2009 NFL Schedule Breakdown

When you look back at the history of the NFL, one thing you rarely hear about is the schedule. History doesn't care whether the Steelers played an easy schedule or a hard schedule last year. It only cares that the Steelers won the Super Bowl.

Likewise, people don't talk about how the schedule impacted last year's losers. They don't talk about how Cleveland got screwed with nine games outside of the normal 1 PM EST start time (death for a young team with a weak coach). And they don't talk about how Scott Linehan's death certificate was signed with a first three that included road trips to Philadelphia and Seattle, with a home date against the Giants in between.

All people remember is that the Browns and Rams stunk, and their coaches fired.

It's a bottom line business, that history.

But the schedule matters. The players play and the coaches coach, but it's the schedule that determines the flow of the season.

With that in mind, here are the biggest winners and losers from the Tuesday announcement of the 2009 National Football League schedule:

Winner: Arizona Cardinals

West Coast teams losing 1 PM games on the East Coast became a major story line last year, especially for Arizona. But this year, they only have one EST 1 PM game (Jacksonville in Week 2) and only one other game on the East Cast (Sunday night at the Giants in Week 7). After that, they make a couple of trips to the middle of the country (Detroit, Chicago, St. Louis, Tennessee), but none of those brutal all-the-way-across-the-country treks.

Loser: Miami Dolphins

After Week 7, they play six of their next eight on the road: @Jets, @Patriots, Bucs, @Panthers, @Bills, Patriots, @Jaguars, @Titans. They then finish with the Texas and Steelers at home.

It's going to take a lot more that the Wildcat formation to get them back into the playoffs with that slate.

Winner: Houston Texans

It seems like every year is going to be the year Houston finally breaks through. Whether this will be it or not, I don't know. But they do have a friendly schedule: Three out of the first four at home (Jets, @Titans, Jaguars, Raiders), with a @Cincinnati/San Francisco/@Buffalo stretch from Week 6 to Week 8, and another three-out-of-four-at-home stretch from Week 11 to Week 14 (Indy, Tennessee, @Jax, Seattle).

Let's just go ahead and call this the year Houston finally breaks double digits in wins at 10-6.

Loser: St. Louis Rams

Tough break for new coach Steve Spaguolo: three road games in their first four, including a brutal turnaround from Seattle in Week 1 to Washington in Week 2. They also have a three-game stretch of Minnesota, @ Jacksonville, Indianapolis from Week 5 to Week 7.

The Rams do catch a break with a rare three-game home stretch, after a bye no less, so they'll go from a Week 8 road contest at Detroit on November 1 all the way to a Week 13 trip to Chicago on December 6 without having to leave home. The question is whether they'll get to that stretch in good enough shape to take advantage.

Winner: Indianapolis Colts

Their hardest stretch of the season is from Week 10 to Week 13: New England, @Baltimore, @Houston, Tennessee. When that's as tough as it gets, you're looking at another 11- or 12-win season for Peyton Manning and company.

Loser: Dallas Cowboys

Wow. This schedule is loaded. Not only do they play in the toughest division in football, but they have the NFC South, including a tough matchup in Tampa in Week 1 and a Sunday night game at New Orleans in Week 15. Their final five is @ Giants, Chargers, @ Saints, @ Redskins, Eagles. They have back-to-back road trips to Denver and Kansas City in Weeks 4 and 5, and another back-to-back at Philly and Green Bay in Week 9 and 10.

Sad to say, but just like Linehan had his death certificate signed with last year's schedule, this will surely lead to the end of the Wade Phillips era in Big D.

Winner: Minnesota Vikings

First five: @Cleveland, @Detroit, San Francisco, Green Bay, @St. Louis.

To put those teams' performances in 2008 into perspective, that's the (in order) fifth, first, 10th, eighth, and second picks in the upcoming draft looking at you.

The Vikings also have a nice three-game home stretch after their Week 9 bye: Detroit, Seattle, and Chicago. If the Vikings don't have at least seven wins going into December, Brad Childress needs to be shown the door.

Loser: Denver Broncos

Apparently the league is as much of a Josh McDaniels fan as Jay Cutler. From Week 4 through Week 14: Dallas, New England, @San Diego, Bye, @Baltimore, Pittsburgh, @Washington, San Diego, Giants, @Kansas City, @Indianapolis.

The words "holy" and "crap" come to mind.

Winner: New England Patriots

With Tom Brady working his way back from last season's devastating knee injury, New England had to be happy seeing a first seven that only includes two true road games: Buffalo, @Jets, Atlanta, Baltimore, @Denver, Tennessee, Tampa (from London).

For at least one year, we'll be spared the Matt Cassel vs. Tom Brady nonsense as the Chiefs and Pats don't play this year. We will, however, get plenty teacher vs. pupil hype going into the Week 5 New England at Denver game.

