Expected 2009 Boston NFL TV Schedule

Every year I try to look at the NFL schedule and guess which games we in the Boston area will get to see on local TV week-by-week (Although for some reason, I didn't do it last year. Go figure.) The formula I use to pick the games is explained here. Here is the expected TV schedule:

WEEK 1
Thursday, Sep. 10
8:30 PM...NBC...Tennessee at Pittsburgh
Sunday, Sep. 13
1:00 PM...FOX...Minnesota at Cleveland
1:00 PM...CBS...N.Y. Jets at Houston
4:15 PM...FOX...Washington at N.Y. Giants
8:20 PM...NBC...Chicago at Green Bay
Monday, Sep. 14
7:00 PM...ESPN...Buffalo at New England
10:15 PM…ESPN...San Diego at Oakland

OK, so I cheated on this one. I had originally predicted that Fox would send us the Philadelphia-Carolina game because it pitted two of the NFC's top teams from last year and was an NFC East game. You know, solid reasons to send an out-of-market game to Boston. But I checked the listings and apparently Fox has decided that we, along with the rest of the country, just can't wait to watch the magical Brett Favre play against a Cleveland team that was awful last year and that some have predicted will be the NFL's worst in 2009. You know, because he's Brett Favre!

Miami-Atlanta might be a better 1:00 CBS game than Jets-Texans. But CBS thinks we care more about the Jets than the team that actually won the AFC East, and Jim Nantz and Phil Simms are doing the game--making it their #1 national game--so we're getting them instead.

WEEK 2
Sunday, Sep. 20
1:00 PM...CBS...New England at N.Y. Jets
4:05 PM...FOX...Tampa Bay at Buffalo
4:15 PM...CBS...Pittsburgh at Chicago
8:20 PM...NBC...N.Y. Giants at Dallas
Monday, Sep. 21
8:30 PM...ESPN...Indianapolis at Miami

Not too tough a call here. The 4:05 Fox game is either Bucs-Bills or Niners-Seahawks. The others are lay-ups (although I'd rather see Baltimore-San Diego as the 4:15 CBS game).

WEEK 3
Sunday, Sep. 27
1:00 PM...FOX...Atlanta at New England
4:15 PM...CBS...Miami at San Diego
8:20 PM...NBC...Indianapolis at Arizona
Monday, Sep. 28
8:30 PM...ESPN...Carolina at Dallas

Since the Pats are at home and CBS has the doubleheader, we only get one game in each slot (the NFL has some arcane rule that a local affiliate can't show a game opposite the home team when they are at home). Dolphins-Chargers is the best 4:15 game and the one that would mean the most to Patriots fans, but the early assignments have Nantz and Simms doing Pittsburgh-Cincinnati in that slot. God help us if they ship that mismatch to Boston instead of Miami-San Diego.

WEEK 4
Sunday, Oct. 4
1:00 PM...CBS...Baltimore at New England
4:15 PM...FOX...Dallas at Denver
8:20 PM...NBC...San Diego at Pittsburgh
Monday, Oct. 5
8:30 PM...ESPN...Green Bay at Minnesota

Same situation as in Week 4 with the Patriots at home. Nothing tough about this one.

WEEK 5
Sunday, Oct. 11
1:00 PM...CBS...Oakland at N.Y. Giants
1:00 PM...FOX...Dallas at Kansas City
4:15 PM...CBS...New England at Denver
8:20 PM...NBC...Indianapolis at Tennessee
Monday, Oct. 12
8:30 PM...ESPN...N.Y. Jets at Miami

This is a very intriguing week. Not because there are a bunch of good 1:00 games to choose from, but because there are no good games. I stuck to the script and have CBS sending us the Raiders-Giants, but a rationale could be made for two of their other 1:00 games. Division-rival Buffalo against an awful Cleveland team? The Super Bowl-champion Steelers against a terrible Lions squad? Because of the Raiders' addition of Richard Seymour and the presence of the Giants, I'm sticking with that mismatch.

On Fox, I'm going with Cowboys-Chiefs because it's an NFC East team against former Patriot Matt Cassell. Tampa-Philly is the best game in this slot, but I think the presence of Cassell will make the difference in the assignment. Of course, Minnesota-St. Louis is a possibility if the network suits still think we want to watch Our Lord and Savior Brett Farve.

WEEK 6
Sunday, Oct. 18
1:00 PM...CBS...Baltimore at Minnesota
1:00 PM...FOX...N.Y. Giants at New Orleans
4:15 PM...CBS...Tennessee at New England
8:20 PM...NBC...Chicago at Atlanta
Monday, Oct. 19
8:30 PM...ESPN...Denver at San Diego

Even though the Patriots are home, CBS can still show a 1:00 game because they have the doubleheader. I had Ravens-Vikings as the 1:00 CBS game before American Hero Brett Farve joined Minnesota, so I'm sticking with that one.

