The NFL released its schedule with much fanfare last night. We've known who everyone was going to play and where for months, but now we have the when. Not content to throw you out a dozen or so tidbits this year, I shall give you 32 -- one thought on each NFL team's schedule. First 16 teams follow; final 16 tomorrow morning.
Arizona: Keeping Sam Bradford from getting broken behind a shaky offensive line is critical to the Cardinals' hopes of competing this year. So not ideal that Arizona plays its first four games against teams that ranked in the top 12 in sacks last year, including a Week 2 date at the Rams. Imagine Ndamukong Suh whoops accidentally falling on Bradford early in their matchup. At least three of their first four are at home, but the schedule looks difficult.
Atlanta: Falcons get the season-opener at Philadelphia, the rematch of a playoff game they very easily could have won last January. Three of their next five are against divisional foes. They close the season by playing three of four on the road, including a December game in Green Bay. But in general, schedule looks OK for the offense.
Baltimore: The Ravens will play four of their first six on the road, including a three-game trip to Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Tennessee. Not the Browns or Titans have been stellar on defense of late, but not a particularly kind start for Joe Flacco and company. The home games are against the Bills and Broncos, neither of whom are pushovers on defense, either.
Buffalo: Did Bob Kraft and Bill Belichick draw up Buffalo's schedule? They'll be using an inexperienced starting quarterback, probably AJ McCarron, and five of their first seven games are on the road. The first two road contests are at Baltimore and Minnesota. Be difficult for Buffalo to open strong. December looks nice (Miami twice, Jets and Lions), but they'll be toast by that point.
Carolina: The Panthers will play three of their first four at home, easing the sting of being without Thomas Davis that first month. The last three weeks of the season are kind of tough (Saints twice and Falcons), though there are often plenty of points in those matchups. Week 4 bye.
Chicago: Mitchell Trubisky will start of the season with a Sunday night primetime affair at Green Bay. Not ideal, but could be worse. Three of the next four are against the Cardinals, Bucs and Dolphins, so not scary defensive teams (the fourth is Seattle).
Cincinnati: The Bengals open the year with three of four on the road, and the home game will be against Baltimore. At least the opener at Indy should be OK; I imagine we'll be high on Joe Mixon for that one. In the key fantasy playoff weeks 15-16, they'll play the Browns and Raiders...hmmm.
Cleveland: There's nowhere to go but up for the league's second 0-16 team. They host Pittsburgh to start the year, then get a decent enough stretch (Saints, Jets, Raiders) for Saquon Barkley to put up some good numbers. They'll play four of their final six on the road, complicating this year's playoff run.
Dallas: Ezekiel Elliott's not suspended for any of these games, right? Dallas faces four challenging defenses in its first six games (Carolina, Seattle, Houston and Jacksonville). Schedule looks a little better later, including a three-game home stand from Weeks 12-14 and then Week 15-16 games against the Colts and Bucs. Might be a nice situation to have Elliott for that run.
Denver:Schedule looks tricky early, with three of the first six against the Seahawks, Ravens and Rams (others more favorable: Raiders, Kansas City and Jets). Weeks 14-16 are against the 49ers, Browns and Raiders, assuming Denver has any viable fantasy performers -- who knows who their starting running back will be.
Detroit: Nothing leaps out at me about this schedule. Opening against the Jets and 49ers, that looks friendly enough. But then a three-game stretch against the Patriots, Cowboys and Packers; no pushovers there. The LeGarrette Blount revenge game is in primetime.
Green Bay: I hear Aaron Rodgers is upset he wasn't consulted about the schedule. Burn! Packers open against the Bears and Vikings, but both are at home. Rough midseason stretch with four of five on the road, including a home tap-in against Miami but road trips to the Patriots, Rams, Seahawks and Vikings -- ouch.
Houston: The Texans open at New England, giving the Cheatriots a chance to deprive of us seeing Deshaun Watson play early on. Did I say that out loud? Sorry. Schedule looks a little better in the second half; one of the Jaguars games is in Week 17.
Indianapolis:If Andrew Luck is available, the schedule looks good for him to put up decent numbers both early on and down the stretch. The Bengals, Washington and Eagles are the first three; not terribly daunting. And then in Week 15 and 16, Luck and company are at home against the Cowboys and Giants.
Jacksonville: The Jaguars should get off to a decent enough start. They open at the Giants, a team that has a lot of new faces on the defensive side of the ball. Then they're home in the Florida heat for three straight: Patriots, Titans and Jets. In Week 15 and 16 they host Washington and play a road game all the way in... Miami.
Kansas City: Kansas City is starting a virtual rookie at quarterback, and it looks like a difficult early stretch. They open against the Chargers on the road and then face the Steelers. Chargers have the league's best pass-rushing tandem, Steelers perennially tough. Things get better in Week 3 (home against the 49ers), but then two more tough defenses (Denver and Jacksonville).
Part II comes tomorrow morning.