2021 NFL Schedule Release

Harry Hooper

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Given the current state of the Pats in the national consciousness, I find only one SNF appearance (super compelling because of Brady's return) to be entirely understandable.
 

E5 Yaz

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Given the current state of the Pats in the national consciousness, I find only one SNF appearance (super compelling because of Brady's return) to be entirely understandable.
Agreed. Three national games ... plus the possibility that the Bills and Dolphins games after the bye could be flex possibilities
 

RedOctober3829

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It's as rational as saying the Patriots are still ratings darlings
It's because they are. They had the maximum number of prime-time games last year even without Tom Brady. The Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl since 1995 yet they keep getting a ton of primetime games because they get ratings. The Patriots are on that same level.
 

E5 Yaz

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It's because they are. They had the maximum number of prime-time games last year even without Tom Brady.
Because it was a curiosity factor as to how they would do in Year 1 without him ... not because of some national fascination with the brand, a la the Cowboys
 

Ferm Sheller

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It's because they are. They had the maximum number of prime-time games last year even without Tom Brady. The Cowboys haven't won a Super Bowl since 1995 yet they keep getting a ton of primetime games because they get ratings. The Patriots are on that same level.
The Pats had a lot of prime time games last year because they were "given the benefit of the doubt" going into their first post-Brady year. They lost that benefit by only going 7-9. Thus, we have what we have here: few prime time games (because the nation doesn't want to watch a 7-9 team, its legacy notwithstanding).
 

Mystic Merlin

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I don’t care how many SNF games they get upfront. But fear not, if the Pats play well they’ll get flexed 1-2 times down the stretch because the networks will want the eyeballs that’ll come if the Pats are competitive again.
 

E5 Yaz

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Colin Cowherd (of all people ... probably stole this from someone else) says that the 425 window opening day on Fox has both the Saints-Packers and Broncos-Giants .. just in case, you know, Rodgers gets traded
 

RedOctober3829

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Because it was a curiosity factor as to how they would do in Year 1 without him ... not because of some national fascination with the brand, a la the Cowboys
The Pats had a lot of prime time games last year because they were "given the benefit of the doubt" going into their first post-Brady year. They lost that benefit by only going 7-9. Thus, we have what we have here: few prime time games (because the nation doesn't want to watch a 7-9 team, its legacy notwithstanding).
I disagree as I believe the Patriots are now a national brand and they should get the primetime treatment. One off year should not affect that. They also made massive improvements on the roster that went 7-9.
 

dirtynine

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I enjoy learning about the new schedule, but the drip-by-drip BREAKING/SOURCES reveals always amuse me. We already know who the Pats are playing, BUT IN WHAT ORDER??? Just shows how obsessed we are as a country, I guess.
 

Ferm Sheller

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I disagree as I believe the Patriots are now a national brand and they should get the primetime treatment. One off year should not affect that. They also made massive improvements on the roster that went 7-9.
I think we're finding that Brady was (either entirely or largely) the "brand", which makes sense because no one tunes in to watch BB coach and none of their other players are particularly marketable (which isn't to say that they don't have any good players). Although they've improved their roster and have a good shot of being a playoff team, I think that they're going to need to actually prove that they're a playoff level team before they get a healthy dose of primetime games like in the past.

Also, teams with poor QBs typically don't get a lot of primetime games. Until proven otherwise (via either a Cam comeback or Jones slotting in as the starter and excelling), the Pats have one of the weakest QB situations in the league.
 

snowmanny

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In all the inane “power rankings” I have seen they tend to fall between 18-21. So the perception of the Patriots is as basically a 8-9 or 7-10 team.
 

jablo1312

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Pats are still a draw relative to a lot of the league (1/2+ the league most people nationwide don't GAF about..MIA, JAX, ARI, MIN, DET, LAC, ATL, CAR, the list goes on) but no guarantees of them actually being good means no guarantee at 5 primetime games. I think the only teams that have a 100% chance of having the max # of primetime games this year are KC, GB (trade pending obv.) Dal, and reluctantly TB. Others will have 5 but those are my only locks. Next tier probably Cle, Buf, LAR/SEA?
 

Ferm Sheller

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In all the inane “power rankings” I have seen they tend to fall between 18-21. So the perception of the Patriots is as basically a 8-9 or 7-10 team.
Yes, unless Cam improves significantly or the rookie Jones comes in and plays at a high level, that's what they are.
 