WEEK 7
Sunday, Oct. 25
1:00 PM...CBS...New England at Tampa Bay (London)
1:00 PM...FOX...Minnesota at Pittsburgh
4:15 PM...FOX...Atlanta at Dallas
8:20 PM...NBC...Arizona at N.Y. Giants
Monday, Oct. 26
8:30 PM...ESPN...Philadelphia at Washington

Again, I had Minnesota on my schedule even before Roman God Brett Favricus graced us with his return, so nothing changes there. Falcons-Cowboys is the pick as it will most likely be Fox's national game at 4:15, though I'd love to see them send us Saints-Dolphins if Miami is still a threat in the AFC East.

WEEK 8
Sunday, Nov. 1
1:00 PM...CBS...Miami at N.Y. Jets
1:00 PM...FOX...Minnesota at Green Bay
4:15 PM...FOX...N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia
Monday, Nov. 2
8:30 PM...ESPN...Atlanta at New Orleans

Easy pickings. AFC East rivals on CBS, General MacArthur's triumphant return to Green Bay on Fox at 1:00, and an NFC East game involving the Giants at 4:00.

WEEK 9
Sunday, Nov. 8
1:00 PM...CBS...Miami at New England
4:05 PM...FOX...Carolina at New Orleans
4:15 PM...CBS...San Diego at N.Y. Giants
8:20 PM...NBC...Dallas at Philadelphia
Monday, Nov. 9
8:30 PM...ESPN...Pittsburgh at Denver

No tough choices here.

WEEK 10
Thursday, Nov. 12
8:20 PM...NFL...Chicago at San Francisco
Sunday, Nov. 15
1:00 PM...FOX...Tampa Bay at Miami
1:00 PM...CBS...Jacksonville at N.Y. Jets
4:15 PM...FOX...Dallas at Green Bay
8:20 PM...NBC...New England at Indianapolis
Monday, Nov. 16
8:30 PM...ESPN...Baltimore at Cleveland

Each of the three afternoon slots could go in an different direction. Tampa-Miami is the 1:00 Fox game that would mean the most to Patriots fans and will probably get the nod, although Atlanta-Carolina is probably the best game in the slot. On CBS, Jaguars-Jets is the pick, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Buffalo-Tennessee will be a bigger game by week 10. If so, the suits just might send us that one. At 4:15, Eagles-Chargers is also a very good game and may be the choice if either Dallas or Green Bay falters.

WEEK 11
Thursday, Nov. 19
8:20 PM...NFL...Miami at Carolina
Sunday, Nov. 22
1:00 PM...CBS...Indianapolis at Baltimore
1:00 PM...FOX...Atlanta at N.Y. Giants
4:15 PM...CBS...N.Y. Jets at New England
8:20 PM...NBC...Philadelphia at Chicago
Monday, Nov. 23
8:30 PM...ESPN...Tennessee at Houston

Colts-Ravens will definitely be the top CBS game at 1:00, but Buffalo-Jacksonville could be the call in Boston if the Bills are in contention in the AFC East. Washington-Dallas will probably be the top Fox game at 1:00, but the Giants win out here.

WEEK 12
Thursday, Nov. 26
12:30 PM...FOX...Green Bay at Detroit
4:15 PM...CBS...Oakland at Dallas
8:20 PM...NFL...N.Y. Giants at Denver
Sunday, Nov. 29
1:00 PM...FOX...Carolina at N.Y. Jets
1:00 PM...CBS...Miami at Buffalo
4:15 PM...FOX...Chicago at Minnesota (move from 1:00)
8:20 PM...NBC...Pittsburgh at Baltimore
Monday, Nov. 30
8:30 PM...ESPN...New England at New Orleans

A very tricky slate to predict. The CBS game is a given, but the Fox games are completely up in the air. Fox has the doubleheader, but they currently do not have any 4:15 games on the schedule, so not only do I have to guess which games we will see, I also have to guess which game(s) will be flexed to 4:15. Originally I had expected Washington-Philadelphia to be flexed to the national game--and I think that will still be a good choice when the time comes. But now that the Superman is now in a purple uniform, I'm guessing Vikings-Bears will be Fox's pick. I think Carolina-Jets stays at 1:00.

