2019 Schedule Thread

DeadlySplitter

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"The Patriots will face the Browns in Week 8, Ravens in Week 9 and Eagles in Week 11 when those teams are coming off their bye. New England is coming off its own bye as well against Philadelphia, but Brian Burke, of ESPN's Sports Analytics department, notes that the Patriots have the worst net rest-day differential of any team in 2019 at minus-13." - Reiss
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Dec 4, 2005
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Anyone go to the Washington game back in 2011? That seems like a potential road trip. Great time of year, could do touristy things in DC, etc.
Disagree with earlier comments.

You want to go to DC, go to DC. You want to go to a Pats game, go to a Pats game. Don’t mingle the two.

Lived there for 15 years went to last two Pats games and multiple others and here’s what you need to know:

- its an absolute shit show to get in and out; it makes Foxboro look easy
- your ticket will prob be cheap on secondary market because they always are, as fans are fair weather; but then your options are to pay more for a parking pass than the tickets or ride in on a shuttle from a local shopping mall; it’s got like 1/4 or 1/3 of capacity to park than put an ass in seat. I went to probably a couple dozen over the years and we alway asked vendors for parking passes, not tickets. We knew we could get tickets for cheap.
- The stadium is a shit hole and sight lines suck. It’s like they watched an ‘obstructed view’ YouTube tutorial.

If you want to see DC, go, well, now for Cherry Blossom season. Avoid during summer its suffering heat and humidity. Fall is great too, I agree with that. Avoid winter, no one knows how to drive in weather there.

There’s far more to do in DC than making it about the Pats game and burning a day on that. Go to the museums and monuments. Go eat at great restaurants. Take the Metro and see how a clean subway system works and take it around. See Georgetown, the Mall, Old Town, mount Vernon, Capital Hill, Foggy Bottom, etc. go play chess in DuPont circle. don’t fly down to spend three hours sitting on 495 in traffic to park at best Buy and take an airport shuttle to the game sitting behind a support beam in a half empty stadium to only repeat it to get back to your hotel.
 

Ale Xander

Hamilton
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Oct 31, 2013
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"The Patriots will face the Browns in Week 8, Ravens in Week 9 and Eagles in Week 11 when those teams are coming off their bye. New England is coming off its own bye as well against Philadelphia, but Brian Burke, of ESPN's Sports Analytics department, notes that the Patriots have the worst net rest-day differential of any team in 2019 at minus-13." - Reiss
 

ernieshore

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Cool thanks. Unfortunately both my siblings are due to have their first kids in the first week of October... was originally planning a group trip, that won't be happening now.
I was at that game in 2011 too, but I guess I had a different experience - besides Gronk's total domination. Long walk from the Metro to the stadium, threatening drunken bro atmosphere (including Pats fans), fights breaking out, FedEx is a relative dump...and I was on the Club level with another friend, so no kids, etc. I've been with supposedly rough soccer crowds at some European soccer matches, and the concourse at halftime and the sections around me at that game felt like the most likely place for a riot to break out.

DC is great to visit - and I love Sox games at Camden, but I don't think I'd go back to FedEx field (though I've moved further away since then, so that's easier to say).
 

wiffleballhero

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In the simulacrum
I like this schedule quite a bit.

I suppose there is the concern that it would be better to get the first five games out of the way against good teams so that the Pats rack up there inevitable early season losses to teams that are not doormats, but the other option is palatable as well: Pats survive the wet fart games of September and run the table.
 

loshjott

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Dec 30, 2004
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I was at that game in 2011 too, but I guess I had a different experience - besides Gronk's total domination. Long walk from the Metro to the stadium, threatening drunken bro atmosphere (including Pats fans), fights breaking out, FedEx is a relative dump...and I was on the Club level with another friend, so no kids, etc. I've been with supposedly rough soccer crowds at some European soccer matches, and the concourse at halftime and the sections around me at that game felt like the most likely place for a riot to break out.

DC is great to visit - and I love Sox games at Camden, but I don't think I'd go back to FedEx field (though I've moved further away since then, so that's easier to say).
I've lived in the DC area now for 25+ yrs. I went to the Pats game at Fed Ex the time before 2011, so must have been 2003. It was the game before they started the 19 game win streak, so I saw a rare loss that season. It also convinced me never to see another NFL game there, the experience sucked.
 

