kleese

Either of the Eagles could be on MNF or TNF; also wouldn’t be shocking if one of those matchups got a late season Sat slot. Fairly “safe” match up there that will not be on SNF most likely or a 4:25 feature game. I do NOT believe our game at Colts would have any prayer to be on SNF— maybe MNF or TNF. I don’t think anyone cares about Kirk return, especially from a national perspective. Could be a lower tier TNF game but that’s about it. The big money prime slots are SNF and late feature 4:25 games. I believe our only possibility there will be the games against Dallas, SLIGHT chance for Philly, SLIGHT chance for Packers. I don’t see any others making the cut for those slots. This year sounds like they might throw ESPN/ABC a bit more of a bone with MNF games, especially early. We have lots of games that could maybe fit that ho-hum MNF mid-season type game. Same with TNF. Wouldn’t be shocked if we got Philly or Dallas on MNF early.

My mock is still fully alive! I didn’t have us playing any of the three teams involved that we face this year in week 2. However, I did have us playing the Eagles on MNF in week 3; so you can scratch that as they will not have the Eagles on back to back Mondays.

Yep, and they insist on still calling it Sunday Night Football. It’s usually along the lines of “join us this Thursday for a special edition of Sunday Night Football.”

We won’t be getting an my marquee/primetime games because of US. I think the NFL views as a decent option for second-level primetime game against a big draw like Dallas. The A1 slots for NFL broadcasting are SNF and the lead DH game in the late window for CBS and FOX each week. Then, TNF and MNF will each get a mixture of a handful of marquee games, a few “we have to get this over with” games, and a pretty big chunk of so-so match-ups on paper that can go either way based on how season progresses. I believe our only chance to get an A1 slot this year (SNF or late DH window) will be against Dallas. MAYBE a small chance we could sneak in a game in one of those spots against the Eagles or Packers. I find that highly doubtful though. I do think we could get plucked for a number of those mid-tier slots though. And those games could be against a number of different opponents— I could see us on a Thursday or Monday night against almost anyone on our schedule other than the Jags, Texans, or Lions.

Agree, it’s not a needle-mover. There will be a little chatter about it the week of the game(s), but it’s not like Commanders at Colts is gonna be a Sunday Night game so they can hype the “return” of Wentz. I have our game w/ Colts as a mid-season Monday Night game, but just because it seems like a solid mid-tier option you’d sometimes see on Monday night that time of year. I am almost positive that answer is no— Prime games will be exclusive, but not 100% sure.

I don’t think anyone cares about that. It barely moves the needle for Washington fans so I can’t imagine it’s even something general fans would notice. It’s been five years and it’s not like KC is some sort of team legend returning for the first time. It’s possible the game could randomly wind up as a Thursday game or something— each of the last two times we played at Minnesota they were Thursday games—but I don’t think that game would be targeted as a primetime game for the sole reason of featuring Kirk’s “return.”

With the announcement of the opening Amazon Game week 2 and the five international games, we know a TAD more about our schedule now. Mainly when we will NOT be playing certain teams. We play at least one team involved in 4/5 International Games; so we obviously won't be playing those teams on those dates. Even though there have been some exceptions, the league has generally granted a BYE week to the International teams the week after they play overseas, so it then becomes less likely we'd play them the following week either. The mock I posted above actually wound up having no conflicts with any of those games or potential bye weeks, so it can stay as is. Posting it here again-- the one thing I'm waffling on a bit is maybe having us open with the Cowboys on MNF... some rumors ESPN will get a pretty big MNF game to kick off the Aikman/Buck era and the Cowboys would certainly qualify as a draw. If it's us, it doesn't burn a huge marquee opponent for Dallas while still being a typically strong draw/rivalry. If that were to happen, I'd prefer it be in Dallas to get that trip over with early and not have to deal with the FedEx invasion right away- it would also then of course eliminate us playing there on Thanksgiving. But for now, I'm keeping my mock as-is. With the schedule release 8 days away now I imagine we will start getting some leaks soon. Sunday, Sept 11th: at Bears (1pm FOX) Sunday, Sept 18th: Giants (1pm FOX) Monday, Sept. 26th: at Eagles (8:15pm ESPN/ABC) Sunday, Oct. 2nd: Titans (1pm CBS) Sunday, Oct. 9th: at Texans (1pm FOX) Sunday, Oct. 16th: Cowboys (4:25 CBS) BYE Sunday, Oct. 30th: at Lions (1pm FOX) Monday, Nov. 7th: at Colts (8:15pm ESPN/ABC) Sunday, Nov. 13th: Browns (1pm CBS) Sunday, Nov. 20th: Falcons (1pm FOX) Thursday, Nov. 24th: at Cowboys (4:25pm FOX) Sunday, Dec. 4th: Packers (1pm FOX) Sunday, Dec. 11th: at 49ers (4:05pm FOX) Sunday, Dec. 18th: Jaguars (1pm CBS) Saturday, Dec, 24th: Vikings (1pm FOX) Sunday, Jan. 1st: at Giants (1pm FOX) Sunday, Jan. 8th: Eagles (TBD)