WEEK 13
Thursday, Dec. 03
8:20 PM...NFL...N.Y. Jets at Buffalo
Sunday, Dec. 06
1:00 PM...CBS...Tennessee at Indianapolis
1:00 PM...FOX...Philadelphia at Atlanta
4:15 PM...FOX...Dallas at N.Y. Giants
8:20 PM...NBC...New England at Miami
Monday, Dec. 07
8:30 PM...ESPN...Baltimore at Green Bay

Another open Sunday as the Pats are again on national TV. I don't see any flexing this week and I really don't see any tough choices, either.

WEEK 14
Thursday, Dec. 10
8:20 PM...NFL...Pittsburgh at Cleveland
Sunday, Dec. 13
1:00 PM...FOX...Carolina at New England
4:15 PM...CBS...San Diego at Dallas
8:20 PM...NBC...Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants
Monday, Dec. 14
8:30 PM...ESPN...Arizona at San Francisco

Condensed schedule as the Pats are at home on Fox and CBS has the doubleheader. I don't think any flexing will affect this schedule.

WEEK 15
Thursday, Dec. 17
8:20 PM...NFL...Indianapolis at Jacksonville
Saturday, Dec. 19
8:20 PM...NFL...Dallas at New Orleans
Sunday, Dec. 20
1:00 PM...CBS...New England at Buffalo
1:00 PM...FOX...Atlanta at N.Y. Jets
4:15 PM...FOX...Green Bay at Pittsburgh (move from 1:00)
8:20 PM...NBC...Minnesota at Carolina
Monday, Dec. 21
8:30 PM...ESPN...N.Y. Giants at Washington

Packers-Steelers is a lock to move out of the 1:00 slot and I can't see Fox letting NBC have it (NBC has the most awesome quarterback ever in the Sunday night slot anyway), so they are the pick at 4:15. Falcons-Jets is an easy pick in Fox's early slot.

WEEK 16
Friday, Dec. 25
7:30 PM...NFL...San Diego at Tennessee
Sunday, Dec. 27
1:00 PM...CBS...Jacksonville at New England
4:05 PM...FOX...St. Louis at Arizona
4:15 PM...CBS...Baltimore at Pittsburgh (moved from 1:00)
8:20 PM...NBC...Dallas at Washington
Monday, Dec. 28
8:30 PM...ESPN...Minnesota at Chicago

I am going out on a little bit of a limb here. Jets-Colts is currently the only game listed for 4:15. Because the Giants are at 1:00, the Jets will not be flexed out of that spot. Normally, Jets-Colts would be a lock to be the Boston game, but I think the Jets will be out of contention by week 16 (and the Colts may also be done by then). Since I expect CBS to flex Ravens-Steelers to this spot, I'm going to guess that they send that game to Boston because it should actually mean something. St. Louis-Arizona is the least bad of two bad Fox games at 4:05.

WEEK 17
Sunday, Jan. 3
1:00 PM...CBS...New England at Houston
1:00 PM...FOX...Atlanta at Tampa Bay
4:15 PM...CBS...Pittsburgh at Miami (moved from 1:00)
4:15 PM...FOX...Philadelphia at Dallas (moved from 1:00)
8:20 PM...NBC...N.Y. Giants at Minnesota (moved from 1:00)

Of course, other than the Patriots game, does anyone have any real idea which games will be flexed and which will be important in the final week of the season? No, but I've come up with what I think is a pretty good guess. The last time The Anointed One "retired" NBC picked his final game to be their prime time offering. This time, I actually think the game will also mean something, so it is my pick for Sunday night. I think Steelers-Dolphins and Eagles-Cowboys will also both include teams that are fighting for playoff spots (not to mention that the Steelers and Cowboys are marquee teams), so they are the choices to move to 4:15. Either Falcons-Bucs or Panthers-Saints (or both) will be for the NFC South title, so that will be the early Fox game.

How many times will your favorite (or not-so-favorite) team be on TV here in the Boston area? Glad you asked...

New England....16
N.Y. Giants.......13
Dallas...............13
Miami...............10
Pittsburgh..........10
Minnesota..........9
N.Y. Jets...........8
Philadelphia......8
San Diego...........8
Atlanta...............8
Chicago..............7
Green Bay...........7
Baltimore...........7
Indianapolis.......7
Buffalo...............6
Carolina.............6
Tennessee...........6
Denver................5
New Orleans.......5
Washington........4
Arizona...............4
Tampa Bay.........4
Houston.............3
Jacksonville........3
Oakland.............3
Cleveland...........3
San Francisco.....2
Kansas City.........1
Detroit................1
St. Louis.............1
Cincinnati...........0
Seattle................0

NFL Picks -- Week 4

For entertainment purposes only. Picks are against the spread, straight up winners are in bold.

