The NFL's Improved Schedule-Making Process

By: Terry Mitchell
Submitted: 2007-01-17 16:25:43
Print this article | Tell a friend | For publisher | Social Bookmarking
Rating:
 

The NFL's decision to expand to 32 teams and align into eight divisions of four teams each as of 2002 has removed much of the complication and inequity that used to plague its schedule-making process. Before the new system, some teams, even those in the same conference but a different division, would go a decade or more without playing each other. For example, Dan Marino and John Elway, two of the league's top all-time quarterbacks, never faced each other in a regular season game. That's because their respective teams, the Miami Dolphins and the Denver Broncos, went more than a decade without squaring off in the regular season.

Thankfully, this kind of schedule quirk can't happen anymore. Teams in the same division still play each other twice a season. But now, teams in the same conference, but in a different division, play each other at least once every three seasons. Teams in opposite conferences play each other every four years, guaranteed.

So now the bulk of schedule is structured as follows: Two games against each of the other three teams in the same division; one game against each of the four teams from a rotated division in the same conference; and one game each against each of the four teams from a rotated division in the opposite conference.

For an example of how the rotation would work, let's look at the NFC East. Teams in that division might play all four teams in the NFC South in 2006, all four teams in the NFC North in 2007, and then all four teams in the NFC West in 2008. In addition, they might play all four teams in the AFC East in 2006, all four teams in the AFC South in 2007, all four teams in the AFC North in 2008, and then all four teams in the AFC West in 2009.

But all of this only adds up to 14 games. So how is the schedule rounded out with the other two games? Each team plays one team each from the two divisions in their conference that are out of their rotation. For example, if the teams in the NFC East are playing everyone from the NFC South this year, they would play one team each from the NFC North and NFC West.

The teams that they would play are determined by their order of finish the previous season. First place teams play first place teams, second place teams play second place teams, third place teams play third place teams, and fourth place teams play fourth place teams. So let's say the Washington Redskins are playing everyone from the NFC South this season. Since they finished second in their division last year, they would play the team that finished second last year in the NFC North as well as the team that finished second last year in the NFC West.

Terry Mitchell is a software engineer, freelance writer, and blogger from Hopewell, VA. On his blog - http://commenterry.blogs.com - he posts commentaries on various subjects such as politics, technology, religion, health and well-being, personal finance, and sports. His commentaries offer a unique point of view that is not often found in mainstream media.

Article source: Expert Articles

Most Recent Articles in Football category

  • Deck the halls with Dallas Cowboys Christmas decors starting this year - By: Maunik Desai
    Dallas Cowboys fans can now enjoy a true blue Cowboys Christmas. The online NFL sports shop brings Cowboys fans everything they can wish for in a Christmas decor - blue and bold with the Cowboys logo. From the front door to the holiday tree, the online shop gives your visitors a Cowboys greeting.
  • Make The Man in Your Life Smile With NFL Apparel for That Special Day - By: Kimberly Green
    Any occasion can be a special one with NFL jerseys in his favorite team colors!
  • NFL Jerseys & NFL Sports Apparel - The Fashion for the Passion - By: Kimberly Green
    Tis the season, time to warm up your pig skin and hit the field for some football!!
  • Gear up for the Game with NFL Sports Apparel & NFL Jerseys - By: Kimberly Green
    With football fans rallying around the weekend highlights, sharing Fantasy Football news and getting ready for Monday night games, now is the ideal time to take inventory of your gear. Whether you're looking for cold weather apparel for looking your best at the games, tailgating threads to sport your team in style or you just want to say I'm a fan like no other, NFL apparel has never come in more varieties or styles. From replica jerseys, throwback jerseys or true authentic NFL Jerseys, to pullover sweatshirts, tank tops, flannel pajamas, hat and beanies you can support your team and celebrate all that football season entails with NFL Sports Apparel.
  • Sports Apparel Is Big Business - By: Scott Jarvis
    In days past shouting from the couch with a group of friends was considered supporting the home team. Fans could also make a trip to a stadium to catch a home game or throw parties in honor of a big game, which was also a way to support your favorite team. Make no mistake, sports apparel has been around for as long as professional sports have, however the selections and quality of such apparel used to be extremely limited and expensive.
  • Football betting - By: KW Singh
    Betting and gambling through sports has become a major concern for our society today. It has become an issue of serious concern for the lawmakers on how to monitor and curtail unauthorized betting through sports. Lawmakers have been thus penned down to make tough new measures to crack down on corruption in sports related betting. Bets are placed on individual player's performances, the winning team, scores in the game, etc.
  • The 7 Laws of Football Quarterbacking - By: Kanwar Narendra Singh Jodha
    In all of my research, over a period of several years, the finest information I have ever read on quarterback leadership came from my friend Frank Carideo. The purpose of this information was to outline the process by which a quarterback was trained at Notre Dame, under Coach Knute Rockne. This course of quarterbacking was as exacting in many respects as any collegiate course. Coach Rockne had seven cardinal principles of quarterbacking that were preached over and over again.
  • Winning at NFL Football - By: Joe Pav
    There is an old misconception among fans that a great defense is needed to win at NFL football. The problem with that philosophy is that your highly talented defensive teams would be worn out due to being on the field too long. Also, a few key injuries to a few skilled players can mean the difference between last and first.
  • Strategies For Higher Win In Football - By: Fantasy Saturday
    Football betting adds thrill to the game. Predicting outcomes and betting money on it excites football lovers. However, nothing beats the excitement of winning on bets. Using strategies in betting increases your chance of winning. What football strategies work?
  • Football Scouting Software - By: Todd Krueger
    Football is all about timing. Not just the timing that is required between the offensive line and the running back, or between the safeties and linebackers on a blitz play, but also the timing of the coach to choose the right plays at the right time. The difference between success and failure rides upon play selection more than any other factor.