The NFL (‘Nuff Fuggin Lockout), all said in my best Jersey accent, released its “tentative” schedule for the 2011-12 season last evening. Of course the schedule being tentative based upon the lockout being settled in a timely manner and not going so late that the season has to be shortened or possibly not played at all.
I’m going to take a look at the NFL schedule and give you my “tentative” games of the week. Of course these being tentative on injuries, how teams are playing, who Roger Godell decides to suspend, and whose teams quarterback falls to a sexual assault charge. Mark Sanchez, the ball is in your court.
WEEK 1
While the NFL is pulling out all its stops for a great first week of the season, the best game of this week comes as the very first game of the 2011 season, as it puts the last two Super Bowl champions head to head, as the New Orleans Saints visit Lambeau Field and the Green Bay Packers.
What should be a great defensive game, the more important match up in this game will be the marquee QB match up of Drew Brees vs. Aaron Rogers.
WEEK 2
Call it the Mike Vick Bowl, Philadelphia (Vick’s current team) heads into the Georgia Dome to face the Falcons (Vick’s previous employer). I’m sure for the first time in Atlanta history there will be more PETA rallies than strip clubs open on a Sunday night.
WEEK 3
The Monday night game seems like a joke, especially if McNabb is gone from Washington, so as much as I didn’t want to pick my favorite teams game for too many of these, the SNF game of Pittsburgh/Indy in the Oil Drum looks to be the best game. Two Super Bowl winning quarterbacks, two good defenses, two of the most respected organizations in the league; should be a real humdinger.
WEEK 4
No surprise here, the matchup of two of the loudest mouth linebackers in the game today Bart Scott vs. Ray Lewis; I meant to say, Jets vs. Ravens. I wouldn’t be surprised if those two get tossed in pre game warm ups, but to see these two defenses in prime time on week 4, I’ll take the under of 13.5.
WEEK 5
An AFC Divisional round rematch, the Jets go into Foxboro to take on the Brady Bunch. 4:15 game, mark it on your calendar Jim Nantz and Phil Simms breaking down for three and a half hours how great of coaches Bill Belichick and Rex Ryan are. I’m rooting for terrorists.
WEEK 6
Two weeks in a row I pick a Patriots game? Excuse me as I go puke my guts out. It’s the 90’s America’s team against to 2000’s America’s team. Jerry Jones vs. Robert Kraft. Troy Aikman Tony Romo vs. Tom Brady. Should be a great game, if Dallas remembers what it’s like to play in big games again.
WEEK 7
I’m going to take a dark horse game here, but I feel that the best game of this week will be whenever San Diego heads into East Rutherford to take on the J-E-T-S Jets, Jets, Jets. LT’s old team vs. his new happy home, and let’s not forget that it’s a West coast team heading across the country to play a 1 pm game. Oh my goodness San Diego fans, football and bloody mary’s before noon on a Sunday, yes please!
WEEK 8
The day before Halloween and what could be scarier for Tom Brady than having to face the Steel Curtain? Well after last year’s Heinz Field whooping, it may end up being scarier for the Steelers lack-there-of defensive backs. No respect to HOFer Dick LeBeau, but please put pride aside this year and realize that Brady doesn’t throw anything other than slants anymore.
WEEK 9
We’ve made it to the second half of the season. Time some teams to start to grind to the playoffs to start, and for some teams to start making trips to Stanford to check out Andrew Luck. As badly as I want to pick Ravens/Steelers, I’m going to pick the game that features two of the most electric players in the game today, Devin Hester and DeSean Jackson. Bears/Eagles on Monday night may seem like a reach, but if the NFL’s actually thinking for once, these could be the two front runners in their respect divisions by this point in the season. That is if Jay Cutler hasn’t gone down with a phantom knee injury by now.
WEEK 10
In my attempt to not take repeat divisional match ups, this week’s best game goes to the Saints heading to Atlanta. By this point in the season this game could make the stretch run for the NFC South very interesting. But of course, if history repeats it’s self for what would seem to be the 20th year in a row, the Panthers should have the South all but locked up at this point in the season.
WEEK 11
Matt Cassell takes the Kansas City Chiefs into Foxboro for what should be an interesting matchup against the Patriots. Don’t sleep on the Chiefs, what they did last year could very easily be seen after this season as not a fluke. I also love the fact that this game should be a very offensive show, but then again, you never know which Patriots defense will show up.
WEEK 12
The best day of the year (Thanksgiving) and once again the NFL can’t put a game on that people outside of those viewing areas will give a damn about. But not to fear, save some turkey and mashed potatoes, and get ready for some real fun on Sunday night as the Steelers hit the road to Kansas City. Yes this is the second week in a row I’ve picked the Chiefs, yes I still think they have a legitimate chance to repeat as AFC West champs, and yes; Jamaal Charles is the scariest running back in the league not named Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson.
WEEK 13
Here we are, week 13, and it’s time for the heavyweight title bout that everyone seems to get all warm and gooey over, Indy at New England. With age starting to become a factor, could this be the last year that the Manning/Brady duel is regarded so highly? Will Peyton play another three quarter disappearing act before almost bringing the Colts back to a miracle win? Or is this finally the time where everyone can sit back and recognize that Brady is the better of the two?
WEEK 14
In a week of relative mediocrity, a certain 1 o’clock game sticks out like a gem. The Colts in their second straight tough road game as they head to Baltimore. Defense, defense, defense should be the slogan of this game, but at the same time you have to remember that both these teams still have potent offenses and can light up a scoreboard. And maybe more importantly, how worn down will the Colts be after last week’s game in New England?
WEEK 15
On a week where we get four days of NFL games, the most intriguing match up to me is the Jets flying (pun intended) into Philly. What could be huge games for both these teams divisional chances, I feel as though this would have been a more favorable Monday night match up than the Steelers/49ers. Of course people may like to see a NFC West leading 49ers at 6-7 taking on the Steelers.
WEEK 16
The penultimate week of the season; by the way, penultimate may be my favorite “hey look at me I can use a big fancy word that means relatively nothing” word. The best game of this week comes to us on Christmas night, as the Bears head into Green Bay. It will be cold, these teams will hate each other, and I’m calling it right now, a divisional title and a first round bye will be on the table. Mark. It. Down.
Side note, how sweet will it be to be able to possibly lock up your fantasy league’s championship on Christmas day? Talk about the best gift of all time!
WEEK 17
New Year’s Day, no Sunday night or Monday night games, playoffs up in the air, teams seasons hanging on a balance, and most people will be watching College football hung over all day. Come on NFL, move the games up to Saturday, don’t have too much pride in your product to realize that people would much rather watch college games than the NFL, especially on New Year’s Day.
Since every game this week is a divisional match up, and I’m sure that all most every game will have some kind of playoff implication on the line, I’m going to make my smartest pick of this entire article.
Crack a cold one at about 11 AM to cure that headache, eat lots of pork and sauerkraut, and just keep your eyes on the ticker at the bottom of ESPN/ABC as you enjoy the bowl games.
With this all said and done, this “tentative” schedule sure has me excited to possibly watch some football again as there are what seems to be some great games scheduled for this year.
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