Baltimore (-4) over Cleveland (L, 13-27)
Chicago (-3) over Detroit (L, 27-37)
Green Bay (-1.5) over Minnesota (W, 23-16)
Houston (-3) over Atlanta (L, 16-26)
N.Y. Jets (-3.5) over Buffalo (L, 17-14)
St. Louis (+13) over Dallas (L, 7-35)
Miami (-4) over Oakland (L, 17-35)
San Francisco (+1.5) over Seattle (L, 3-23)
Carolina (-3) over Tampa Bay (L, 7-20)
Arizona (+6) over Pittsburgh (W, 21-14)
Kansas City (+11.5) over San Diego (W, 30-16)
Indianapolis (-10) over Denver (W, 38-20)
N.Y. Giants (+3) over Philadelphia (W, 16-3)
New England (-7.5) over Cincinnati (W, 34-13)

Against the Spread

LAST WEEK   5- 7- 4   .438
SEASON     21-21- 6   .500
THIS WEEK   6- 8- 0   .429
SEASON     27-29- 6   .484

Straight Up

LAST WEEK  12- 4      .750
SEASON     34-14      .708
THIS WEEK   5- 9      .357
SEASON     39-23      .629

Tags: Football NFL Picks odds

NFL Picks -- Week 3

For entertainment purposes only. Picks are against the spread, straight up winners are in bold.

Houston (+6) over Indianapolis (T, 24-30)
Buffalo (+16.5) over New England (L, 7-38)
N.Y. Jets (-3) over Miami (T, 31-28)
Philadelphia (-5.5) over Detroit (W, 56-21)
San Francisco (+9.5) over Pittsburgh (L, 16-37)
Tampa Bay (-3.5) over St. Louis (W, 24-3)
San Diego (-5) over Green Bay (L, 24-31)
Arizona (+7.5) over Baltimore (W, 23-26)
Kansas City (-3) over Minnesota (T, 13-10)
Oakland (-3) over Cleveland (L, 26-24)
Seattle (-3) over Cincinnati (T, 21-24)
Denver (-3.5) over Jacksonville (L, 14-23)
Carolina (-3.5) over Atlanta (W, 27-20)
Washington (-3.5) over N.Y. Giants (L, 17-24)
Dallas (+3) over Chicago (W, 34-10)
New Orleans (-4) over Tennessee (L, 14-31)

Against the Spread

LAST WEEK   5-10- 1   .344
SEASON     16-14- 2   .531
THIS WEEK   5- 7- 4   .438
SEASON     21-21- 6   .500

Straight Up

LAST WEEK   9- 7      .563
SEASON     22-10      .688
THIS WEEK  12- 4      .750
SEASON     34-14      .708

Tags: Football NFL Picks odds

Putting the Patriots in perspective

From presidential candidate, Bill Richardson:

"The President has been allowed to spy on Americans without a warrant, and our U.S. Senate is letting it continue. You know something is wrong when the New England Patriots face stiffer penalties for spying on innocent Americans than Dick Cheney and George Bush."

Tags: New England Patriots NFL cheating Bill Richardson

NFL Picks -- Week 2

For entertainment purposes only. Picks are against the spread, straight up winners are in bold.

Carolina (-6.5) over Houston (L, 21-35)
Jacksonville (-10) over Atlanta (L, 13-7)
Tennessee (+7) over Indianapolis (W, 22-20)
St. Louis (-3) over San Francisco (L, 16-17)
N.Y. Giants (Pick) over Green Bay (L, 13-35)
Pittsburgh (-9.5) over Buffalo (W, 26-3)
Cincinnati (-6.5) over Cleveland (L, 45-51)
New Orleans (-3.5) over Tampa Bay (L, 14-31)
Detroit (-3) over Minnesota (T, 20-17)
Dallas (-3.5) over Miami (W, 37-20)
Seattle (-3) over Arizona (L, 20-23)
Baltimore (-10) over N.Y. Jets (L, 20-13)
Chicago (-12) over Kansas City (L, 20-10)
Denver (-10) over Oakland (L, 23-20)
New England (-3.5) over San Diego (W, 38-14)
Washington (+6.5) over Philadelphia (W, 20-12)

Against the Spread

LAST WEEK  11- 4- 1   .719
SEASON     11- 4- 1   .719
THIS WEEK   5-10- 1   .344
SEASON     16-14- 2   .531

Straight Up

LAST WEEK  13- 3      .813
SEASON     13- 3      .813
THIS WEEK   9- 7      .563
SEASON     22-10      .688

Tags: Football NFL Picks odds

Nixonian Patriots

Well, it looks like the Patriots are in a bit of trouble. They were caught videotaping the Jets' defensive signals during Sunday's game, and there will be some sort of "sanctions" coming down from the NFL shortly.

