Several of you recently have raised a great question regarding the NFL schedule for 2010.
Given that the league adopted an eight-year rotation from 2002 through 2009, which would ensure that every team plays in every other stadium and hosts every other team at least once during that period, will the same formula apply for 2010?
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello pointed out to us that, per page 16 of the 2009 NFL Record and Fact Book, the league decided after the 2008 season to apply the same formula in 2010.
Aiello tells us that the formula will continue to apply beyond 2010, too.
Presumably, the formula will remain in place unless and until the current alignment of eight four-team divisions changes.
The current format consists of each team playing two games against each division opponent, four games against all of the teams in another division in the same conference, two games against the teams from the other two divisions in the conference that finished in the same position (e.g., the first-place team in the AFC East plays the first-place teams from the other two divisions), and one game against each of the four teams from one division in the other conference.
For 2010, the AFC East teams play all teams of the AFC North and the NFC North.
The AFC North teams play the teams of the AFC East and the NFC South.
The AFC South teams play the teams of the AFC West and the NFC East.
The AFC West teams play the teams of the AFC South and the NFC West.
The NFC East teams face the teams of the NFC North and the AFC South.
The NFC North teams play the teams of the NFC East and the AFC East.
The NFC South teams play the teams of the NFC West and the AFC North.
The NFC West teams play the teams of the NFC South and the AFC West.
The only unknowns at this point relate to those two games against the teams from the other two divisions in each conference. By Monday, it’ll all be sorted out. Then, in April, the league will announce the dates and times of the various games.