We will have a hella BRUTAL schedule in 2009. And please spare me the "you never know how good teams will be next year" speech. Yes, I know that. Also, spare me the "let's focus on this year for now" speech. If you want to talk about this year, go read/post in the other 500 threads about this year. But still, take a peek at this: In 2009, the Dolphins will play: AFC South and NFC South So, our 2009 schedule will be as follows: 6 division games: NYJ, BUF, NE (Tom Brady back) @ Carolina Panthers Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Atlanta Falcons New Orleans Saints Indianapolis Colts @ Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars Houston Texans 2 more games depending on our finish in the AFC East this year - (1st, 2nd or 3rd): @ 1 game vs. AFC West (either Denver/San Diego/Oakland) (not KC) 1 game vs. AFC North (either Pittsburgh/Baltimore/Cleveland) (not Cin)
You never know how good teams will be next year Miami will be better next season with another year of drafting and bringing free agents in but yes it does look very difficult. Don't bank on Tom Brady being the same next season a year after tearing his ACL and MCL.
That means we only have 1 possible game on the west coast, SD or Oak, and maybe not even that if it is played in Miami. No serious travel time.
ouch, it looks pretty rough thats for sure. Should be alot of good games though, especially if we improve even more over this offseason, which i know we will
I expect Miami to improve significantly from this year to next so it shouldn't be a problem. If they come to Atlanta to play the Falcons I'll be there for sure.
Just because you reference a counter-argument in your argument does not make that counter-argument invalid. The NFL is a crazy league. You really don't know how good the AFC South and NFC South are going to be, so its silly to get all worked up about it. I think its GREAT that we're playing both South divisions. No west coast road trips and no December games in the snow from these two divisions. And those facts will not change from year-to-year. So I say, "bring on the AFC South and NFC South!"
I imagine a lot of those other teams' fans are thinking: "Oh ****, we're gonna have to play the Phins next year!!!"
This means we WILL see some primtime games. Probably 3 or more. Also. Don't bank on Tom Brady playing next season at all.
good points. who knows, by next year jeff garcia could be in a retirement home. Peyton Manning could be on IR. Tennessee could be suffering from Vince Young-itis. Atlanta could be in full regression. carolina has never beat us. and houston could be experimenting at QB. And we could have terrel suggs, tj houstmandzedah, and chad henne starting. Who knows?
they do. it's at Atlanta, Carolina, Jacksonville, Tennessee, AFC West team. and vs. Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Houston, AFC North team.
This is why we need to make the playoffs this year. I don't want to be Cleveland 10-6 last year to terrible this year
I dont see anything bad. Atlanta is having a good year but I dont fear them. We always tend to beat Carolina and I doubt itd be different next season. Texans again...well...here we go again. Indy will be tough unless we upgade the secondary which I think we will. Saints will be tough but beatable for sure. Jax sucks and problably will again. Titans are tough, but we tend to have their number as well. I don't see whats so bad. Its not as 'easy' as this year I guess, but overall no big deal. Now if we had to play the NFC EAST...but since we dont then whatever.
Yep, it'll be tough. As the saying goes: "Calm seas do not make for skilled sailors". I say BRING IT ON!!
Nothing wrong with talking about next year, but the point you bring up about this HELL schedule is exactly why we need to enjoy whatever happens this year. Next year no matter what improvements we make, we could just as easily go 6-10 (knock on wood).
Beating the Texans is a right of passage, we are stuck until we can... Tough schedule, no doubt about it, we will be better next season though. What I do see as a problem is our depth will be seriously tested, you play good teams, people tend to have injuries. The level of competition just makes guys on both sides of the field play harder.
You never know how many of the good teams will be good and how many of the bad teams will be bad. How many expected the Ravens to be a potential playoff team this year? And us? Most of the teams had us marked down as a W on our schedule, and they didnt know what hit them. ESPN appaerently thought the Browns were going to be good and put them on MNF like 20 times, and they suck
For some mystical reason the Texans own us. I don't get it. I hate that the Fins play them almost every year. What's up with that? Yeah tough schedule. Those south teams will be hard to beat, but having said that, all our AFC East rivals will have to pay them too. So it's still an even playing field when it comes to winning your division. Well except if the Dolphins go to the playoffs this year an have to face Pittsburgh or Baltimore again next year. We'll cross that bridge when comes anyhow.
Home games are Houston, Indianapolis, New Orleans and Tampa Bay Away games are Jacksonville, Tennessee, Atlanta and Carolina BTW, these are also the same teams that New England, Buffalo and the Jests play Our AFC West game will be a road game while our AFC North game will be a home game.
The 2009 season will be the last season of the 8 year plan the NFL put into place in 2001. So if the owners agree, I'm sure you'll see that plan extended. Of course with the talk of extending the regular season and shorting the preseason will effect the plan.
I'll be at the Panthers game guaranteed. Depending on my income at the time, I may even go to the Falcons, Titans, and Jaguars games. All are within 7 hrs driving distance.
not to mention, outside of the Colts, the suckability factor of each of these teams in a given season. One year they're tough as nails, the next they under achieve, and the coach is on the hot seat. i have no complaints...except for someone posting a thread with hopes for discussion, and then telling me how to react.
I did not imply the counter-argument was invalid as you say. In fact, I immediately said in my post: "I know that". I referenced the counter-argument to demonstrate that I understand it already. You don't have to enlighten me with that. Of course, any prediction about the future carries with it some uncertainty -- genius insight. With that being said, and understood, it's still a tough schedule when you play a division where EVERYONE currently has a winning record. And the other division boasts a 12-1 team, and the red-hot 9-4 Colts, and up-and-coming Texans (6-3 in their last 9 games). And Tom Brady will be back. And we may very well face Pittsburgh (10-3) or Baltimore (9-4), and Denver (8-5) or San Diego (who should bounce back with Merriman, etc). Come back to me in August 2009, when there's all kinds of discussion/threads talking about how tough our schedule will be in 2009. I'm simply bringing this to light earlier than most.
I think every team in the NFL can be tough if you take them lightly...we nearly got beat by the Raiders, and the Seahawks.....it just shows you have to stay focused and be prepared for any team, other than the Detroit Lions.
Man I can't wait! I love a tough schedule as it puts an end to a lot of the questions you may have about ability and toughness of both sides of the field. Not only that but, as others have mentioned, we will more than likely actually get to watch them in primetime next year. I really missed that this time around. But, first things first, let's hope we get more airtime before then in the post-season schedule.
I'll be at Carolina and Atlanta... for sure! Maybe even Tennessee. It'll be my first NFL live game experience. Can not wait.
is it confirmed the game is in tennessee? I thought they didnt announce that stuff until later. If it is though, I imagine i'll be making a road trip there. Clearly I love the phins, my gf is a Titans fan. sounds like a good roadtrip to me! and its ALOT closer than driving to miami
Great I've been waiting for them to come back to TN. Maybe finally some of us TN Fin Fans from the phins can meet up.
Yes. The schedule has worked off of a rotational basis for most of this decade. It's only the dates and the 2 teams from the AFC North and West (depending upon divisional finish) which get determined later. The best part of the schedule is that with the exception of the AFC West game, the travel will be nice and light next season.