Something about our schedule...

[iknowftbll]

This has been on my mind a few weeks now, but I've been waiting until after the Chiefs game to mention it because I didn't want to appear to be bitching. We've discussed the schedule a bit around here, and the general consensus is this year's schedule sucked. Not because of who we played, or even where, but when. It is an odd schedule.

But buried in the home/away slate for the Broncos are some anomalies that have me wondering if the guy who finalized the schedule lost money on the Broncos in the Super Bowl.

First there was a three game road stretch. Okay, you see this from time to time for teams, right? No big deal. It happens. But immediately following a 3 game road stretch was consecutive games against opponents whose last game was on TNF. In other words, both the Dolphins and Chiefs had 10 days to prepare for the Broncos after the Broncos came off 3 consecutive road games.

Who did the Broncos piss off?

No the good news is the Broncos went a respectable 3-2 in that stretch, and wrapped it up with by far their most impressive road win of the year. That speaks volumes about the amount of toughness and character this team has.

Still, weird shit like that should be addressed when the schedules are ironed out. I don't believe any team should have to play another team coming off a bye unless they are themselves coming off a bye. In other words, sync up bye weeks with opponents for the subsequent weeks. That way you won't get one team playing multiple opponents consecutively coming off bye weeks, the way the Broncos did for 4 straight opponents in 2009. This would be a minor adjustment to the schedule making. Further, no team should have to play consecutive opponents coming off TNF appearances. If possible, no team should have to play multiple opponents at any point in the season coming off TNF. That's a little trickier, but a worthy goal in a league where any little advantage can make a huge difference.

Again, I wanted to wait until after this stretch to mention it. It is a little frustrating to see oversights like this on a schedule. I wish the league would do something about this shit.

With that said, the Broncos came out of it a stronger team than when they went in, so good on them.

 

[cdumler7]

I also noticed that about our schedule. They have not done us any favors with how they set this up. This honestly is probably one of the hardest schedules I have ever seen the Broncos have from start to finish. I mean 9 of our 12 games have been against teams with winning records so far this season. Which hey they can't help that part of it but the order and which ones are road games and when all those road games are put together do seem like somebody wanted to see the Broncos struggle this season. These past 2 games giving the teams 10 days to practice is just ridiculous. I can understand having a game or two like that through the season but 2 in a row just seems a bit suspicious.

Anyway this team though has risen to the occasion and I will say I have been impressed with how this team has handled defeats this year. They seem to learn from our defeats and grow into a better team. The coaches and players said at the beginning of the year that they didn't want a team that depended on Manning to win games and we are finally seeing after much frustration through the year some of the fruits of those labors. The defense has gone back and forth on what style it has wanted to play. If you watch the games closely (as most of you know I do) Del Rio has experimented more than I have seen him ever do before. I think with so many new players he has been forced to figure out what works best with this unit. I'm hoping that this past Sunday was a showing that he and the players are figuring that out just in time.

For the offense we are finally seeing them figure out a bit more in the run game of what works. I also think we are seeing just how important a guy like Virgil Green is to this team as he brings both the ability to catch the football but the ability to block just about as well as any of our OL players. Always nice to have such a duel threat weapon. Anyway looks like this team is getting things figured out and although the schedule has been difficult they have risen above that and still look like one of the 2 teams to beat in the AFC.

 

[DownSetHutch]

I remember the year that we had to play all of those teams coming off of a bye. That was asinine.

I didn't realize that we had 2 in a row following the 3-game roadie though. I'll take a 3-2 record and be happy. It looks like our schedule should ease up a bit now.

BTW, how big is the Charger game going to be? Holy crap. If they beat us, they could tie our record and nullify the H2H tiebreaker. That is a little too close for comfort. Hopefully that will serve to keep a fire lit under the team, with those fucks breathing down our necks.

 

[iknowftbll]

BTW, how big is the Charger game going to be? Holy crap. If they beat us, they could tie our record and nullify the H2H tiebreaker. That is a little too close for comfort. Hopefully that will serve to keep a fire lit under the team, with those fucks breathing down our necks.

Let's pretend the Chargers and Broncos both finish 12-4. This would mean the Chargers win out and the Broncos drop the remaining game to San Diego. The Broncos still win the division based on record vs division (5-1 vs 4-2). Remember, the Chargers already have two division losses (vs Chiefs, @ Broncos).

 

[cdumler7]

Yeah thankfully we hold tie breakers even if they beat us as long as we beat Oakland at the end of the year at home. Still a big game though with lots riding on it with playoff position plus some tough games left for us with buffalo and Cincinnati both looking good at times.

 

[iknowftbll]

The Broncos have their work cut out for them right up through the final week of the season. The Bills are not a horrible team, two road games against two solid teams, and beating a beatable Raiders team in a game that very well could have seeding implications and therefore high stakes. This is a team that could really use a first round bye at a minimum. If they get it, I like their chances. I like them even more if they somehow snag that #1 seed.

 

[MrDoc420]

That's a trip....I'd never looked at it before. I know we've been a good team the past few years, but we do seem to have had some crazy tough schedules the past 3-4 years. Who did we piss off? LOL

 

[HOF-ELWAY-7]

Yup bad schedule. I was complaining about it a few months ago and I was called spoiled. :rollseyes: JK.
In any case it's a terrible schedule and 2 home games over a two month period (not to mention the away games during this stretch) is rediculous.

 

[cdumler7]

Yup bad schedule. I was complaining about it a few months ago and I was called spoiled. :rollseyes: JK.
In any case it's a terrible schedule and 2 home games over a two month period (not to mention the away games during this stretch) is rediculous.

I remember before it started you being pretty upset as a season ticket holder to go so long without a game. They definitely need to do a better job next year making sure this doesn't happen to the Broncos. Just about everything bad for a schedule happened to us...long stretch without being at home, matching us up against teams coming off extra rest on a regular basis, scheduling NE on the road once again, and our bye week being so early in the season. Thankfully I remember Manning talking about the schedule and saying it did not look like a fair one but that the team would just have to rise above that. Thankfully so far that is what they have done.

 

[MileHigh64]

I'm just hoping that our crappy schedule has built a tougher Broncos team heading into the playoffs. They should be battle tested, that's for sure. Sucks for the season ticket holders, as already noted but I'm guessing that annoyance would fade quickly with a Superbowl victory!

Our remaining road games are going to be a very tough test. I don't see us catching the Patriots for the number one seed this year unless our Charger friends can do us a favor next week. Even if they do, I think the Broncos need to win out to take advantage of that. That's precisely why I think this team needs to be road trip, battle tested. If we play like we're supposed to, I think we could be looking at another trip to New England this year. I don't want to get ahead of myself but that scenario looks increasingly possible.

Go Broncos! Time to face plant Mr. Orton.

MH64