In some ways, it smacks of Nixonian paranoia. Nixon's reelection staff was so afraid of losing the 1972 election that they broke into the Democratic National Commitee's offices at the Watergate even though there was no way they were going to lose the 1972 election to George McGovern or any other Democrat.

Similarly, the Patriots are so good--especially this season--that they are going to win almost every week without having to resort to chicanery. Yet, they are so afraid of losing even the tiniest edge, that they break the laws of their sport even though they don't have to.

It's a little crime that opens a window into the thought process of the organization.

In the context of one specific game, the stealing of signals via videotape is not that big a deal. The way the NFL works, the offense sends in it's personnel package, the the defense sees who has come onto the field and makes there calls based on down, distance, and offensive personnel. There is almost no way that a team could have someone videotape a signal, call it in to an offensive coach, and have it relayed to Tom Brady in time for him to make an adjustment to the play.

On the other hand, it is a very big deal because the practice is explicitly prohibited by the league. In fact, not only have the Patriots been accused of doing this a number of times, but the entire league was strongly warned before the start of the season that these sort of practices would not be tolerated.

Yet, the Patriots did it anyway, either because they were too paranoid to let the game play out or because they are so arrogant that they think thought they could get away with it.

Now they will be punished, possible severely. And they will deserve whatever they get.

What will that be? I'll bet the Patriots will lose one or two draft picks, and be fined six figures. I also wouldn't be surprised if the sanctions include restrictions on who the Patriots can have on the sideline and how many sideline credentials the team can pass out. I wouldn't be stunned if Bill Belichick were suspended for a game or so.

Tags: New England Patriots NFL cheating

NFL Picks -- Week 1

For entertainment purposes only. Picks are against the spread, straight up winners are in bold.

Indianapolis (-6.5) over New Orleans (W, 41-10)
Denver (-3) over Buffalo (L, 15-14)
Houston (-3) over Kansas City (W, 20-3)
Tennessee (+7) over Jacksonville (W, 13-10)
Minnesota (-3) over Atlanta (W, 24-3)
N.Y. Jets (+6) over New England (L, 14-38)
Philadelphia (-3) over Green Bay (L, 13-16)
Pittsburgh (-4.5) over Cleveland (W, 34-7)
St. Louis (-1) over Carolina (L, 13-27)
Washington (-3) over Miami (T, 16-13)
Detroit (+2.5) over Oakland (W, 36-21)
San Diego (-6) over Chicago (W, 14-3)
Seattle (-5.5) over Tampa Bay (W, 20-6)
Dallas (-6) over N.Y. Giants (W, 45-35)
Cincinnati (-2.5) over Baltimore (W, 27-20)
San Francisco (-3) over Arizona (W, 20-17)

Against the Spread

THIS WEEK  11- 4- 1   .719
SEASON     11- 4- 1   .719

Straight Up

THIS WEEK  13- 3      .813
SEASON     13- 3      .813

Tags: Football NFL Picks odds

Rodney Harrison: Cheat

When I was in high school, I had a history teacher who used to say "a cheater is a liar and a thief."

Meet Rodney Harrison. Cheater, liar, thief.

In announcing that he was about to be suspended--reportedly for using Human Growth Hormone--Harrison attempted to mitigate the damage:

I want to make it clear that not once did I use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather, my use was totally for the purpose of accelerating the healing process from injuries I sustained playing football.

Liar. Oh, I suppose it's technically accurate. But "making it clear" that he didn't use steroids blurs the fact that he is reported to have used HGH, which is at least as bad, if not worse, than anabolic steroids. And I don't see how "accelerating the healing process" is not a competitive edge.

I understand that I’m a role model to high schools, colleges, young kids. I don’t condone my decision, my behavior. I’m very, very embarrassed by it. I’m disappointed in myself. And to any young person, any high schooler, any college athlete, I sent the wrong message with my actions and I would want to be the example to them to never jeopardize what they believe in, never jeopardize their health. And they always have to love themselves.

Thief. One can make the argument that athletes aren't role models, but to his credit Harrison doesn't try that. However he does acknowledge taking on the trust of many young athletes and frittering that away. (And I have no idea what the whole "they always have to love themselves" stuff has to do with anything).

As a Patriots fan, I hope he helps the team succeed as he has for the past four seasons. One of the nicest moments of the win in Super Bowl 38 was seeing Harrison with his broken arm in a sling, tears of joy streaming down his face as he is engulfed by confetti.

But he's cheated the game, and I have no use for that. I'm not rooting for him anymore. I'm rooting for the laundry.

