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2006 Broncos schedule

You’ve probably heard already, but the NFL schedules for next season are out. I don’t much care about anyone but the Broncos.

I like Denver’s schedule quite a bit. We’ll have played the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots on the road by our eighth game of the season. We’re also hosting the Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks. If you had to pick four teams to excel next regular season, those might be the exact four. The Seahawks game is the latest of these (Dec. 3) or, in other words, each of these games comes too early for opponents to be resting anyone.

Two reasons I’m a fan of the schedule: first, I think tough early-season competition should be a good thing. Unlike recent seasons, we’ll have a better handle on how good the Broncos really are heading into the playoffs. It'll make the regular season more compelling. And second, now that they know the season will not be a cakewalk, Broncos management will stop cutting popular and productive players like Mike Anderson and Trevor Pryce and maybe consider putting that salary cap room towards a football player or two.

One thing bugs me, though this news didn’t break today-we’re playing the Chiefs in Kansas City on Thanksgiving, and the game will be broadcast nationally only on the NFL Network. Not a big deal for fans who live in Colorado-the game will be shown on a local channel as well-but it kind of sucks for Broncos lovers who are out of state, such as for my example my two readers. Unless, I guess, you guys already get the NFL Network. I run a sports blog in my uh, free time, but even I think watching the NFL Network makes you a little weird.

We’re also playing the Ravens Monday, Oct. 9, which I guess means the league’s given up on having attractive Monday night matchups.

Comments

David said…
i do get the nfl network, but that's because i'm living the law of consecration up in here with 5 other sports minded bachelors.

when i'm a grad student, i have a hunch i won't be able splurging on things like the nfl network... just a hunch.

looks like i'll have to befriend an avid nfl fan out there with a penchant for crappy cable programming

two readers
how i long for the days of alex sudreth. that guy was a gong show. total glutton for punishment. and such a willing target. those truly were the glory days. sing it boss...
2:05 PM
Mike said…
I don't know, Alex might not be as fun now that I'd feel more guilty being so racist towards him...

The other interesting aspect of the schedule is that there's a bit of flexibility in it-supposedly NBC may be able to trade a bad Sunday night matchup for a better game earlier that day (they'd change the start times of the game rather than have NBC air at the same time as Fox and CBS). I'm not sure it's the greatest idea, but I guess I want to see how it goes before I make up my mind.
2:37 PM
Mike said…
I was thinking the same thing about moving games to the NFL Network. What does it serve? I don't see the league making more money off people subscribing to its network than it would have having people actually watch its games, but then they know the actual numbers a little better than I do.

I love football, but I think I'd like it a lot less if I had a channel solely dedicated to it. Especially one so obsessed with reruns.
2:13 PM
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