thought a few weeks ago), that this game should be one of the primetime games to open the season since they've got a new stadium. Don't know why they think they deserve a primetime game next year though.
For Denver though:
All AFCW games, Indy, Pitt, Cincy, Seattle, and the Pats look like primetime possibilities.
As defending Super Bowl champs I'd imagine they'll want us on primetime quite a bit. :thumbsup:
I was hoping to do an ASU/Broncos weekend trip to Colorado if the schedule worked out, but I hadn't noticed the game in AZ. That might work as well.
I'd prefer to go to a game in Denver, though, as I've never been, and would like to meet some OM maniacs there. Even Meck, despite the fact he went to school in the wrong part of Arizona. j/k.
DomCasual
12-25-2005, 10:48 PM
Okay, I apparently see this schedule completely differently than most of you. I think it looks okay.
Things can change dramatically from one year to the next, obviously. But looking at that schedule based on the relative strength of this year's teams, I see 11 or 12 wins there.
Regardless of who we play, we will likely be favored in all of our home games.
For the road games, you always have the AFC West games, and then you have Pittsburgh and New England that jump out at you. Otherwise, you have three non-AFC West games that look extremely winnable - games in which we should be favored.
So, you get 8 home games and at least 4 road games (St. Louis, Arizona, Oakland, and Cleveland) in which we should be favorites, based on this year's teams. That's not too bad.
broncoblue
12-26-2005, 03:26 AM
rIGHT FOLKS HERES THE DEAL!!!
cards away ive rels in phoenix ,so im planning a three week bronco tour!!!
2 home games one road trip to az ,hopefully vegas tbincluded...so i need you fellas and ladiez to send me mojo pray for me and make sure i sell my house so that i can do it .....
is the of1 going to az ???
SpringStein
12-27-2005, 06:36 AM
I'm just glad we managed to draw the NFC West and Seattle at home.
Indy will be tough but it is in Denver... NE should be tough on the road but they are getting older... Dillon, how much time does that guy have left? Just some money on this but I imagine the schedule makers will have our December schedule looking something like this... 3 games on the road...
-@ KC
-@ NE
-Indy
-@ SD
They do it to us every year. I'm just happy that they can't send us to FLA for the third consecutive year in the heat of September.
I don't think we'll go to KC in December for the 3rd consecutive year. I'm betting we play at KC early and have KC here late.
Mile High Shack
12-27-2005, 06:39 AM
indeed a tough schedule BUT
what can you do
you get 1st place you are going to play all the tough AFC teams since you have to play the other 1st place teams
Broncoman13
12-27-2005, 06:39 AM
Not an easy schedule...
It's a helluva lot easier drawing the PAC-10 as opposed to the ACC!!! I'd much rather play Seattle, StL, AZ, and SanFran than Dallas, Wash, NYG, and Philly!!!
As for the AFC teams, Indy, NE, and Cincy are givens tops in their divisions.
bronco militia
12-27-2005, 06:49 AM
finishing 1st in the Division got the Broncos the Pats and Colts....the rest of those teams were set in 2002
Archie
12-27-2005, 06:56 AM
Not that the NFL should consider "fairness" in setting the schedule but giving the Chiefs two HOME games against divisional opponents in December is a tremendous advantage for the Chiefs. With a four month schedule and three divisional opponents, it's statistically unlikely that should happen (that they get two home games against divisional opponents in the same month, especially December).
We had Chiefs and San Diego back to back in September this year at Invesco...
bendog
12-27-2005, 06:57 AM
I'm thinking of cancelling direct ticket. I wonder how many will be nationally broadcast.
Mile High Shack
12-27-2005, 06:58 AM
I'm thinking of cancelling direct ticket. I wonder how many will be nationally broadcast.
I'm thinking about 90% of them will be
bendog
12-27-2005, 07:04 AM
I'm thinking about 90% of them will be
my thought too. esp if Den can win at least one playoff game.
We won't go to the playoffs with that ending schedule next year, I promise you.
I love my team but that's freakin brutal. Larry Johnson, Tom Brady, Edge/Manning/Harrison, Tomlinson/Gates in consecutive weeks and 3 of them on the road?
Id be happy with 1-3.
I bet we get 4 overall primetime games (SNF and MNF football) with 2 being divisional games with KC and SD (Oakland probably wont improve enough in the eyes of the nFL to merit a primetime appearance) and the other two being with whoever we beat in the playoffs this year on our way to the Superbowl.
