FOR USE AS DESIRED
NFL-163              1/3/05

2005 OPPONENTS DETERMINED

The opponents for all 2005 regular-season games have been determined and a complete list of each team’s home and away matchups was issued today by the NFL.

The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis. 

Under the formula, every team within a division plays 16 games as follows:

·        Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games).

·        The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games).

·        The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games).

·        Two intraconference games based on the prior year’s standings (2 games).  These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season.  The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year. 

The format takes each team through a cycle of games – home and away – against every other team in the league.  Every team will play every other team at least twice – once home and once away -- between 2002 and 2009.  After the 2009 season, a decision will be made on whether to continue with the same rotation or modify it. 

The scheduling format includes the following elements:

·        There is an increased common-opponent emphasis with every team in a division playing against 14 common opponents.

·        All teams play each other on a regular basis, home and away, for a more consistent presentation of attractive games, eliminating the many schedule aberrations of the past.

·        Teams are guaranteed to play all non-division opponents in their conference at least once every three years, and at home at least once every six years.

·        Every AFC team plays every NFC team once every four years, and at home once every eight years.

·        A team’s record from the previous year has less of a bearing on its schedule, with only two (rather than four) opponents being based on the previous year’s standing.  Thus, the so-called “easy” fifth-place schedules have been eliminated.

·        The division in which a team resides is less of a factor in a team’s won-loss record with 10 of 16 games each year being against non-division teams.

The official 2005 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring.

NFL Kickoff 2005 Weekend will begin on Thursday night, September 8, and the regular season will conclude on January 1. 

Wild Card Weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, January 7-8; Divisional Playoff games on the weekend of January 14-15; and the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 22.

Super Bowl XL at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan will be played on Sunday, February 5.

The Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii, featuring the AFC and NFC All-Stars, is set for Sunday, February 12.

2005 SCHEDULING ROTATION BY DIVISION

2005 OPPONENTS

AFC EAST

1.  New England Patriots         Home:    Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

                                                        Away:     Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

2.  New York Jets                       Home:    Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

                                                        Away:     Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

3.  Buffalo Bills                           Home:    Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

                                                        Away:     Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4.  Miami Dolphins                     Home:    Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

                                                         Away:     Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

2005 OPPONENTS

AFC NORTH

1.  Pittsburgh Steelers              Home:    Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

                                                        Away:     Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

2.  Baltimore Ravens                 Home:    Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

                                                        Away:     Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

3.  Cincinnati Bengals              Home:    Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings 

                                                        Away:     Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

4.  Cleveland Browns               Home:    Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

                                                        Away:     Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings

2005 OPPONENTS

AFC SOUTH

1.  Indianapolis Colts                Home:    Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

                                                        Away:     Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

2.  Jacksonville Jaguars          Home:    Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

                                                        Away:     Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

3.  Houston Texans                   Home:    Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

                                                        Away:     Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

4.  Tennessee Titans                 Home:    Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

                                                        Away:     Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams

2005 OPPONENTS

AFC WEST

1.  San Diego Chargers            Home:    Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

                                                        Away:     Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

2.  Denver Broncos                   Home:    Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Baltimore Ravens, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

                                                        Away:     Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

3.  Kansas City Chiefs              Home:    Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

                                                        Away:     Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

4.  Oakland Raiders                   Home:    Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

                                                        Away:     Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

2005 OPPONENTS

NFC EAST

1.  Philadelphia Eagles             Home:    Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

                                                        Away:     Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

2.  New York Giants                   Home:    Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

                                                        Away:     Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

3.  Dallas Cowboys                   Home:    New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

                                                        Away:     New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

4.  Washington Redskins        Home:    Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

                                                        Away:     Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

2005 OPPONENTS

 NFC NORTH

1.  Green Bay Packers              Home:    Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

                                                        Away:     Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

2.  Minnesota Vikings               Home:    Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

                                                        Away:     Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

3.  Detroit Lions                          Home:    Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

                                                        Away:     Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

4.  Chicago Bears                      Home:    Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

                                                        Away:     Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers

2005 OPPONENTS

NFC SOUTH

1.  Atlanta Falcons                     Home:    Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, New York Jets

                                                        Away:     Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

2.  New Orleans Saints             Home:    Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

                                                        Away:     Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, New England Patriots, New York Jets

3.  Carolina Panthers                Home:    Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New York Jets

                                                        Away:     Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Arizona Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers      Home:    Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

                                                        Away:     Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, New York Jets

2005 OPPONENTS

NFC WEST

1.  Seattle Seahawks                 Home:    Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

                                                        Away:     Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

2.  St. Louis Rams                      Home:    Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

                                                        Away:     Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

3.  Arizona Cardinals                Home:    St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans

                                                        Away:     St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

4.  San Francisco 49ers           Home:    Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts

                                                        Away:     Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans