Cowboys schedule, last 20 years

[dbair1967]

Draw your own conclusions:

1992 Open home, Close home
1993 road, road
1994 road, road
1995 road, road
1996 road, road
1997 road, home
1998 home, home
1999 road, home
2000 home, road
2001 home, road
2002 road, road
2003 home, road
2004 road, road
2005 road, home
2006 road, home
2007 home, road
2008 road, road
2009 road, home
2010 road, road
2011 road, road
2012 road, ?

 

[lons]

It really is crazy that we can't get a home game opener, but I guess since it always so hot they want to play in a better environment to open the seasons.

 

[Theebs]

It really is crazy that we can't get a home game opener, but I guess since it always so hot they want to play in a better environment to open the seasons.

we are in a climate controlled dome now though so that shouldnt matter.

the eagles have been stuck opening on the road also just like we have to be fair

 

[bbgun]

I just hope we get a later than usual bye week.

 

[cmd34]

I just hope we get a later than usual bye week.

Yes that would be nice. I know every fan, except maybe Giant fans, thinks the NFL and refs are screwing them but this schedule thing and early bye every year is getting out of hand. I want the latest bye possible. Have we ever had that?

 

[dbair1967]

the eagles have been stuck opening on the road also just like we have to be fair

15 times in 20 yrs?

Doubt it.

I also doubt they've faced the calibar of opponents in alot of thsoe games as we have.

 

[dbair1967]

Yes that would be nice. I know every fan, except maybe Giant fans, thinks the NFL and refs are screwing them but this schedule thing and early bye every year is getting out of hand. I want the latest bye possible. Have we ever had that?

Its been awhile I think, and it hasnt happened often

 

[Theebs]

15 times in 20 yrs?

Doubt it.

I also doubt they've faced the calibar of opponents in alot of thsoe games as we have.

they had 4 home openers in the past 10 just like us...and I think 1 more than us in the 90s...

 

[Mr.Po]

Yes that would be nice. I know every fan, except maybe Giant fans, thinks the NFL and refs are screwing them but this schedule thing and early bye every year is getting out of hand. I want the latest bye possible. Have we ever had that?

We had a bye in week 10 of the 08' season. I believe that is the last bye week on the NFL schedule. That is a rarity as we usually get the shaft. 3 outta 4 years in the Parcells era the club had byes on or before week 4.

09' Bye week 6
10' Bye week 4
11' Bye week 5

So yeah it's due time for the NFL to turn the tables and move us up the ladder again.

 

[Hoofbite]

There was a time a few years back where I swore that Dallas was getting shafted by having to play on the road against good teams year in and year out.

I can't remember what span I looked at but here's the openers for the NFCE since 2003. I used the results from the previous season determine whether or not the team had made the playoffs. You don't know how a team will perform in a year so you can only go off of the previous season when scheduling the games.

Green = Best Scenario = Home Vs. Non-Playoff Team

Red = Worst Scenario = Away Vs. Playoff Team

Dallas:

2011 - Away Playoff Team
2010 - Away Non-Playoff Team (4 - 12)
2009 - Away Non-Playoff Team (9-7)
2008 - Away Non-Playoff Team (10 - 6)
2007 - Home Playoff Team
2006 - Away Playoff Team
2005 - Away Playoff Team
2004 - Away Non-Playoff Team (9 - 7)
2003 - Home Playoff Team

Dallas literally never plays at home against a Non-Playoff Team from the previous season. They are either on the road to start the year or they play against a playoff team at home. Furthermore, of the Non-Playoff teams that they have played on the road to open, only 1 of those teams has been a truly "bad" team.

Dallas is ALWAYS on the road. The only positive for Dallas is they have played Divisional Rivals 2 times in this span. I consider it a positive because a Divisional Rival in week 1 kind of negates the record of the team because teams are still working out the kinks and any game in the NFCE is going to be a dogfight.

Washington:

2011 - Home Non-Playoff Team (10 - 6)
2010 - Home Playoff Team
2009 - Away Playoff Team
2008 - Away Playoff Team
2007 - Home Non-Playoff Team (6 - 10)
2006 - Home Non-Playoff Team (9 - 7)
2005 - Home Non-Playoff Team (5 - 11)
2004 - Home Non-Playoff Team (7 - 9)
2003 - Home Playoff Team

Washington has been bless with Home openers against Non-Playoff Teams. I'm almost positive it was around 2007 where I started noticing that Dallas is always on the road to open and Washington is always at Home. It pissed me off to see Washington get these nice home openers while Dallas had to either go on the road or play a quality team.

Washington is ALWAYS at home. I think the one thing that Washington is high in is games against Division rivals. They have opened against a divisional opponent for 4 straight years.