Tags: New England Patriots NFL Rodney Harrison HGH

Which NFL games will we get each week? 2007 Edition

Every year I try to look at the NFL schedule and guess which games we in the Boston area will get to see on local TV week-by-week. Last year I was right on 70% of the games that were up for grabs (afternoon and flex games not including the Patriots). The formula I use to pick the games is explained here. Here is the expected TV schedule:

WEEK 1
Thursday, Sep. 6
8:30 PM NBC New Orleans at Indianapolis
Sunday, Sep. 9
1:00 PM CBS New England at N.Y. Jets
1:00 PM FOX Philadelphia at Green Bay
4:15 PM FOX Chicago at San Diego
8:15 PM NBC N.Y. Giants at Dallas
Monday, Sep. 10
7:00 PM ESPN Baltimore at Cincinnati
10:15 PM ESPN Arizona at San Francisco

Notes: An easy week to pick the FOX games. These should be the two top games, and there are no compelling alternatives.

WEEK 2
Sunday, Sep. 16
1:00 PM FOX Green Bay at N.Y. Giants
1:00 PM CBS Indianapolis at Tennessee
4:15 PM CBS N.Y. Jets at Baltimore
8:15 PM NBC San Diego at New England
Monday, Sep. 17
8:30 PM ESPN Washington at Philadelphia

Notes: With the Pats in prime-time, all three Sunday afternoon slots are up for grabs. The Giants and Jets games are given. Colts-Titans should be CBS top early game. This will be a good test to see if WBZ sends us the top game, or if they stay in the division with Buffalo-Pittsburgh.

WEEK 3
Sunday, Sep. 23
1:00 PM CBS Buffalo at New England
4:15 PM FOX N.Y. Giants at Washington
8:15 PM NBC Dallas at Chicago
Monday, Sep. 24
8:30 PM ESPN Tennessee at New Orleans

Notes: Since the Pats are home on CBS and it is a Fox doubleheader, we only get one game in each Sunday slot. The Giants game is an obvious choice over Carolina-Atlanta.

WEEK 4
Sunday, Sep. 30
1:00 PM CBS N.Y. Jets at Buffalo
1:00 PM FOX St. Louis at Dallas
4:15 PM CBS Denver at Indianapolis
8:15 PM NBC Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants
Monday, Oct. 1
8:30 PM ESPN New England at Cincinnati

Notes: With the Pats in prime-time, all three Sunday afternoon slots are up for grabs. The two CBS games should be the top games in their time slots (although Kansas City-San Diego is a pretty good 4:15 games as well). Rams-Cowboys will probably be the #1 FOX game, although Green Bay-Minnesota is a possibility.

WEEK 5
Sunday, Oct. 7
1:00 PM CBS Cleveland at New England
4:05 PM FOX Tampa Bay at Indianapolis
4:15 PM CBS San Diego at Denver
8:15 PM NBC Chicago at Green Bay
Monday, Oct. 8
8:30 PM ESPN Dallas at Buffalo

Notes: Since the Pats are home on CBS, we’re forced to get the 4:05 FOX game, and Bucs-Colts is the only option. Chargers-Broncos will be the #1 CBS game.

WEEK 6
Sunday, Oct. 14
1:00 PM CBS Cincinnati at Kansas City
1:00 PM FOX Philadelphia at N.Y. Jets
4:15 PM CBS New England at Dallas
8:15 PM NBC New Orleans at Seattle
Monday, Oct. 15
8:30 PM ESPN N.Y. Giants at Atlanta

Notes: Pats-Dallas will be CBS top game. Eagles-Jets is an obvious choice for the FOX slot. There are only three CBS games at 1:00, Miami-Cleveland is the only other possibility, but that game should be such a dog that WBZ will send us Bengals-Chiefs even though a Pats’ rival is also on at 1:00.

WEEK 7
Sunday, Oct. 21
1:00 PM CBS New England at Miami
1:00 PM FOX San Francisco at N.Y. Giants
4:15 PM FOX Chicago at Philadelphia
8:15 PM NBC Pittsburgh at Denver
Monday, Oct. 22
8:30 PM ESPN Indianapolis at Jacksonville

Notes: The Pats game is usually the only one on in a given slot, but since the Pats are on the road and FOX has the doubleheader, we get an offering opposite New England. The Giants are the obvious choice (although Minnesota-Dallas will be their #1 game at 1:00). Bears-Eagles will be FOX top game of the week.