Loser: Detroit Lions

The first thing new head coach Jim Schwartz needs to do is win. It's been since Dec. 23, 2007. You'd think the league would have done him a favor and given him a home game against Cleveland or St. Louis to at least give them a shot, but no. Instead, the Lions will kick-off 2009 as such: @New Orleans, Minnesota, Washington, @Chicago, Pittsburgh, @Green Bay. The Packers in Week 6 will be their first 2009 opponent that didn't finish .500 or better in 2008.

St. Louis comes in Week 8 after their bye. The Browns are in the Motor City in Week 11.

A Few Other Notes

5. Think the TV people noticed the Jay Cutler trade?

Take a look at the teams with the most games in prime time (pre-flexing of course). Each team has five.

Dallas (America's Team), Indianapolis (12-4 last year, Peyton Manning), Giants (12-4, best team in the biggest market), Steelers (defending champs)

And Chicago, they of the 9-7 and no playoff berth last year.

Think that happens with Kyle Orton at QB?

Total number of night games by team:

5: Dallas, Chicago, Indianapolis, NY Giants, Pittsburgh
4: Miami, New England, Philadelphia, San Diego, Tennessee
3: Arizona, Baltimore, Carolina, Denver, Green Bay, Minnesota, Washington, New Orleans
2: Atlanta, Buffalo, Cleveland, NY Jets, San Francisco
1: Houston, Jacksonville, Oakland
0: Cincinnati, Detroit, Kansas City, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay

4. Oakland better get their act together quick: Their first three games are against the division (Charges, @Chiefs, Broncos).

3. My favorite day of the year is Thanksgiving. It's got everything — copious amounts of great food, football, and the ability to get drunk and pass out around your family and not have anybody say anything about it. It is the perfect man day. And so the first thing I check each year is the Thanksgiving schedule. This year's slate is pretty decent:

Green Bay at Detroit
Oakland at Dallas
Giants at Denver

How interesting that Lions/Packers game is going to be depends in large part on what the Lions do in the draft. If the take Georgia QB Matthew Stafford, he'll probably be starting for Detroit at this point.

Oakland/Dallas should be a good one. I like what the Raiders have going for them. They have a hell of a running game behind an improved offensive line. JaMarcus Russell should be better in year two. And their defense should be at least somewhat improved. And then, of course, there's the Cowboys. Good game.

And Giants/Broncos could be the best game of the day. I'm going to have to try real hard not to fall asleep during that one.

2. Best game by week:

Week 1: Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers

Actually a lot of good games in Week 1, but it doesn't get much better than a primetime match between the defending champs and the team with the best record in the NFL last year.

Week 2: New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys

First game at Jerry's Billion Dollar Palace; Pats at Jets and Colts at Dolphins on Monday Night should be quality, as well.

Week 3: Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals

Peyton Manning vs. Kurt Warner should make for some fireworks in the Sunday night game; It's only the second career matchup between the two.

Week 4: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots

There is some serious bad blood between these two organizations; The last time they met, during New England's perfect regular season of 2007, was an all-time classic.

Week 5: Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans

Pats/Broncos will get all the hype due to the McDaniels/Bill Belichick dynamic, but this game will have far more serious playoff implications.

Week 6: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons

Titans at Patriots is the obvious headliner, but Cutler and Matt Forte squaring off against Matt Ryan and Michael Turner in a battle of emerging NFC powers could end up stealing the show.

Week 7: Philadelphia at Washington

Kind of a weak week from first glance, but this is right around the time of year teams start playing their best football. This game will be a good measuring stick of just where the power lies in the NFC East.

Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints

You know Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be all over Giants/Eagles, but, for my money, it doesn't get much better than Monday night on Bourbon Street.

Week 9: Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots

Cowboys/Giants is great drama, but Pats/Dolphins is hatred.

Week 10: New England Patriots at Indianapolis Colts

Brady/Manning. Enough said.

Week 11: Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans

If the Texans are making the final push toward their first playoff appearance as I expect, this Monday nighter in Houston game will be huge.

Week 12: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

War on Sunday Night.

Week 13: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

December gets kicked off right.

Week 14: Philadelphia Eagles at New York Giants

Not to sound like a FOX Sports executive, but it really is hard to beat an NFC East game in December, especially when the MNF game is Arizona at San Francisco.

Week 15: New York Giants at Washington Redskins

I hate to go NFC East and Giants three weeks in a row, but it's the most competitive division in football. Every game is going to be critical in the playoff race. Plus, there really aren't a whole lot of options.

Week 16: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

Soldier Field on Monday night on December 28. Now that's a football game.

Week 17: Washington Redskins at San Diego Chargers

There are more obvious games on the schedule like Eagles/Cowboys, Giants/Vikings or even Raiders/Ravens, but I have a feeling this game is going to be vital in both conferences' playoff races.

1. God, I love football.