Denver Broncos 2009 Schedule (1 Viewer)

[SuperJohn96]

From Adam Schefter's blog on NFL.com

Adam Schefter

Schedule one of the challenges facing McDaniels

Posted: January 13th, 2009 | Adam Schefter | Tags: Denver Broncos, Josh McDaniels

Denver had many selling points for its new coach Josh McDaniels. One was not its 2009 schedule. McDaniels and the Broncos face what can only be termed as a brutal schedule next season.

The schedule features a matchup between McDaniels and his mentor, Bill Belichick. But not only do the Broncos play host to the Patriots, they also are scheduled to play home games against the Steelers, Cowboys, Giants, Browns and the AFC West. The Broncos’ road schedule includes the Ravens, Eagles, Redskins, Colts, Bengals and AFC West teams.

Denver is an 8-8 second-place team playing what amounts to a first-place schedule in what will be one of the biggest challenges that McDaniels faces.

Home:Patriots

Steelers

Cowboys

Giants

Browns

Chargers

Raiders

Chiefs

Road:

Ravens

Eagles

Redskins

Colts

Bengals

Chargers

Raiders

Chiefs

 

[Ozymandias]

The objective of parity has brought us this parody of an easy schedule.

 

[duece2626]

looks like another 8-8, 7-9 season.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

switch out INDY and NE and put in Miami and Tenn and its the same as SD.

another 8-8 division winner

 

[The_Man]

So they're playing the NFC East and AFC North next year. Boo hoo. The AFC North faced the NFC East this year, plus they face themselves twice every year, and they had the AFC South in there this year for good measure.

The way Schefter smooches the Broncos' backsides is ridiculous

 

[Ted Lange as your Bartender]

Meh - who knows which of these teams will still be good next year? Over half of this year's playoff teams weren't playoff teams in 2007. Why would next year be any different?

 

[Man who'd fire the Yorks]

Looking at the schedule it does seem brutal. That could translate into good fantasy numbers though for Cutler ,Marshall and Royal if the Broncos are playing from behind a lot.

 

[Buffaloes]

Bad year to finish #2 in the AFC West...get the other #2 seeds from AFC: Baltimore, NE and Indy. The last time I thought Denver had a really brutal schedule, they ended up in the AFCC though.

 

[-OZ-]

they still play the Raiders and Chiefs twice.

 

[duece2626]

they still play the Raiders and Chiefs twice.

Meaning what? They lost to OAK once this year.

 

[thatguy]

they still play the Raiders and Chiefs twice.

Meaning what? They lost to OAK once this year.

Yup. And they lost to KC too.

 

[CalBear]

they still play the Raiders and Chiefs twice.

Meaning what? They lost to OAK once this year.

That's because the Broncos sucked this year. I'm pretty sure most teams would trade their schedule for a shot at the AFC West.

 

[-OZ-]

they still play the Raiders and Chiefs twice.

Meaning what? They lost to OAK once this year.

Just because you suck doesn't mean you have a good opponent.

 

[Bankerguy]

Maybe you'll luck out and get the Cowboys game in December.

 

[shredhead]

So they're playing the NFC East and AFC North next year. Boo hoo. The AFC North faced the NFC East this year, plus they face themselves twice every year, and they had the AFC South in there this year for good measure.The way Schefter smooches the Broncos' backsides is ridiculous

Boo hoo to you. Just because you don't like the Broncos doesn't mean you gotta rip on Schefter. He's one of the most knowledgable NFL reporters out there, you are not. In case you haven't noticed, the Broncos coaching saga is a pretty big story right now. Just a reporter trying to make a story, nothing more. I don't see the Schefter smooching the Brocos backside angle you speak of.

 

[The Jerk]

I thought I would see a ridiculously difficult schedule, but while it's not easy, it's not as ugly as what the Steelers were looking at coming into this season. Pittsburgh's 2008 schedule featured eight games against playoff teams, and nine against teams with double-digit wins. Only four games were scheduled against teams under .500, two against the Bengals (7-9 in 2007) and the Ravens (5-11 in 2007).

The Broncos are playing eight games against playoff teams, but that's only because they choked at the end of the season. Otherwise, they would have been the division champs and only have six games against playoff teams. Only five of their opponents had double-digit wins in the regular season. Also, six of their games are against teams that had five or fewer wins in 2008 (and that stat would be four or fewer wins if Denver had not lost to the Raiders in Week 12).

Granted, the Broncos finished second whereas the Steelers won their division in 2007. Still, their 2009 schedule difficulty pales considerably to what the Steelers and Ravens were facing coming into the 2008 season, and look where they are now.