WEEK 8
Sunday, Oct. 28
1:00 PM CBS Indianapolis at Carolina
1:00 PM FOX N.Y. Giants at Miami (London)
4:15 PM FOX Washington at New England
Monday, Oct. 29
8:30 PM ESPN Green Bay at Denver

Notes: The game in London will most likely be the top Fox game, but since it features the Giants and a Pats’ rival, we’d get the game if it were played in Pittsfield. The CBS 1:00 game is a tough choice, Steelers-Bengals is another good game in that slot.

WEEK 9
Sunday, Nov. 4
1:00 PM CBS San Diego at Minnesota
1:00 PM FOX Washington at N.Y. Jets
4:15 PM CBS New England at Indianapolis
8:15 PM NBC Dallas at Philadelphia
Monday, Nov. 5
8:30 PM ESPN Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Notes: Again a couple of good options on CBS at 1:00. Jacksonville-New Orleans could easily be the choice over Chargers-Vikings. Bengals-Bills could also be an option if Buffalo is any good. The Jets game on Fox is a given.

WEEK 10
Sunday, Nov. 11
1:00 PM CBS Buffalo at Miami
1:00 PM FOX Philadelphia at Washington
4:15 PM FOX Dallas at N.Y. Giants
8:15 PM NBC Indianapolis at San Diego
Monday, Nov. 12
8:30 PM ESPN San Francisco at Seattle

Notes: With the Pats on their bye week, all three Sunday afternoon slots are up for grabs. Every 1:00 game is between division rivals, so depending on how races shape up, these could change. Unless both the Bills and Dolphins are out of contention, that will probably be the CBS game, though Denver-Kansas City or Jacksonville-Tennessee look like better match-ups. FOX will probably send us the NFC East game, although Atlanta-Carolina, Minnesota-Green Bay, and St. Louis-New Orleans are all attractive games. Cowboys-Giants will be FOX #1 game.

Beginning Week 11, all Sunday games are subject to change because of flex scheduling. I’ve laid out how I expect the games to be broadcast based on the current schedule, and have noted where I think the flex might come in.

WEEK 11
Sunday, Nov. 18
1:00 PM CBS New England at Buffalo
1:00 PM FOX Washington at Dallas
4:15 PM FOX N.Y. Giants at Detroit
8:15 PM NBC Chicago at Seattle
Monday, Nov. 19
8:30 PM ESPN Tennessee at Denver

Notes: The Pats game is usually the only one on in a given slot, but since the Pats are on the road and FOX has the doubleheader, we get an offering opposite New England. Carolina-Green Bay is the only other good FOX option at 1:00, so I think Redskins-Cowboys is a pretty secure bet, unless it gets moved to 4:15. Rams-49ers is probably FOX top 4:15 game (another reason to expect a possible change) but we’ll probably get sent the Giants just the same. Bears-Seahawks is an obvious choice to stay at 8:15.

WEEK 12
Thursday, Nov. 22
12:30 PM FOX Green Bay at Detroit
4:15 PM CBS N.Y. Jets at Dallas
8:15 PM NFL Indianapolis at Atlanta
Sunday, Nov. 25
1:00 PM CBS Denver at Chicago
1:00 PM FOX Minnesota at N.Y. Giants
4:15 PM CBS Baltimore at San Diego
8:15 PM NBC Philadelphia at New England
Monday, Nov. 26
8:30 PM ESPN Miami at Pittsburgh

Notes: With the Pats tentatively scheduled for prime-time, all three Sunday afternoon slots are up for grabs. Ravens-Chargers is the only 4:15 game, so that is the choice, although Denver-Chicago is a pretty good option to move to the late slot (or to 8:15 if the Pats or Eagles are no good). New Orleans-Carolina or Seattle-St. Louis are possibilities for the early FOX game.

WEEK 13
Thursday, Nov. 29
8:15 PM NFL Green Bay at Dallas
Sunday, Dec. 2
1:00 PM CBS N.Y. Jets at Miami
1:00 PM FOX Seattle at Philadelphia
4:15 PM FOX N.Y. Giants at Chicago
8:15 PM NBC Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Monday, Dec. 3
8:30 PM ESPN New England at Baltimore

Notes: With the Pats playing in prime-time, all three Sunday afternoon slots are up for grabs. Giants-Bears is the only 4:15 game. Seahawks-Eagles is the only good 1:00 FOX game. The Jets-Dolphins is the choice assuming at least one of them is still in the running for the division crown. Otherwise, Jacksonville-Indy or San Diego-Kansas City are also good choices. If the Bengals and Steelers are having down years, any of the games listed here could be good options to move to the NBC game.