DeadlySplitter

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Week 14 bye is nuts. EDIT: Also right after MNF, so there's only one short week on the schedule, Atlanta.

JAX will probably be playing out the string that late, makes Lawrence in Foxboro not as exciting
 

tims4wins

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I love this schedule. 5 of the first 7 at home would normally be problematic because it would mean so many second half road games, but A) they get 9 home games this year and B) it gives them the potential to get out of the gates really quickly. 5-2 seems realistic, 6-1 isn't even really out of the question - if they are as good as we think they might be.
 

DeadlySplitter

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If Red Sox are in a close race at the end, the regular season for MLB ends on 10/3 as well. 3:05pm game, then 8:20 Tom Brady in Foxboro.

If they're actually a playoff team they go at least 5-2 to open.
 

RedOctober3829

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I love this schedule. 5 of the first 7 at home would normally be problematic because it would mean so many second half road games, but A) they get 9 home games this year and B) it gives them the potential to get out of the gates really quickly. 5-2 seems realistic, 6-1 isn't even really out of the question - if they are as good as we think they might be.
There also does not appear to be a gauntlet stretch like last year with the 3 straight road games or a long stretch against really tough teams. To me, the closest it gets to a brutal stretch is 3 of 4 on the road with at LA/at Carolina/Cleveland/at Atlanta on a short week. But, then they get a mini-bye to get ready for Tennessee, an extra day to prepare for Buffalo(MNF), then they get their bye week.
 

tims4wins

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There also does not appear to be a gauntlet stretch like last year with the 3 straight road games or a long stretch against really tough teams. To me, the closest it gets to a brutal stretch is 3 of 4 on the road with at LA/at Carolina/Cleveland/at Atlanta on a short week. But, then they get a mini-bye to get ready for Tennessee, an extra day to prepare for Buffalo(MNF), then they get their bye week.
Exactly - nothing close to a gauntlet.

Edit: and the travel schedule is much better too. They have the one trip to LA. They have the one trip to Houston. Those are their only 2 games outside of the eastern time zone (of course we knew this pre-schedule release but it's good to see in print).
 

tims4wins

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Other hidden positives:

- the only SNF game is at home, so no late night travel (although they will get back pretty late after the LAC game)
- haven't seen yet whether they are getting any teams on short rest (coming off MNF)
 

Rudy's Curve

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If this is correct, the Pats will have 7 games televised in the NYC market. Not horrible. Maybe more if they are playing well and get flexed into another national game or 2.
There won't be a 4:25 game on CBS in NYC Week 1 since the Giants are home on FOX at the same time.
 

loshjott

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Week 1 Schedule.

Thursday, September 09, 2021
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Sunday, September 12, 2021
Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
New York Jets at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
Minnesota Vikings at Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
San Francisco 49ers at Detroit Lions, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
Arizona Cardinals at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
Los Angeles Chargers at Washington Football Team, 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS
Cleveland Browns at Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 p.m. ET CBS
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots, 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
Denver Broncos at New York Giants, 4:25 p.m ET, FOX
Chicago Bears at Los Angeles Rams, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
Monday, September 13, 2021
Baltimore Ravens at Las Vegas Raiders, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC
Only one MNF on Week 1 this year? There have been 2 for the past several years.
 

leftfieldlegacy

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There won't be a 4:25 game on CBS in NYC Week 1 since the Giants are home on FOX at the same time.
That surprises me. I understand the rules regarding protecting a teams market but I assumed that the NFL would not shut CBS out of the biggest TV market for their "national" game and let Fox have it all to themselves.
 

Rudy's Curve

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That surprises me. I understand the rules regarding protecting a teams market but I assumed that the NFL would not shut CBS out of the biggest TV market for their "national" game and let Fox have it all to themselves.
Both networks have national games Week 1 but unless they're lifting the rule, only the Giants or Jets can be televised opposite the other team playing at home at that time.

Edit: You may be right. Looking at the maps for Week 17 last year (and Week 17 previous years) when both networks had doubleheaders, there were no blackouts.
 
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RedOctober3829

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Both networks have national games Week 1 but unless they're lifting the rule, only the Giants or Jets can be televised opposite the other team playing at home at that time.

Edit: You may be right. Looking at the maps for Week 17 last year (and Week 17 previous years) when both networks had doubleheaders, there were no blackouts.
Yeah and there are a couple times throughout the year now where the blackouts are lifted.