early look at 2009 nfl schedule

Now that the schedule is out ... and I have five minutes to digest it ... by initial thoughts on the upcoming 2009 NFL season.

Week One:
* Chiefs: at Ravens (noon, CBS). Third straight year the Chiefs have opened on the road. The Chiefs are 3-0 all time in Baltimore, winning there in 1998, 2003, and 2004 (when we were 0-3 and on the ropes on a Monday night). Interesting opener for the red and gold.
* Jets: at Texans (noon, CBS). I'll be honest up front: I expect nothing from Gang Green this year. The QB situation is a mess, I hated the Rex Ryan hiring, and as long as incompetent GM Mike Tannenbaum calls the shots, we're screwed. Interesting game for Houston though, they've closed really strong the last two years but its their starts that have killed them. Very winnable opener for the Texans.
* Best game: Titans at Steelers (Thurs night, NBC). The Ravens upset in Nashville prevented this from being the AFC Title Game last year. Both teams figure to be in the title hunt again this season, although I'm not as sold on Tennessee as some folks are. Still, tremendous opener to the season.
* Worst game: Rams at Seahawks (3pm, FOX). I guess if they're contractually required to play twice a year, you might as well get it over with as soon as possible.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Eagles at Panthers (noon, FOX). Tremendous opener that NBC should have grabbed, instead of (yawn) Bears at (snore) Packers.

Week Two:
* Chiefs: vs raiders (noon, CBS). Second straight year our home opener is against the silver and black. The raiders have won two straight at Arrowhead, and are two fluke plays (LJ's touchdown as time expired, Page's end zone INT as time expired) from having won four straight. Chiefs need this one, you have to win these games at home if you hope to establish momentum.
* Jets: vs Patriots (noon, CBS). This one will not be even remotely competitive. The Jets are opening 0-5 barring a miracle. Or so says Steve.
* Best game: Ravens at Chargers (3pm, CBS). Huge playoff ramifications riding on this one. Especially if these two rematch in January, as is very much possible.
* Worst game: Bucs at Bills (noon, FOX). Talk about utterly unwatchable. Only TO makes me possibly want to tune in for two minutes.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Giants at Cowboys (Sunday night, NBC). Yeah, the debut of the stadium should be sweet, but anytime NFC East rivals get together, good games happen. Scratch that -- great games happen.

Week Three:
* Chiefs: at Eagles (noon, CBS). We should be solid double digit underdogs in this one, and deservedly so.
* Jets: vs Titans (noon, CBS). We should be approaching double digit underdog status in this one, and deservedly so.
* Best game: Colts at Cardinals (Sunday night, NBC). First team to 50 wins?
* Worst game: Packers at Rams (noon, FOX). Totally unwatchable. Sadly, since CBS has the double header, that means we're stuck with this snoozer on FOX4.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: 49ers at Vikings (noon, FOX). One of those under-the-radar meetings early in the season that turns out to have huge wildcard ramifications come early January?

Week Four:
* Chiefs: vs Giants (noon, FOX). Of course we're playing at home on NASCAR Sunday. Why even bother to ask the question. (steve sighing in disgust ...) This is a biggie for the Chiefs though. If you figure we're 1-2 at this point, this could be the upset that springs us into contention in a horrible division. Or its the nail in the coffin that starts a lengthy losing streak. Either way, this is one of the 4 "benchmark games" of the 2009 season.
* Jets: at Saints (noon, CBS). This one should get ugly early, and stay that way.
* Best game: Cowboys at donkeys (3pm, FOX). Dallas' schedule after week one: vs Giants / vs Panthers / at donkeys / at Chiefs. They go 3-1 in that stretch, you can pencil them in for 12 wins and a home game in January.
* Worst game: Bengals at Browns (noon, CBS). Smells like a Criqui / Tasker assignment to me.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Titans at Jaguars (noon, CBS). The Jags can't be this bad again, can they? There's too much talent there for another sub .500 finish. Or so says Steve.

Week Five:
* Chiefs: vs Cowboys (noon, FOX). The over / under on when the bus arrives to tailgate is 5:46am.
* Jets: at Miami (Monday night, ESPN). Rex Ryan's debut drops to 0 and 5.
* Best game: Colts at Titans (Sunday night, NBC). This was the game that put the Titans on the map last year, a home pole-axing in prime time of the Colts. Its also the last time Indy lost in the regular season, as they won 9 straight before losing the wildcard game in San Diego.
* Worst game: Browns at Bills (noon, CBS). This is one of those games that you'd just simulate if the NFL was a video game.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Chiefs / Cowboys. Its the one game on the schedule this week that has me excited.

Week Six:
* Chiefs: at Redskins (noon, FOX). A winnable roadie if all the cards fall right. In all likelihood, a 27-21 loss.
* Jets: vs Bills (3pm, CBS). Dare we dream? A victory? Finally?
* Best game: Titans at Patriots (3pm, CBS). By this point we should know whether Kerry Collins can do it again, and if Tom Brady is healthy again.
* Worst game: Lions at Packers (noon, FOX). The losing streak might be at 24 after this one.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Giants at Saints (noon, FOX). Should be a thoroughly enjoyable NFC showdown with huge wildcard ramifications.

Week Seven:
* Chiefs: vs Chargers (noon, CBS). A winnable game entering the bye, with a winnable roadie afterwards. There is no reason the Chiefs can't be 4-3 after this game. And no, I have not been drinking.
* Jets: at raiders (3pm, CBS). Our personal house of horrors. Lose this one Rex, and you might not survive the bye week.
* Best game: Cardinals at Giants (Sunday night, NBC). Nearly the NFC Title Game last year. Both teams figure to be in the hunt this year as well.
* Worst game: Packers at Browns (noon, FOX). I'd rather have a stick shoved up my ass than be subjected to three plus hours of this game.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Eagles at Redskins (Monday night, ESPN). I love NFC East showdowns. Love 'em.