WEEK 14
Thursday, Dec. 6
8:15 PM NFL Chicago at Washington
Sunday, Dec. 9
1:00 PM CBS Pittsburgh at New England
4:05 PM FOX Arizona at Seattle
4:15 PM CBS Kansas City at Denver
8:15 PM NBC Indianapolis at Baltimore
Monday, Dec. 10
8:30 PM ESPN New Orleans at Atlanta

Notes: Chiefs-Broncos will probably be CBS #1 game, although Cleveland-Jets could be WBZ’s choice if the Jets are still in contention for the division. The Pats-Steelers game would also be a candidate to move to 4:15 if the currently scheduled games aren’t good. Fox is required to send a 4:05 game. Cards-Seahawks could be an important divisional game, so that is the choice, but it’s a tossup whether this game will be better, or whether Minnesota-San Francisco would be.

WEEK 15
Thursday, Dec. 13
8:15 PM NFL Denver at Houston
Saturday, Dec. 15
8:15 PM NFL Cincinnati at San Francisco
Sunday, Dec. 16
1:00 PM CBS N.Y. Jets at New England
4:15 PM FOX Philadelphia at Dallas
8:15 PM NBC Washington at N.Y. Giants
Monday, Dec. 17
8:30 PM ESPN Chicago at Minnesota

Notes: Since the Pats are home on CBS and it is a Fox doubleheader, we only get one game in each Sunday slot. Eagles-Cowboys is an obvious choice (over Detroit-San Diego), although I wouldn’t be surprised to see that game swapped with the 8:15 game. Seattle-Carolina might also be a candidate to move to 4:15 or 8:15.

WEEK 16
Thursday, Dec. 20
8:15 PM NFL Pittsburgh at St. Louis
Saturday, Dec. 22
8:15 PM NFL Dallas at Carolina
Sunday, Dec. 23
1:00 PM CBS Miami at New England
4:05 PM FOX Tampa Bay at San Francisco
4:15 PM CBS N.Y. Jets at Tennessee
8:15 PM NBC Philadelphia at New Orleans
Monday, Dec. 24
8:00 PM ESPN Denver at San Diego

Notes: I’m going to go out on a limb here and guarantee that the Bucs-49ers game will not remain in that NBC slot. I’d expect Philadelphia-New Orleans to be moved to 8:15. If that happens, Bucs-49ers would move to 4:05 and replace Falcons-Cardinals locally. Baltimore-Seattle will be the top 4:15 game on CBS and will be the choice if Jets-Titans is meaningless to the Patriots.

WEEK 17
Saturday, Dec. 29
8:15 PM NFL New England at N.Y. Giants
Sunday, Dec. 30
1:00 PM FOX New Orleans at Chicago
1:00 PM CBS Pittsburgh at Baltimore
4:15 PM FOX Minnesota at Denver
4:15 PM CBS San Diego at Oakland
8:15 PM NBC Kansas City at N.Y. Jets

Notes: With the Pats playing in prime-time, all four Sunday afternoon slots are up for grabs. Chargers-Oakland is the only 4:15 CBS game currently scheduled. I’d expect another game (possibly Steelers-Ravens) to be moved to 4:15. New Orleans-Chicago is the best FOX game, although Dallas-Washington is also a 1:00 tilt and could be the choice if it’s more important to the playoff race.

Looking at the schedule, I'd suggest fans of the Giants, Cowboys, and Eagles cancel the DirecTV Sunday Ticket, since they're going to get nearly the whole schedule anyway. As with last year, we should get every team in the NFL at least once.

New England 16
NY Giants 13
Dallas 12
Philadelphia 11
Chicago 10
Indianapolis 10
NY Jets 10
Denver 9
Washington 8
Baltimore 7
Pittsburgh 7
San Diego 7
Green Bay 6
Miami 6
New Orleans 6
Buffalo 5
Cincinnati 5
San Francisco 5
Seattle 5
Minnesota 4
Tennessee 4
Atlanta 3
Kansas City 3
Arizona 2
Carolina 2
Detroit 2
St. Louis 2
Tampa Bay 2
Cleveland 1
Jacksonville 1
Houston 1
Oakland 1

Tags: New England Patriots NFL Television Schedule

Will the real John Jones please stand up?

In a story about the Packers' naming a woman as their vice president, ESPN links to a page referring to John Jones:

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers have appointed a woman as a vice president for the first time in their 89-year history.

Vicki Vannieuwenhoven was selected Tuesday as vice president of finance.

Incoming chief executive officer John Jones also named Jason Wied as vice president of administration. Jones, the current team president, will take over as CEO for Bob Harlan at the team's Board of Directors' meeting on May 30.

That John Jones is definitely not this John Jones. Something tells me the man pictured here has never caught a pass in anger in the NFL or anywhere else.

Tags: ESPN Green Bay Packers John Jones NFL