Wrong, Texans hosted Panthers on TNF. Thanksgiving games count as Thursday games.

Incorrect, every team in NFL is scheduled for a Thursday game. Perhaps I should have clarified that it doesn't need to be TNF-- a Thanksgiving game counts. But every team will play at least one game on Thursday every year. Also, Thursday games are considered "primetime" even if played in afternoon. Thus the "every team gets a primetime game." A Thursday game can check both boxes-- Panthers at Texans last year an example of NFL getting Carolina and Houston out of way quickly.

The NFL Draft and the various mocks only hold a small appeal for me as it pertains to the off-season. Not something I've ever gotten overly worked-up over or excited about. I do always have a good laugh at fans freaking out because the team passed on a guard from TCU that they mocked to us in the 5th round. Sort like fans at home, "scouting" the combine and commenting on how fluid the hips are on a defensive back from Fresno State. But I DO love schedule talk. I and DO love mock schedules. Sue me. NFL does a pretty good job these days of keeping leaks under wraps until about 12-24 hours before the schedule actually drops. That drop date has been pushed back over the years. Used to be right around now-- mid-March. But it was mid May last year and safe to assume that's approx. when it will land again. I don't think the draft has a huge sway in how the schedule is produced, but I do think they'd prefer to wait until after the draft just in case there are any more big moves. So we can keep any leaks, predictions, or rumors here. Before I drop Mock 1.0 on you, some general things: --The ONLY thing that schedule-makers truly care about when slotting for TV and big marquee slots is QB power and team success/following. In other words, the Dolphins trading for Tyreke isn't going to drastically change their national profile as far as the schedule is concerned. You have your rock solid teams like Dallas, Tampa, Green Bay, Rams in NFC. All playoff teams from last year either with massive following, elite QB, or both. Rams may not quite qualify under those guidelines, but they are defending champs. Then you have teams like the Browns and Broncos that significantly changed their profile with marquee QB additions. A team like Pittsburgh may take a slight turn the other way-- huge following, but might be entering a retooling phase-- iffy QB situation and may not be featured quite as much. --Every team plays one Thursday game by rule --Every team plays one primetime game by rule (a Thursday night game can check both boxes) --All Thursday games on Amazon now, ESPN/ABC keeping the MNF package but with Buck/Aikman in the booth. CBS/FOX still carrying AFC/NFC weekly with rotating Double-headers. I assume week 1 will be like last year where BOTH CBS/FOX had a DH to account for the extra week. Notes specific to Commanders --I think we will be slotted as a "safe, not sexy" team this year-- somewhat similar to last year. We will not have a bunch of marquee spots, but probably won't totally buried under all 1:00 Sunday kickoffs like the Jets or Jags or Lions. I think the majority of our games will land there, but we will sneak into a few bigger spots. Can always play our way into more later in season via flexing if warranted. --We of course will play one Thursday game. I am also 99% sure we will have at least one MNF game. --I am far less sure about a SNF game. Lots of options for us on Thursday/Monday, but I feel the SNF options will be limited. I can really only see us on SNF matched up with the Cowboys. Every year there are maybe 2-4 SNF games that aren't QUITE as marquee on paper, so perhaps you could see us on SNF against the Eagles or Packers, but I'd say that's a real long shot. I would not be surprised to se us on SNF vs Dallas, but I will be surprised if we are on SNF against anyone else. --I feel similarly about the late DH spot. Dallas a real possibility there for a nationally focused 4:25 kickoff. I think Philly or Packers could slide in there as well, but that would be a fairly weak DH on paper. What could happen is we get slotted in for a 4:25 kickoff as a non-primary game to help balance the schedule. Let's say Rams-49ers is the DH some week, well, you could see maybe