The long awaited 2010 National Football League schedule is out at last, making the coming season truly seem to be right around the corner.
As always, there is a great deal of speculation and analysis about tough schedules, easy schedules, etc., and that puts me in mind of a past moment in which I asked a coach to compare our schedule with that of a division opponent.
He took a quick look and said, “Looks like we each have eight at home and eight away.”
A very pithy comment often lost on the populace at this time of year. As Josh McDaniels often has said, people try to make forecasts on records, but all the analysis and speculation is based on last year’s records for all teams involved, and each year is a whole new season.
Let’s take a quick look at some schedule facts for this year, and bear in mind that at all times, there is constant change from week to week, based on weather, injury, fatigue, and the basic fact that some teams will get better and some will slip as the long year grinds along.
The Denver Broncos and San Francisco 49ers travel the most miles this year, San Francisco going 33,264 and the Broncos moving 23,184-of course, this is largely due to the fact that we play each other in London, and then we get a well-deserved bye after that long travel week.
We open at Jacksonville, where the Jaguars will play three home games in their first four-no doubt, the Jaguars will be hoping that the heat is a factor, but then again, it’s not like the visitors don’t know it gets hot in Florida.
In the final three weeks of the season the NFL schedule will feature 28 division matchups, up from 15 in 2009. The Broncos will be a part of that as well with three division games in our last five, including two of our last three.
For the first time in Texans’ history they will play three prime time games, two on ESPN and one on the NFL Network, giving former Broncos’ offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak plenty of national exposure.
With the recent acquisition of Donovan McNabb the Washington Redskins find themselves scheduled to play three prime time games and five on national television this year.
Meanwhile, the longest current streak of Monday Night Football appearances is 18 by the Broncos, and Denver will extend that to 19 when we play in San Diego under the Monday night lights this year.
As might be expected, the Cowboys, Steelers and Colts will dominate the national primetime slots with five appearances each, and the Jets have five primetime games as well. The 49ers have four prime time games, and the Raiders have none.
What does it all mean?
It means what it always means.
If you don’t prepare are practice well you are in danger of getting your teeth kicked in every week, home or away, no matter the foe. And if you do practice and prepare well, you can win any game on the schedule, no matter who the opponent is, no matter where, no matter what day or time of day.
Every coach knows it is all about how you study and work and prepare, and then carrying every one of those good habits over to game day.
We all start off with eight at home and eight away. The NFL is the world’s greatest meritocracy, and we’ll see who merits what as the season moves along.
Tags: 2010 NFL Schedule, Gary Kubiak, Head Coach Josh McDaniels, Jacksonville Jaguars, London, Monday Night Football, San Francisco 49ers
He’s still got WR Marshall on his mind, LOL.
Is tonight like christmas eve, where you only open up one gift?
depending on if we trade for more lol but one gift is fine for me today
Yeah marshis… too many. I don’t.
Seriously bay… claussen???
yeah I dont really want Tim Tebow.I had a weird premonition 3 years ago that he would join our team and It scared me.honestly I hope we stay with Quinn and get some defense
That was somebody else’s pick, I was just confirming I got it. It’s just a pick anyway, difference of opinions is all.
I would be really happy if we get Dez Bryant, Rolando McClain, or Earl Thomas at the number 11 pick. Anyone of those 3 would make me very happy.
Also…
HECK NO TEBOW!!!!!!
The “10-4″ could of been a clue.
I picked Claussen cus McDaniel’s is crazy and I was trying to think like him lol
It’s not that far off the realm of possibilities, I agree.
Yeah, valid point steveatwater5. It’s just a question. Never thought of it.
it’s all good that’s why we have this blog for discussion.
lol i don’t know why everyone is picking Tebow, in my eyes he’s just a college QB, won’t excel in the pros. but my picks are:
11. Rolando Mcclain
43. colt mccoy (wanted him for a year and a half)
45. toby gearheart
Baylin, Marshis
Lol, I do still got Marshall on the Brain but i amtrying to move on. I was orginally gonna put WR Aerelius Benn but I changed it to Gerhart and forgot the change the “WR” part
Nolan I did too (colt mccoy that is) but we got a full house at QB, dont know why we gonna use a pick on him. A 2nd at that. When we can adress other areas. But I wouldnt be mad at that. I think the top 5 QBs in this draft are Bradford, McCoy, Clausen, Tebow, and Someone else lol. In that order. I think McCoy will do great.
Hey I started to pick Clausen,until I read that Tebow has visited Denver twice,and how much McD liked him.
Don’t mean I agree,I’d rather have McCoy.IMO
Adam_Schefter
Teams to monitor that are interested in moving back in the draft: Redskins, Jaguars, Broncos, Dolphins. #nfldraft
Adam_Schefter
Teams to monitor that are interested in moving up in the draft: Giants, Titans, Packers, Steelers, Eagles, Chargers. #nfldraft
For those whose top 3 involve trading down or w/e. this should help u better lock in on a pick
Tebow is a MCD player.
Tall
Like to be in shotgun
Leader
Winning attitude
Good character
willing to learn
just sayin
man Todd Mcshay hates Notre Dame he will bash any player that comes out of there
florio,Tebow IS a winner,and will do anything he is asked to do,is what makes teams want him,and is a good leader,but can he be a true drop back passer??? and he’s a lefty,so Clady can’t block his blindside,just saying.
I know one thing for sure,whoever gets Eric Berry will be getting a phenominal athlete,and a great leader.
I second that Beast Eric Berry has something special
I love Tebow, I’ll definitely be rooting for him throughout his career, and I believe he could carve out for himself a successful NFL career, but it will be an uphill battle against his pre-set fundamentals and teams’ prejudice against him. Awesome guy, though.
The new draft blog is up.
Florio, I agree with your assessment of Tebow.
I also believe Myron Rolle (Rhodes Scholar) fits that profile. And Taylor Mays from USC; versatile, smart, tall, leader etc.
I would not be at all disappointed if we came away with any of these 3. 2/3 would be great and all 3 would be freakin’ fantastic…
It took me awhile, but I just realized how out-of-date my username is lol
It took me awhile, but I just realized how out-of-date my username is