Week Eight:
* Chiefs: bye.
* Jets: vs Dolphins (noon, CBS). The Meadowlands might be half empty for this one.
* Best game: Giants at Eagles (3pm, FOX). Too bad there can't be NFC East showdowns every week.
* Worst game: Rams at Lions (noon, FOX). Not even friends and family will show up for this one.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Texans at Bills (noon, CBS). Huge playoff implications in this one. (Yes, I am that sold on the Texans ... again ...)

Week Nine:
* Chiefs: at Jaguars (noon, CBS). Very winnable roadie. You need games like this if you expect to play meaningful games in December.
* Jets: bye. If we're 1-7, goodbye Tannenbaum and Ryan. Maybe I should root for 1-7 or worse ...
* Best game: Chargers at Giants (3pm, CBS). Great inter-conference battle.
* Worst game: Lions at Seahawks (3pm, FOX). Loser has the inside track for the number one pick?
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Panthers at Saints (3pm, FOX). Huge NFC South battle between the two teams most likely to win it.

Week Ten:
* Chiefs: at raiders (3pm, CBS). Chiefs have won 6 straight by the Bay, all by 7 points or less. Hope that trend continues.
* Jets: vs Jaguars (noon, CBS). The dawn of the Brian Schottenheimer era?
* Best game: Patriots at Colts (Sunday night, NBC). Just to showcase how far and fast the Colts will fall without Dungy.
* Worst game: Seahawks at Cardinals (3pm, FOX). The NFL record for margin of victory is 73. I'm just saying.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Cowboys at Packers (3pm, FOX). Anytime these two get together its appointment television in the Casa de Steve.

Week Eleven:
* Chiefs: vs Steelers (noon, CBS). I've always said my three favorite home games are against the donkeys, raiders, and Steelers. These are usually an instant classic.
* Jets: at Patriots (3pm, CBS). Gonna be tough to top last year's OT Jets win in Foxboro.
* Best game: Eagles at Bears (Sunday night, NBC). Huge playoff implications on this one.
* Worst game: Browns at Lions (noon, CBS). First team to 3 wins?
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Titans at Texans (Monday night, ESPN). I think the winner of this one takes control of the division.

Week Twelve:
* Chiefs: at Chargers (3pm, CBS). Road trip to San Diego on Thanksgiving weekend?
* Jets: vs Panthers (noon, FOX). Another in a long line of ugly losses.
* Best game: Steelers at Ravens (Sunday night, NBC). After two tremendous showdowns last year, how does this one top it?
* Worst game: Seahawks at Rams (noon, FOX). More players on the field than fans in the stands?
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Bears at Vikings (noon, FOX). Huge NFC North showdown.

Week Thirteen:
* Chiefs: vs broncos (noon, CBS). The game I live for.
* Jets: at Bills (Thurs night, NFLN). Bills should be in position to take a wildcard berth if they win these type of games.
* Best game: Saints at Redskins (noon, FOX). Might get flexed to Sunday night. Huge playoff implications in this one.
* Worst game: Lions at Bengals (noon, FOX). Hide the women and children.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: take a friggin guess. Chiefs! donkeys! High noon! Arrowhead! Bring it denver, effing bring it!

Week Fourteen:
* Chiefs: vs Bills (noon, CBS). I'm all for three game homestands ... but in December? Brrrrrrr.
* Jets: at Bucs (noon, CBS). Should be a battle of 2-3 win squads in the warm Florida sunshine.
* Best game: Cardinals at 49ers (Monday night, ESPN). Seriously. This one might decide the NFC West.
* Worst game: Lions at Ravens (noon, FOX). Lions might not cross midfield.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Eagles at Giants (Sunday night, NBC). Great way to cap off the weekend.

Week Fifteen:
* Chiefs: vs Browns (noon, CBS). Hopefully this is meaningful for us.
* Jets: vs Falcons (noon, FOX). Ugly. Ugly, ugly, ugly.
* Best game: Cowboys at Saints (Sat night, NFLN). Great late season showdown that should have huge playoff ramifications.
* Worst game: Bucs at Seahawks (3pm, FOX). Will FOX even bother to send someone to cover this one?
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Patriots at Bills (noon, CBS). Should get flexed to Sunday night if the AFC East is on the line.

Week Sixteen:
* Chiefs: at Bengals (noon, CBS). The fourth of five very winnable games to end the season.
* Jets: at Colts (3pm, CBS). Neither team will enter this game with a winning record. Or exit it with one either.
* Best game: Panthers at Giants (noon, FOX). Last year's prime time epic determined home field advantage. This one might as well.
* Worst game: raiders at Browns (noon, CBS). Neither team will be worth a damn this year.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Cowboys at Redskins (Sunday night, NBC). Other than Chiefs / donkeys, this is my favorite rivalry in football.

Week Seventeen:
* Chiefs: at broncos (3pm, CBS). I really wish this one was at home, I'd have loved a shot at denver on my birthday.
* Jets: vs Bengals (noon, CBS). Putrid game to end a wretched season.
* Best game: Saints at Panthers (noon, FOX). Leading candidate to flex into prime time at this point.
* Worst game: Bengals at Jets. Its that awful.
* Game I'm Most Looking Forward To: Patriots at Texans (noon, CBS). This one could be a win-and-in scenario for Houston.