in that same slot against the Browns or someone like that to help split the audience a little bit-- it's rare that a 4:25 kickoff gets 100% stand-alone attention throughout the season. You could also see us in a random 4:05 kickoff on the non-DH network, although that is something that has been VERY rare for us over the years unless playing on West Coast. --Speaking of WC, our only trip this year is to SanFran. So that will be a late afternoon kickoff unless it's primetime. No way that's a SNF game and the league very much limits cross-country travel for Thursday games. So unless that winds up on MNF, you can expect a late afternoon start. --Thanksgiving a possibility again. We played on Thanksgiving in Dallas in 1990, 1996, 2002. See the pattern? Then we took a decade-long breather, returning in 2012. But that's when we started a much more noticeable pattern-- 2012, 2016, 2018, 2020. Here's the deal-- we draw very well on Thanksgiving in Dallas AND it doesn't really burn a marquee game for FOX. Notice how the Cowboys almost never play the Eagles, Giants, Packers, etc. on Thanksgiving? That's because the networks know it's going to be a big audience regardless so why burn a big dog opponent in that spot? We fit in nicely because it has some tradition to it and doesn't cost the network much. Plus, per the rotation, Dallas would be hosting an NFC team on Thanksgiving this year-- the options are Commanders, Eagles, Giants, Bears, Lions, Bucs, Colts, Texans, Bengals. Assuming it is indeed an NFC team... that leaves the three division rivals, Bears, Bucs (Lions obviously not an option). STRONG possibility it's going to be us because I say close to 0% it's Tampa. Chicago could be an option. With the Giants down, I wouldn't be shocked if it was them either. But my money is on us to be back in Jerryworld on Turkey Day. --While FOX and CBS still hold the rights to the NFC and AFC respectively, cross-flexing is a thing now. I think we've had at least one cross-flex per year since they started. Normally our CBS games would be the Browns, Titans, and Jaguars. But one of those could be on FOX and we could face an NFC team on CBS potentially. --Also possible we wind up on that list of possible Saturday games late in year. For my Mock I won't be including those. --No London for us, so that eliminates a few options against those opponents. (Assuming the announced teams are all home teams) Mock 1.0 Sunday, Sept 11th: at Bears (1pm FOX) Sunday, Sept 18th: Giants (1pm FOX) Monday, Sept. 26th: at Eagles (8:15pm ESPN/ABC) Sunday, Oct. 2nd: Titans (1pm CBS) Sunday, Oct. 9th: at Texans (1pm FOX) Sunday, Oct. 16th: Cowboys (4:25 CBS) BYE Sunday, Oct. 30th: at Lions (1pm FOX) Monday, Nov. 7th: at Colts (8:15pm ESPN/ABC) Sunday, Nov. 13th: Browns (1pm CBS) Sunday, Nov. 20th: Falcons (1pm FOX) Thursday, Nov. 24th: at Cowboys (4:25pm FOX) Sunday, Dec. 4th: Packers (1pm FOX) Sunday, Dec. 11th: at 49ers (4:05pm FOX) Sunday, Dec. 18th: Jaguars (1pm CBS) Saturday, Dec, 24th: Vikings (1pm FOX) Sunday, Jan. 1st: at Giants (1pm FOX) Sunday, Jan. 8th: Eagles (TBD)

For the record, had we gotten the W today we would have gotten half of our rooting interests as well. The Falcons loss would have kept us alive regardless, with the Vikings also losing. Boy, the late games would have been pretty fun as both SF and NOLA struggled before pulling away late. So, had we won, we would have needed to win again Sunday vs Giants; Saints would have needed to lose to Falcons; Eagles would have needed to lose to Cowboys; and Vikings would have needed to BEAT the Bears. Maybe a long shot, but individually none of those outcomes are wild at all. Would have been enjoyable to ponder/dream for another week.

I was actually at that game, but not the tailgate. My wife and I (only married three years at the time— just celebrated 20) took a little vacation in the area. Candlestick was a dump, but sort of a classic venue so I’m glad I got to see it.

With the 9th home game and our attendance issues, gotta wonder if Snyder might be willing to “host” a London game next year; especially with the rebrand coming and the fact that for whatever reason we seem to have decent fan contingent over there. Maybe one of the non-marquee home games like Vikings, Falcons, Jags, Titans, etc.

