2020 Schedule

SaintFanInATLHELL · 05-04-2020, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

And of course da Bears, ON DA ROAD AGAIN.

I know this is necrothreading, but this is an interesting subject. First let's get the cross division, where each of the 4 teams in on division play 4 teams in another, out the way. These strictly alternate every three years. You can see it in the 2011,2014,2017, and upcoming 2020 games:

10/29/2017 Chicago Bears 12 @ New Orleans Saints 20 W

12/15/2014 New Orleans Saints 31 @ Chicago Bears 15 W

09/18/2011 Chicago Bears 13 @ New Orleans Saints 30 W

So 2020 should, and does flip back to the Saints going to Chicago again.

It's the interconference games finishing by position that throws the monkey wrench into the system. It seems to have no rhyme nor reason. See 2013 and 2019 as examples:

10/20/2019 New Orleans Saints 36 @ Chicago Bears 25 W

10/06/2013 New Orleans Saints 26 @ Chicago Bears 18 W

Both in Chicago. It makes it seem patently unfair. But I found a Reddit comment that explains it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comment...tion_question/

It’s difficult to explain, but the way I describe is is that after you have an interdivisional matchup in a given year, the teams you face in that division in the two years between the next interdivisional matchup will both be on the road or at home, but rotates after the next interdivisional matchup.

The application here is as follows. Between 2011 and 2014, Bears would get home games if both teams finish in the same position. Between 2014 and 2017 it flips and the Saints would get home games if both finish in the same position. Then between 2017 and 2020, it flips back to the Bears at home. Between 2020 and 2023, it will flip back to the Saints.

Both 2013 and 2019 fit right into this. Both times the dial was pointing to the Bears at home. The 2 years that it pointed to the Saints, 2015 and 2016, the teams did not finish in the same position, so no home game occured in the Superdome.

This was the one oddity in NFL scheduling I was never clear on. I'm glad that I found an explanation.

SFIAH

05-04-2020, 02:48 PM	#11
SaintFanInATLHELL The Professor Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Lithonia, GA Posts: 2,789	Re: 2020 Schedule Originally Posted by SmashMouth And of course da Bears, ON DA ROAD AGAIN. I know this is necrothreading, but this is an interesting subject. First let's get the cross division, where each of the 4 teams in on division play 4 teams in another, out the way. These strictly alternate every three years. You can see it in the 2011,2014,2017, and upcoming 2020 games: 10/29/2017 Chicago Bears 12 @ New Orleans Saints 20 W 12/15/2014 New Orleans Saints 31 @ Chicago Bears 15 W 09/18/2011 Chicago Bears 13 @ New Orleans Saints 30 W So 2020 should, and does flip back to the Saints going to Chicago again. It's the interconference games finishing by position that throws the monkey wrench into the system. It seems to have no rhyme nor reason. See 2013 and 2019 as examples: 10/20/2019 New Orleans Saints 36 @ Chicago Bears 25 W 10/06/2013 New Orleans Saints 26 @ Chicago Bears 18 W Both in Chicago. It makes it seem patently unfair. But I found a Reddit comment that explains it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/nfl/comment...tion_question/ It’s difficult to explain, but the way I describe is is that after you have an interdivisional matchup in a given year, the teams you face in that division in the two years between the next interdivisional matchup will both be on the road or at home, but rotates after the next interdivisional matchup. The application here is as follows. Between 2011 and 2014, Bears would get home games if both teams finish in the same position. Between 2014 and 2017 it flips and the Saints would get home games if both finish in the same position. Then between 2017 and 2020, it flips back to the Bears at home. Between 2020 and 2023, it will flip back to the Saints. Both 2013 and 2019 fit right into this. Both times the dial was pointing to the Bears at home. The 2 years that it pointed to the Saints, 2015 and 2016, the teams did not finish in the same position, so no home game occured in the Superdome. This was the one oddity in NFL scheduling I was never clear on. I'm glad that I found an explanation. SFIAH saintfan and K Major like this.
	Super Bowl Championships: New Orleans Saints:1, Carolina:0, Atlanta Chokers: STILL ZERO Only Atlanta choked in an unchokable situation... Life is definitely good.