2008 Schedule Thoughts

I took some time looking at the Dolphins 2008 schedule of opponents and here are some initial thoughts...

Dolphins play at Houston for the 3rd consecutive year in 2008. The last two years, these games have been tightly contested contests with odd ending final scores. In 2006, Miami lost 15-17, and in 2007, they lost 19-22.

Dolphins host the Baltimore Ravens for the second consecutive year. The Ravens proved to be the Dolphins only victory last year. The game ended in overtime on a 64 yard touchdown reception by Camirrio from Lemon.

Dolphins play all 4 teams from both the AFC and NFC West. Luckily for Miami, they have avoided any long distance road trips to the far west coast considering the four teams that are the greatest distance from Miami are on the schedule. Miami plays home to Seattle, Oakland, San Diego and San Francisco.

The Dolphins thus have the luxury of traveling to the four closest teams from the 2 Western Divisions. They travel to Arizona, St Louis, Denver, and Kansas City. Still not easy places to play, but players prefer shorter flights, and these cities are significantly closer than the Western divisions other teams.

The schedule Gods did not smile on the New England Patriots 2008 campaign however. 2008 will be a bit trickier to go undefeated compared to the 2007 slate. The Patsies in fact may indeed do the most flying next year having to go coast to coast 4 separate occasions.

New England must travel to Oakland, Seattle, San Francisco, and San Diego. Throw in a road game at Indianapolis. Out of conference homes games are not cupcakes with Pittsburgh, Denver, Arizona, KC and St Louis.

Patriots may get to the Superbowl yet again next year, but they will not go undefeated. Considering they are recovering from the worst loss in the history of football (I simply cannot think of one single other scenario where a loss would feel worse can you?) they may be glad to not carry the burden of undefeated season all season like this year. Hopefully I will not have to watch Zach Thomas next year in a Patriot uniform.

Then again, this could be the kind of loss that which they never recover, the kind that rattles the confidence of Brady and coaches for years to come.