It's premature to say we won't make the playoffs in 2006. This year's schedule was brutal, too, even for a 2nd place schedule. I'm looking forward to some great home games next year.
Broncoman13
12-27-2005, 07:11 AM
I think Alec was talking about making the playoffs with the final 4 games being @KC, @NE, INDY, and @ SD... or something like that. KC in December is brutal!
Rascal
12-27-2005, 07:13 AM
We won't face KC late in December...at least we shouldn't. We should face them in KC early in the year and they will come to denver late in the year.
A good thing for us since they will be replacing a HC and possibly more at the end of the offseason and it will take them a while to gell.
Mile High Shack
12-27-2005, 07:14 AM
my thought too. esp if Den can win at least one playoff game.
I guess it depends on your part of the country too....as you are in the south, it's harder to get a Bronco game
Home
Oakland (nope)
Kansas City (yep)
San Diego (yep)
Indianapolis (yep)
Baltimore (yep...they will be better next year)
Cincinnati (yep)
San Francisco (no)
Seattle (yes)
Away
Oakland (no)
Kansas City (yes)
San Diego (yes)
New England (yes)
Cleveland (no...but cleveland could be decent next year..so maybe)
Pittsburgh (yes)
Arizona (no)
St. Louis (no)
I say 10 games out of 16
Jens1893
12-27-2005, 07:25 AM
I guess it depends on your part of the country too....as you are in the south, it's harder to get a Bronco game
Home
Oakland (nope)
Kansas City (yep)
San Diego (yep)
Indianapolis (yep)
Baltimore (yep...they will be better next year)
Cincinnati (yep)
San Francisco (no)
Seattle (yes)
Away
Oakland (no)
Kansas City (yes)
San Diego (yes)
New England (yes)
Cleveland (no...but cleveland could be decent next year..so maybe)
Pittsburgh (yes)
Arizona (no)
St. Louis (no)
I say 10 games out of 16
our home games will all be late kickoffs and id say only the cleveland, pittsburgh and new england games might be early kickoffs ... late kickoffs are always good as thereīs only 3 or 4 games on at that time and i could see the new england or pittsburgh game being on at prime time
bendog
12-27-2005, 07:36 AM
Is espn gonna do a late sunday game AND mnf? If so, I'd think Den might get two games via them. I'd think the Indy game would have to be a national feed. seattle too, IF my local cbs outlet is gonna carry a late game. Fox will put Den at NE as the natioanal.
Sadly, I'd have a better chance IF the saints would move to texas.
Jens1893
12-27-2005, 07:40 AM
Is espn gonna do a late sunday game AND mnf? If so, I'd think Den might get two games via them. I'd think the Indy game would have to be a national feed. seattle too, IF my local cbs outlet is gonna carry a late game. Fox will put Den at NE as the natioanal.
Sadly, I'd have a better chance IF the saints would move to texas.
espn, with al michaels, does the monday night games. nbc, with john madden, does the sunday night games. wonder who abc is gonna get as the color guy and who nbc is gonna get for the play by play.
OrangeShadow
12-27-2005, 07:49 AM
im going to the new england game for sure!!!
Disco Man
12-27-2005, 08:18 AM
Look for OF1 in St. Louis
TheChamp24
12-27-2005, 08:29 AM
I bet the Thursday night opener to kick off the season just might be the Colts-Broncos or Broncos-Pats, depending on how things shape up in the playoffs. Rematch of last years playoffs.
We should definitely get some love on national TV though, I mean 1 MNF and 1 SNF, thats a joke IMO for the Broncos franchise. We should get 2 MNF games and 1 or 2 SNF games.
twotimes3233
12-27-2005, 08:50 AM
We are going to open the new stadium in Arizona week one. At least that's what my buddy is saying who lives in Scottsdale...
I'll be there for that one.
ErectivusMcBootysmack
12-27-2005, 08:51 AM
Well, it's kind of set - there are obviously no dates yet. But we know the teams.
Home
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
Indianapolis
Baltimore
Cincinnati
San Francisco
Seattle
Away
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
New England
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Arizona
St. Louis
Overall, I'd say it's not too bad. There are some winnable games on the road, and we get the tougher part of the schedule at home.