 

[jonessed]

I thought I would see a ridiculously difficult schedule, but while it's not easy, it's not as ugly as what the Steelers were looking at coming into this season. Pittsburgh's 2008 schedule featured eight games against playoff teams, and nine against teams with double-digit wins. Only four games were scheduled against teams under .500, two against the Bengals (7-9 in 2007) and the Ravens (5-11 in 2007).The Broncos are playing eight games against playoff teams, but that's only because they choked at the end of the season. Otherwise, they would have been the division champs and only have six games against playoff teams. Only five of their opponents had double-digit wins in the regular season. Also, six of their games are against teams that had five or fewer wins in 2008 (and that stat would be four or fewer wins if Denver had not lost to the Raiders in Week 12).Granted, the Broncos finished second whereas the Steelers won their division in 2007. Still, their 2009 schedule difficulty pales considerably to what the Steelers and Ravens were facing coming into the 2008 season, and look where they are now.

It's not like there isn't enough Steelers threads already.

 

[The Jerk]

I thought I would see a ridiculously difficult schedule, but while it's not easy, it's not as ugly as what the Steelers were looking at coming into this season. Pittsburgh's 2008 schedule featured eight games against playoff teams, and nine against teams with double-digit wins. Only four games were scheduled against teams under .500, two against the Bengals (7-9 in 2007) and the Ravens (5-11 in 2007).The Broncos are playing eight games against playoff teams, but that's only because they choked at the end of the season. Otherwise, they would have been the division champs and only have six games against playoff teams. Only five of their opponents had double-digit wins in the regular season. Also, six of their games are against teams that had five or fewer wins in 2008 (and that stat would be four or fewer wins if Denver had not lost to the Raiders in Week 12).Granted, the Broncos finished second whereas the Steelers won their division in 2007. Still, their 2009 schedule difficulty pales considerably to what the Steelers and Ravens were facing coming into the 2008 season, and look where they are now.

It's not like there isn't enough Steelers threads already.

Sorry, facts are facts. I'm just putting it in there for comparison.

 

[Leroy's Aces]

Denver also had one of the NFL's easiest schedules in 2008.

Compare that to Indy and Tennessee for 2009 facing the terrible defenses of the NFC West and pedestrian defenses in the AFC East. Their only truly tough matchups are Pitt for Tennessee and Baltimore and Tenn twice for Indy:

Tennessee: (footballoutsiders defensive rankings in parentheses)

Indy (twice) (14)

Houston (twice) (29)

Jacksonville (twice) (26)

AFC East

Miami (13)

New England (20)

NY Jets (16)

Buffalo (25)

NFC West

Arizona (21)

San Fran (19)

Seattle (27)

St. Louis (30)

Pitt (1)

San Diego (22)

Indy:

Tenn (twice) (5)

Houston (twice) (29)

Jacksonville (twice) (26)

AFC East

Miami (13)

New England (20)

NY Jets (16)

Buffalo (25)

NFC West

Arizona (21)

San Fran (19)

Seattle (27)

St. Louis (30)

Baltimore (2)

Denver (31)

Those skeds are pretty juicy especially when you consider how tough the Colts and Titans schedules were for 2008.

 

[Tanner9919]

Meh - who knows which of these teams will still be good next year? Over half of this year's playoff teams weren't playoff teams in 2007. Why would next year be any different?

why would the Browns scare anyone? Colts ? they have a new HC. Chiefs are lousy, same with Oakland, and McDaniels

has loads of experience in scheming against Norv Turner's SD Chargers.

the Eagles were 9-6-1 this season. Dallas sucks..Giants have problems.

a lot can change over the next 9 months...

Denver's BIGGEST problem has been their defense, but yet their offense can score pts on ANYONE...

if they move up to ,say, 15th in overall defense, that would make a huge difference..

 

[Leroy's Aces]

Meh - who knows which of these teams will still be good next year? Over half of this year's playoff teams weren't playoff teams in 2007. Why would next year be any different?

why would the Browns scare anyone? Colts ? they have a new HC. Chiefs are lousy, same with Oakland, and McDaniels

has loads of experience in scheming against Norv Turner's SD Chargers.

the Eagles were 9-6-1 this season. Dallas sucks..Giants have problems.

a lot can change over the next 9 months...

Denver's BIGGEST problem has been their defense, but yet their offense can score pts on ANYONE...

if they move up to ,say, 15th in overall defense, that would make a huge difference..

