NFC West Opponents Schedules

It's always a bit weird comparing schedules within the same division. Many teams the Cardinals will play, for example, are the same teams that the 49ers will play. As such, this post isn't an exhaustive examination of each NFC West schedule, but rather some impressions as we familiarize ourselves with whom each team will be playing next year. That said, there is still some worth to brief looks. For one, it allows us to know how the NFL views each team. I thought that the Seahawks would have as many primetime games as the 49ers, and they do have a lot, but clearly the 49ers are thought of as the crème of the crop.

Arizona Cardinals: The Cardinals have a pretty standard "we finished last in the division last season" schedule. They don't draw a ton of tough teams. That said, the tough teams they do face are all pretty much at home, which is pretty nice for the Cardinals. On the road, they have us and the Seahawks as their toughest opponents. They also face the Bucs at home. Their most brutal stretch of the season is @49ers, Seahawks, Falcons, BYE, Texans. Nice to have those final three at home.

A few thoughts from Revenge of the Birds

Week 1: @ St. Louis Rams
Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 3: @ New Orleans Saints
Week 4: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 6: @ San Francisco 49ers
Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Thursday)
Week 8: vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 9: BYE
Week 10: vs Houston Texans
Week 11: @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 12: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 13: @ Philadelphia Eagles
Week 14: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 15: @ Tennessee Titans
Week 16: @ Seattle Seahawks
Week 17: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks are almost the opposite of the Cardinals, in that all their tough games are away. This is a particular bummer for Seattle, since they have one of the best home field advantages in the league. Their toughest opponents at home are us, the Vikings and the Saints. Away, though, they play us, the Texans, Colts, Falcons, Panthers, and Giants. Those first four will be brutal. Lucky for the Seahawks, they don't really have a brutal stretch of games.

A few thoughts from Field Gulls

Week 1: @ Carolina Panthers
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 3: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 4: @ Houston Texans
Week 5: @ Indianapolis Colts
Week 6: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 7: @ Arizona Cardinals (Thursday
Week 8: @ St. Louis Rams (Monday)
Week 9: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Week 10: @ Atlanta Falcons
Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings
Week 12: BYE
Week 13: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 14: @ San Francisco 49ers
Week 15: @ New York Giants
Week 16: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 17: vs. St. Louis Rams

St. Louis Rams: The Rams, who might be the sleeper pick of some note in the division, have a pretty balanced schedule. They draw some tough games at home (Us, Seahawks, Bears, Saints and Bucs) but they also have to travel to the Texans, Falcons, Panthers, and Colts -- not to mention the perpetually enigmatic Cowboys, the Seahawks, and all the way to the City by the Bay.

A few thoughts from Turf Show Times

Week 1: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 2: @ Atlanta Falcons
Week 3: @ Dallas Cowboys
Week 4: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Thursday)
Week 5: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 6: @ Houston Texans
Week 7: @ Carolina Panthers
Week 8: vs. Seattle Seahawks (Monday)
Week 9: vs. Tennessee Titans
Week 10: @ Indianapolis Colts
Week 11: BYE
Week 12: vs. Chicago Bears
Week 13: @ San Francisco 49ers
Week 14: @ Arizona Cardinals
Week 15: vs. New Orleans saints
Week 16: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 17: @ Seattle Seahawks