You can eyeball that schedule all you want and say who is tough and who isn't, but the bottom line is you have no flippin' idea who will be good next year and who won't. Probably the only value you can get from looking this far ahead is where the road games are played. New England and Pittsburgh are two tough places to play, however the Steelers aren't much of a home team, they're better on the road. Denver can definitely score one there if that trend continues. Cleveland has a good crowd for a half, then they all leave. The rest of the road games are the usual tredges within the division plus a few others that aren't too intimidating.
missingnumber7
12-27-2005, 09:02 AM
I'm lookin forward to going to the steel city for the game next year. Plus if you look at the schedule its got its good and bad sides...there are lots of free agent moves yet to be made before we make decisions on how our season is going to be. Plus we have yet to be screwed over by the schedule makers. Also doesn't ESPAIN have veto power with MNF next year?
Jens1893
12-27-2005, 09:06 AM
nbc has been promised flexible scheduling for the last 7 games for the sunday nighter, but i can see fox or cbs being unhappy there.
missingnumber7
12-27-2005, 09:10 AM
nbc has been promised flexible scheduling for the last 7 games for the sunday nighter, but i can see fox or cbs being unhappy there.
Who cares if they are unhappy...I the viewer am unhappy with the way they pick and choose which games to air.
broncoblue
12-27-2005, 09:50 AM
We are going to open the new stadium in Arizona week one. At least that's what my buddy is saying who lives in Scottsdale...
I'll be there for that one.
best start saving or sell house :P:thumbsup:
Hercules Rockefeller
12-27-2005, 10:29 AM
We are going to open the new stadium in Arizona week one. At least that's what my buddy is saying who lives in Scottsdale...
I'll be there for that one.
That's a BS rumor. That might end up being true, but the NFL hasn't even started thinking about scheduling for '06, let alone the primetime games. That's only wishful thinking for Cards fans at this point.
Hercules Rockefeller
12-27-2005, 10:30 AM
I guess it depends on your part of the country too....as you are in the south, it's harder to get a Bronco game
Home
Oakland (nope)
Away
Oakland (no)
Oakland-Denver-KC games will always have a chance at a primetime game, as long as one of the team's is decent. The rivalries are too old to not put at least of those games on each season.
brncs_fan
12-27-2005, 11:08 AM
Well, it's kind of set - there are obviously no dates yet. But we know the teams.
Home
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
Indianapolis
Baltimore
Cincinnati
San Francisco
Seattle
Away
Oakland
Kansas City
San Diego
New England
Cleveland
Pittsburgh
Arizona
St. Louis
Here is to seeing the Broncos play and hopefully seeing OF1 as well.
I am definately going to have to get out to Denver for a game after I get out of school.
We had Chiefs and San Diego back to back in September this year at Invesco...
There's a difference between Denver in September and KC in December.
azbroncfan
12-27-2005, 01:25 PM
Not an easy schedule...
no way to tell now. schedules always look harder or easier than they are. Injuries, FA, age you can never tell.
azbroncfan
12-27-2005, 01:28 PM
That's a BS rumor. That might end up being true, but the NFL hasn't even started thinking about scheduling for '06, let alone the primetime games. That's only wishful thinking for Cards fans at this point.
you are wrong on that the queefs are the opening game, they annouced that awhile ago.
ol number 7
12-27-2005, 02:07 PM
Look for OF1 in St. Louis
After we beat the Rams I see OF1 going across the River to PT's Penthouse Club and Larry Flynt's Wooo
terry251973
12-27-2005, 04:35 PM
yes that home game against indiannapolis will be tough because they will want payback for us knocking them out of the playoffs this year.other than that game the only other tough one will be kc in kc.:~ohyah!: ,pats,pitt,cincy and sd will still be thinking about blowing this season.:notworthy
I'd like to see the Rams' and the Cardinals' games late in the season (no adverse weather to contend with).
You can eyeball that schedule all you want and say who is tough and who isn't, but the bottom line is you have no flippin' idea who will be good next year and who won't. Probably the only value you can get from looking this far ahead is where the road games are played.
Exactly, I can't believe people can be so naive as to think these teams on our schedule are going to be the same caliber teams that they are this year.
We go through this every freakin year ... it's either "Oh no, next year's schedule looks sooooo tough! We're doomed!" ... or "Hey, we should end up 13-3 no problem, our schedule is a cakewalk!"
Anyone who wants to write off the playoffs, or book a Super Bowl ticket because they glimpsed the teams we will play 9 months from now, simply has no damn clue.