How would you know the Broncos can score points on ANYONE? They haven't played ANYONE in 2008. Take a look, with Cutler's fantasy points scored to the left and the team defense rank (according to Football Outsiders) on the right:1 23.85 at Raiders - 21st

2 35.10 vs Chargers - 23rd

3 20.90 vs Saints - 20th

4 20.65 at Chiefs - 30th

5 16.95 vs Buccaneers - 10th

6 18.80 vs Jaguars - 25th

7 12.20 at Patriots - 17th

8 Bye

9 20.55 vs Dolphins - 19th

10 36.25 at Browns - 18th

11 15.20 at Falcons - 22nd

12 11.60 vs Raiders - 21st

13 24.85 at Jets - 16th

14 22.90 vs Chiefs - 30th

15 12.50 at Panthers - 15th

16 31.95 vs Bills - 27th

17 20.20 at Chargers - 23rd

That is a ridiculously easy schedule, the best Ds they played were TB and Carolina, 10th and 15th. They played ZERO defenses ranked 9th or better. The great Cutler only scored 16.95 vs. Tampa and 12.50 vs. Carolina.

Now, let's look at 2009, using 2008 defensive rankings. I would also add that the Charger's D was considered pretty good coming into 2008 and had injury issues, so they may return to form for 2009:

Home:

Patriots - 17th

Steelers - 1st

Cowboys - 6th

Giants - 7th

Browns - 18th

Chargers - 23rd

Raiders - 21st

Chiefs - 30th

Road:

Ravens - 3rd

Eagles - 2nd

Redskins - 13th

Colts - 11th

Bengals - 9th

Chargers - 23rd

Raiders - 21st

Chiefs - 30th

That is SIX games in 2009 against the top 9 defenses, vs. ZERO in 2008. They also get two other games vs. top 15 defenses. Cutler's fantastic 2008 performance vs. an easy schedule will lead to him getting drafted very early in 2009, and I am of the opinion that he will regress and not live up to his draft position in 2009, primarily due to the many tough defenses he will be facing.

 

[moleculo]

a tough schedule will only help their BCS rankings.

 

[SuperJohn96]

Meh - who knows which of these teams will still be good next year? Over half of this year's playoff teams weren't playoff teams in 2007. Why would next year be any different?

why would the Browns scare anyone? Colts ? they have a new HC. Chiefs are lousy, same with Oakland, and McDaniels

has loads of experience in scheming against Norv Turner's SD Chargers.

the Eagles were 9-6-1 this season. Dallas sucks..Giants have problems.

a lot can change over the next 9 months...

Denver's BIGGEST problem has been their defense, but yet their offense can score pts on ANYONE...

if they move up to ,say, 15th in overall defense, that would make a huge difference..

How would you know the Broncos can score points on ANYONE? They haven't played ANYONE in 2008. Take a look, with Cutler's fantasy points scored to the left and the team defense rank (according to Football Outsiders) on the right:1 23.85 at Raiders - 21st

2 35.10 vs Chargers - 23rd

3 20.90 vs Saints - 20th

4 20.65 at Chiefs - 30th

5 16.95 vs Buccaneers - 10th

6 18.80 vs Jaguars - 25th

7 12.20 at Patriots - 17th

8 Bye

9 20.55 vs Dolphins - 19th

10 36.25 at Browns - 18th

11 15.20 at Falcons - 22nd

12 11.60 vs Raiders - 21st

13 24.85 at Jets - 16th

14 22.90 vs Chiefs - 30th

15 12.50 at Panthers - 15th

16 31.95 vs Bills - 27th

17 20.20 at Chargers - 23rd

That is a ridiculously easy schedule, the best Ds they played were TB and Carolina, 10th and 15th. They played ZERO defenses ranked 9th or better. The great Cutler only scored 16.95 vs. Tampa and 12.50 vs. Carolina.

Now, let's look at 2009, using 2008 defensive rankings. I would also add that the Charger's D was considered pretty good coming into 2008 and had injury issues, so they may return to form for 2009:

Home:

Patriots - 17th

Steelers - 1st

Cowboys - 6th

Giants - 7th

Browns - 18th

Chargers - 23rd

Raiders - 21st

Chiefs - 30th

Road:

Ravens - 3rd

Eagles - 2nd

Redskins - 13th

Colts - 11th

Bengals - 9th

Chargers - 23rd

Raiders - 21st

Chiefs - 30th

That is SIX games in 2009 against the top 9 defenses, vs. ZERO in 2008. They also get two other games vs. top 15 defenses. Cutler's fantastic 2008 performance vs. an easy schedule will lead to him getting drafted very early in 2009, and I am of the opinion that he will regress and not live up to his draft position in 2009, primarily due to the many tough defenses he will be facing.

If the Chargers improve with Merriman's return, then that's two more games against tough D's.

Chargers - 23rd

Raiders - 21st

Chiefs - 30th