Ah, to dream… This was a weird year. Not sure I can recall one quite like it in terms of how the season unfolded: —Split the first four and looked shaky doing it. —Four game losing streak without any really close games save for maybe Denver. —Four game winning streak with some great wins; including two against good teams and none against terrible teams. —Four game losing streak We’ve had years with hot starts and flat finishes and almost all of our playoff seasons the past 25 years have been bad starts with hot finishes. We’ve also had our fair share of flat out bad years where we never flashed. Only 1999 over the past 25 years was kind of a “normal good” year with consistent play throughout. But we’ve never really had a year like this where we looked totally dead at the bye/mid season, then rallied, then died again. In their defense, I do think the Covid/injury situation towards the end of the year went beyond anything normal. It wasn’t just your expected NFL bumps and bruises. It really derailed them. Maybe it would have ended badly anyway, but that sort of took the fight out of their hands. I thought they played admirably today— but the list of missing guys wasn’t just long, it was WHO they were missing— our very best players/leaders on both sides of the ball. Frustrating. Ultimately, I look at it like this; I’m 44 years old and in terms of my TRUE fandom (seasons I can remember) I am right around year 35 or 36. Obviously I love it. The results are so maddening and frustrating, but clearly, the chase of being good again or even just having big moments is worth it to me. I mean, I was nervous and pacing a bit at end of game today— even though I was well aware even a win was likely going to add up to much. But it would have been a thrilling moment and you could have lived the dream another week. That’s all worth it to me. And now we have to wait until September again. (one thing I’ve already done is taken a peak at our schedule of opponents for next year— never too early to start pondering schedule possibilities!)

Bummer, got what we needed from Falcons so had we been able to score there at the end we would have been alive going into this afternoon/evening and guaranteed to be alive entering next week. So the thread dies with the season. I’m disappointed. Under no delusions we would have gone anywhere, but was hopeful to keep the internet up for another week and give it a shot in week 18. Well, I suppose it’s Jan and I still cared today so in the world of WFT fandom I guess that’s a good season.

Yep, if we win 2, Eagles lose 2, Saints lose 1, and we do NOT make playoffs, that would be some insanely bad luck.

According to the playoff machine if we go 8-9, the Eagles go 8-9, and the Saints go 8-9 and there are NO other 8-9 teams, then Saints are in. If you then add another 8-9 team to mix- any of them— we are in. The odds of the three-way only between us, Saints, and Eagles ONLY is pretty out there though— it would require NOLA losing to Panthers and beating Falcons (which I think is more likely to be reversed) AND it requires Minnesota losing to GB AND in week 18 vs Bears.

Atlanta, SF, and NOLA all winning. Those teams going 3-0 would be an extremely unlikely result FYI. As a matter of fact a three-way Money Line bet on those teams would give you +1043 odds. Meaning you bet $100, you would win $1043. So if you think there is a good chance of this happening, get to your bookie now!

Ha, swear I didn't... but 100% could be subconscious... Good recall!

Vegas angle favors us. Taking emotion out of it, as an avid gambler, I rarely advise friends to take WFT— this year the only game I was ADAMANT to take us was Panthers. I don’t feel quite as good about this one as I did that one, but it’s a strong play for me this week just based on my basic NFL gambling philosophy. I think we cover— and in the NFL covering equals winning more often than not. WFT 26 Eagles 21

That would get us close. We would then need the Saints to lose one, or the Niners to lose 2 (not both). If the Saints won 1 and the Niners won 1, then we would also need Minnesota to actually WIN one game because we want to avoid a three way tie with NOLA and Philly.

Saints offense (even with Hill) is dreadful. Their defense is very good. But when you are that bad on one side of the ball I don’t think it’s safe to assume back to back division wins— especially that Falcons game.

Saints don’t need to lose twice— once would do in almost all scenarios. The one thing we know for sure, if the Niners and Eagles BOTH win one more, we can’t make it. We need one of those two teams to lose out. Of course we play Philly, so for them, what we are talking about isn’t so much losing twice— just need them to lose to Dallas.

It just seems like The Greasers would stay and fight for the playoffs while the Socs would tuck tail and run to next year… (I grew up in Tulsa by the way where that movie was set/filmed- house is a mini museum now)

Ha, it’s like The Outsiders. This thread is definitely The Greasers. Not siding with you Socs.