New York:

2011 - Away Non-Playoff Team (6 - 10)
2010 - Home Non-Playoff Team (8 - 8)
2009 - Home Non-Playoff Team (8 - 8)
2008 - Home Playoff Team
2007 - Away Playoff Team
2006 - Home Playoff Team
2005 - Away Non-Playoff Team (6 - 10)
2004 - Away Playoff Team
2003 - Home Non-Playoff Team (7 - 9)

The Giants have a balance of away and home but they have played some mediocre Non-Playoff teams on the road. They do however have more games than all others against Divisional Rivals at 5 games.

Philly:

2011 - Away Non-Playoff Team (7 - 9)
2010 - Home Playoff Team
2009 - Away Playoff Team
2008 - Home Non-Playoff Team (3 - 13)
2007 - Away Non-Playoff Team (8 - 8)
2006 - Away Non-Playoff Team (2 - 14)
2005 - Away Playoff Team
2004 - Home Non-Playoff Team (4 - 12)
2003 - Home Playoff Team

Philly is pretty average but they've only played 1 Divisional Rival in this time.




Dallas definitely gets the shaft on opening weekend and I think a large part is the popularity of the team. The NFL wants to showcase its most popular team and it makes zero sense to give them a bottom feeder because you're wasting a chance at TV rating records by positioning for a blowout.

I think the NFL scheduling sucks. I have a list of things I would do that would immediately make the schedule better and more balanced. I can't believe guys who are so successful are so inept when it comes to putting together a schedule.

 

[Hoofbite]

15 times in 20 yrs?

Doubt it.

I also doubt they've faced the calibar of opponents in alot of thsoe games as we have.

they had 4 home openers in the past 10 just like us...and I think 1 more than us in the 90s...

Philly had a few home openers in the 90s. I'm not sure how many but I just breezed through their schedule and they probably had 4-5 between 1990 and 2002.

I don't think all of the 1990s are relevant though. I don't think the NFL made a deliberate effort to slot matchups the whole time.

I think now though with the popularity of the game they are determined to get opening week to be a monster. They pick favorable matchups week 1 and hype the opening weekend like nobodies business.

 

[dbair1967]

I think now though with the popularity of the game they are determined to get opening week to be a monster. They pick favorable matchups week 1 and hype the opening weekend like nobodies business.

I know thats some of it, but its week one. You put scab players out there for week one and people will watch in droves.

 

[cmd34]

the home and road opponents are actually a formula.

3 home division games
3 away division games

2 afc conference (every 4 years) home games *determined by where you played same team 4 years ago
2 afc conference (every 4 years) away games *determined by where you played same team 4 years ago

2 nfc division (every 3 years) home games *determined by where you played same team 3 years ago
2 nfc division (every 3 years) away games *determined by where you played same team 3 years ago

last 2 games are vs same-place finishers from the 2 NFC divisions you are not playing that year. There's a rotation there too but it's a little different since you rotate playing the 3 NFC divisions.


It just works out weird sometimes. For example, had the Cardinals not beat the Seahawks in a meaningless week 17 game, we would have played here in AZ 3 years in a row.

2010 our turn to play NFC West same place finisher on road
2011 NFC West division rotation, played at AZ since we played in Dallas 3 years before.
2012 our turn to play NFC West same place finisher on road *
In 2013 it won't be possible to play at Arizona, we could host them if we are same place finishers.
In 2014 we will be hosting Arizona no matter what.

* we will play at Seattle now since we both finished at 3rd place in our divisions

 

[cmd34]

Now when we play who, week 1 road games, 3 out of 4 road games to close out the season, byes, are subjective and where I feel, the League hoses us every year.

 

[Hoofbite]

the home and road opponents are actually a formula.

3 home division games
3 away division games

2 afc conference (every 4 years) home games *determined by where you played same team 4 years ago
2 afc conference (every 4 years) away games *determined by where you played same team 4 years ago

2 nfc division (every 3 years) home games *determined by where you played same team 3 years ago
2 nfc division (every 3 years) away games *determined by where you played same team 3 years ago

last 2 games are vs same-place finishers from the 2 NFC divisions you are not playing that year. There's a rotation there too but it's a little different since you rotate playing the 3 NFC divisions.


It just works out weird sometimes. For example, had the Cardinals not beat the Seahawks in a meaningless week 17 game, we would have played here in AZ 3 years in a row.

2010 our turn to play NFC West same place finisher on road
2011 NFC West division rotation, played at AZ since we played in Dallas 3 years before.
2012 our turn to play NFC West same place finisher on road *
In 2013 it won't be possible to play at Arizona, we could host them if we are same place finishers.
In 2014 we will be hosting Arizona no matter what.

* we will play at Seattle now since we both finished at 3rd place in our divisions

So Dallas plays at home against Denver?

 

[cmd34]

So Dallas plays at home against Denver?

We play the AFC North in 2012.

In 2013, we will host Denver (and Kansas City). We will play at Oakland and at San Diego. We will also host Green Bay and Minnesota that year and travel to Detroit and Chicago.

 

[cmd34]

All this changes if the NFL expands or moves teams from one division to another.

 

[Rock Slamdance]

Conspiracy!!!!!