Cotillion

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Jun 11, 2019
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Why so many 4:30 games?
For the Pats?

Maybe cause they are a compelling TV draw, and therefore the networks want them in isolated windows of “national” (late afternoon windows) games to make sure they get their money’s worth for their rights fees.

But I’m just spitballing.
 

wilked

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Am I right this is the first year with so many? Usually I remember one or two at most (maybe a Steelers game and another?)
 

NortheasternPJ

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4:30 games are the absolute best. I can go get stuff done in the morning, appease the wife, and still get settled in for the game.
Except for 1pm home games which if you're going to the game are the best. Unfortunately they're less and less unless you count the annual week 16 and 17 against the Dolphins and Bills around Christmas and New years.
 

Red Averages

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4:30 games are the absolute best. I can go get stuff done in the morning, appease the wife, and still get settled in for the game.
Yup. Or if you get the full day - RedZone for the 1pm games then enjoy the Patriots game at 4:30 without being up til 11:30 (Sunday/Monday)
 

[icon]

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Jul 30, 2005
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Looking at this schedule I think I see a 13-3 season.

3 Losses coming from the pool of: @BAL, @PHI, DAL, KC and one Divisional loss on the road.
 

Bernie Carbohydrate

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I saw a guy at the stadium on opening night with a #44 Marion Butts jersey in this style. It was the most spectacular part of the night.
On the rare occasions the Pats were on TV back then you could hear old Don Criqui (or whichever poor sap was assigned the New England game) struggle to identify the players, because the red numbers didn't sufficiently contrast with the blue shirt: "Tackle made by Chris Slade...Or Chris Singleton...does it really matter?"
 

tims4wins

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Jul 15, 2005
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Pats have now won their last 18 vs first or second year QBs, a new NFL record.

Their next five games should also be against first or second year QBs, assuming Haskins starts next week.
 

DJnVa

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Pats have now won their last 18 vs first or second year QBs, a new NFL record.

Their next five games should also be against first or second year QBs, assuming Haskins starts next week.
And Haskins was not good today, against a bad secondary.
 

E5 Yaz

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And Haskins was not good today, against a bad secondary.
Well, Haskins barely got any first-team reps this week. Tough to get thrown in like that, as opposed to how, say, the Giants brought in Jones
 

DJnVa

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Well, Haskins barely got any first-team reps this week. Tough to get thrown in like that, as opposed to how, say, the Giants brought in Jones
Sure, but by comparison Minshew went in cold and was 22-25 a few weeks ago. Haskins was really really bad.

And now he gets to go against BB. But at least he has a really good Skins coaching staff getting him prepped.
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

Found no thrill on Blueberry Hill
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When the schedule first came out, it indicated that NFLN would pick the three week 16 Saturday games after week 8 but now it appears they will wait until after week 10.

http://www.nfl.com/schedules/2019/REG16
Pain in the ass for those looking to travel for the game, given that it's the weekend before Christmas. I guess the NFL doesn't care.
 

tims4wins

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Pats-Bills will be moved, right? Doubt the NFL will have clarity on whether the division will be wrapped up after week 10
 

DennyDoyle'sBoil

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Unless the Bills completely spit the bit, that's gonna be a Saturday game, I'm sure.
That seems to be the general consensus, though there's some debate whether NFLN gets to pick the 3 or gets the dregs after the nets pick the two they want.

Also, they might want to put the Patriots/Bills on Sunday so that it can be flexed to Sunday night. Once they slot it on Saturday they can't do that. Chiefs/Bears is the current week 16 Sunday night game and there aren't many other great games to flex to Sunday night.
 

tims4wins

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That seems to be the general consensus, though there's some debate whether NFLN gets to pick the 3 or gets the dregs after the nets pick the two they want.

Also, they might want to put the Patriots/Bills on Sunday so that it can be flexed to Sunday night. Once they slot it on Saturday they can't do that. Chiefs/Bears is the current week 16 Sunday night game and there aren't many other great games to flex to Sunday night.
Could Cowboys-Eagles be flexed? Could likely be a division title matchup