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Strength of Schedule Analysis
The NFL released its 2008 NFL schedule on Tuesday, and in what follows we will break down some of the more interesting facts that emerged with this announcement. Best Matchup in Week 1 - Chicago @ Indianapolis A rematch of Super Bowl XLI, with only one of the two teams looking like they have a shot at Super Bowl XLIII. Best Matchup in Week 2 - Philadelphia @ Dallas This is always a tough NFC East matchup, as Terrell Owens gets to face off against his old squad. Best Matchup in Week 3 - Dallas @ Green Bay This will be Week 3 of the Aaron Rodgers era, and if he doesn't have a victory by Week 3, he's not likely to have one until at least Week 4. Best Matchup in Week 4 - Cleveland @ Cincinnati The Browns have designs on making this a special season and will look to do better than the season series split the two teams had last year. The first time the two squads matched up last season the score was 51-45. Best Matchup in Week 5 - Pittsburgh @ Jacksonville The Steelers will look to avenge the two home loses they suffered to the Jaguars last season, the first time they have lost two home games to the same team in the same season.
A rematch of the AFC title game that was played in New England, which just so happened to be the second season in a row that a loss to the Pats ended the year for the Chargers. Best Matchup in Week 7 - Minnesota @ Chicago Adrian Peterson ran for 302 yards and five TD in two matchups with the Bears last season. Will Chicago be able to do any better this year or will the once again serve as a way for AD to lead the NFC in rushing? Best Matchup in Week 8 - New Orleans @ San Diego No team is really the home team here, as the NFL will play on foreign soil at Wembley Stadium in England (the Bills and Dolphins play in Canada in Week 14). Best Matchup in Week 9 - New England @ Indianapolis THE matchup of the season as it has been the past couple of years. These two teams have won five of the last seven AFC championships. Best Matchup in Week 10 - New Orleans @ Atlanta A matchup of two teams that had such promising futures just a year and a half ago. Best Matchup in Week 11 - Chicago @ Green Bay This is the first of three straight road games for the Bears, who enter a brutally tough part of their schedule. Best Matchup in Week 12 - Minnesota @ Jacksonville A matchup of last year's top two rushing attacks pits Adrian Peterson against the Jaguars' two-headed monster of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. Best Matchup in Week 13 - Pittsburgh @ New England The Steelers have to make a trip into the unfriendly confines of Massachusetts, this a year after they were held to a 3-5 record on the road. Best Matchup in Week 14 - Philadelphia @ NY Giants This late-season NFC East matchup could go a long ways to determining what type of Super Bowl follow-up the Giants have. Best Matchup in Week 15 - New England @ Oakland Randy Moss returns to the scene of the crime where he "stole" money from the Raiders with a series of less than spectacular efforts. The game should be a total blowout, but the hype and the build up should be substantial. Best Matchup in Week 16 - Indianapolis @ Jacksonville The Colts defeated the Jags both times they met in 2007 and it was the reason that the Jags finished second in the division. Best Matchup in Week 17 - Cleveland @ Pittsburgh The schedule makers seem to have gotten this one right, as the AFC North's divisional championship could be settled the final week of the season. Some additional notes. STRENGTH OF SCHDULE ANALYSIS BASED ON OPPONENTS 2007 RECORDS
BYE WEEKS
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Ray