new england patriots

As always the best way to break down a schedule is to look at it as four quarters of four games each. Let’s begin our analysis with the first quarter:

• @ Titans
• Cardinals
• @ Ravens
• @ Bills

I can’t remember the last time the Pats didn’t have a divisional game in the first two weeks of the season, so unlike most years the pressure won’t be immediately on the Pats out of the gate. One benefit is playing a team they’re unfamiliar with (Titans) week one so they can spend the off-season preparing for that one, and won’t have to do it on the fly in the middle of the season.

The Cardinals should be a good tune up in their home opener before the Pats head on the road for two tough road games. You know every member of the Ravens is circling this week three AFC Championship rematch as I type this. And Buffalo will have a chance the following week to prove they’re for real in the AFC East, but they shouldn’t count on another blown 21 point lead from New England.

While the Pats can ease into the start of the season they’ll need two good games in weeks three and four that can really pay off for them in the divisional and conference standings at the end of the year.

Second Quarter:

• Broncos
• @ Seahawks
• Jets
• @ Rams (in London)

The second quarter features two great rivalry games and two not-so-great games. The AFC West has traditionally been the Pats punching bag, but Peyton Manning (albeit with a new team) and the Jets are always intense games. The name of the game in the second quarter will be maintaining focus while dealing with a lot of travel. Luckily the two longest road trips of the year are followed by a bye in week nine, the perfect halfway point of the season.

Third Quarter:

• Bills
• Colts
• @ Jets (Thanksgiving Night)
• @Dolphins

It’s strange that the Pats won’t see Miami until December this year though I’m sure the Pats won’t be complaining about avoiding the late summer heat down south, while also forcing the Dolphins to come to Foxboro in the season finale. Playing the Bills in early November, in a slot usually reserved for a national game, should be interesting. This could be a huge turning point in the AFC East. The Thanksgiving game against the Jets will of course be a highlight no matter how good or bad the Jets are.

Fourth Quarter:

• Texans (Monday Night Football)
• 49ers (Sunday Night Football)
• @ Jaguars
• Dolphins

The final quarter of the season should really give the Patriots a chance to sharpen their iron on other iron. At least as far as the Texans and 49ers are concerned, especially since both of those big games will be prime time. Talk about ideal pre-playoff tune-ups without major playoff implications. With only one divisional game in this quarter, and likely a meaningless one, these final four games will really be a chance for the Patriots to round into form as the playoffs approach. They’ll have two tough teams come to Foxboro, and one final road trip tune up down to Jacksonville. Being at home three of the final four weeks should bode well for the Pats being healthy and ready for the playoffs, assuming of course that they’ll be in them yet again.