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FOR
USE AS DESIRED NFL ANNOUNCES 2002-2009 SCHEDULE
ROTATION
The NFL announced today the regular-season scheduling
rotation for the next eight seasons (2002 through 2009) under the
realignment plan that will take effect next season. The
interconference and intraconference divisional matchups – comprising 14 of
each season’s 16 regular-season games -- for the next eight seasons were
determined following extensive analysis and discussion with NFL clubs. A key
factor in deciding the initial schedules was the displacement of certain
teams from their traditional divisions in the new alignment.
These
eight season schedules will take each team through a cycle of games – home
and away – against every other team in the league. In these eight seasons,
every team will play every other team at least twice – once home and once
away. After the 2009 season, a decision will be made on whether to continue
with the same rotation or modify it. “The new
scheduling formula is one of the most positive aspects of realignment,”
Commissioner PAUL TAGLIABUE said. “The new formula guarantees that
NFL fans will see every team play each other on a regular, rotating basis.
The formula will eliminate the many aberrations of the past in which teams
either did not play for long periods of time or did not play in another
team’s stadium for many years.” In
determining how to begin the divisional rotation in 2002, the displacement
of teams from their old divisions in the new alignment was taken into
account. Preference was given to scheduling games with former division
rivals and other regional opponents for clubs realigned from otherwise
intact divisions. For
example, in 2002 the new NFC West will play the AFC West to match Seattle
with its old rivals from the AFC West (Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, San
Diego). The NFC West also will play the NFC East in order to match Arizona
with its old NFC East rivals (Dallas, New York Giants, Philadelphia,
Washington). Also in
2002, the AFC North and AFC South are matched so that Jacksonville and
Tennessee will play their former rivals from the old AFC Central (Baltimore,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh). The NFC North and NFC South pairing in
2002 will give Tampa Bay games against its former NFC Central rivals
(Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Minnesota).
Other regional 2002 matchups include Dallas visiting Houston in
the Texans’ inaugural season (NFC East vs. AFC South) and San Francisco at
Oakland (NFC West vs. AFC West). Games
matching other previous division rivals or regional rivals that could not be
scheduled in 2002 were put into the rotation as early as possible.
Indianapolis will play its former AFC East rivals (Buffalo, Miami, New
England, New York Jets) in 2003 with the AFC East-AFC South matchup. The New
York Jets will host the New York Giants in 2003 when the AFC East plays the
NFC East. San Francisco and St. Louis will meet their old NFC West rivals
(Atlanta, Carolina, New Orleans) in 2004 when the NFC West and NFC South
meet. The new
scheduling format includes the following elements:
·
There will be an increased common-opponent emphasis
with every team in a division playing against 14 common opponents.
·
All teams will 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 nondivision opponents
in their conference at least once every three years, and at home at least
once every six years.
·
Every AFC team will play every NFC team once every
four years, and at home once every eight years.
·
A team’s record from the previous year will have 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 are eliminated.
·
The division in which a team resides will be less of a
factor in a team’s won-loss record with 10 of 16 games each year being
against non-division teams.
Under the new scheduling formula, every team within a
division will play 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 will 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 will be matched in the same way each
year. NOTE -- Following are
past schedule aberrations that no longer will occur under the new formula:
· Oakland
did not play in Pittsburgh from 1981 through 1999.
· Miami
and Denver played once between 1983-1997 when Dan Marino and John Elway were
in their primes.
· Green
Bay and Washington did not play from 1989-2000 and have not played in
Washington since 1979.
· Atlanta
and the New York Giants did not play from 1989-1997.
· Pittsburgh
and Kansas City have played five consecutive times in Kansas City.
· Green
Bay played in Dallas four years in a row from 1993-96.
· Tampa
Bay has never played in Buffalo.
* * * NFL TO EXPAND ROLE
IN PRESEASON SCHEDULING To assist
teams making the transition into new divisions, realignment in 2002 also
means an expanded role for the Commissioner’s office in the scheduling of
preseason games. The NFL
clubs approved a resolution at last May’s league meeting in Chicago in
conjunction with realignment that gives the league, through the
Commissioner’s office, a broader role in making the preseason schedule for
the next five seasons, 2002-2006. The
primary intent is to facilitate the transition of clubs to the new
divisional structure, especially those teams leaving multiple long-term
divisional rivalries. Following
are the key elements:
·
The Commissioner’s office will work closely with the
clubs in scheduling preseason Weeks 1, 2 and 3.
·
Each team is obligated to schedule Week 4, including
location. Teams must inform the NFL by this September 1 of their respective
Week 4 matchups, including site.
·
Preference will be given to scheduling games with
former division rivals and other attractive opponents for those clubs
realigned from otherwise intact divisions.
·
The Commissioner’s office will make every attempt to
take into account traditional preseason matchups as well as existing game
commitments (made prior to the May league meeting) between individual teams
for the 2002 preseason and beyond.
·
After September 1, the Commissioner’s office will
begin formulating the 2002 preseason schedule that will include such factors
as the regular-season rotation, American Bowl games, and the Pro Football
Hall of Fame Game.
·
The 2002 preseason schedule is expected to be
presented to the clubs prior to or at the October 29-31 league meeting in
Pittsburgh.
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