Pats schedule is out: back to back West Coast trips, 5 prime time games

Ok, the next milestone on the road to recovery has arrived. The Patriots 2008-09 schedule is here and we move one step closer to next season.

Travel-wise, I'd say the schedule looks pretty killer.

There are 2 sets of back to back West Coast games in there (ack!) and there are a total of 5 prime-time games scheduled for The Patriots, although it looks like the prime-time games have been spread out pretty well, for the most part, and there's only one Monday Nighter.

Having the Monday Night game follow a Sunday Night West Coast game might actually be helpful. Since they will essentially lose a day traveling after the game, the extra day to recover might be good for the team.

Who knows what will happen with flex-scheduling..

Sun, Sept. 7 - Kansas City Chiefs, 1:00pm, CBS (ok, fine)
Sun, Sept. 14 - @ New York Jets, 4:15pm, CBS (yup, no biggie)
Sun, Sept. 21 - Miami Dolphins, 1:00pm, CBS (yeah, home game in Sept. No broiled Patriots)
Sun, Sept. 28 - BYE WEEK (kinda early. Eh.)
Sun, Oct. 5 - @ San Francisco 49ers, 4:15pm, CBS (West Coast Trip #1)
Sun, Oct. 12 - @ San Diego Chargers, 8:15pm, NBC (West Coast Trip #2, ACK)
Mon, Oct. 20 - Denver Broncos, 8:30pm, ESPN (A back to back prime time game but at least we get the donkeys at home)
Sun, Oct. 26 - St. Louis Rams, 1:00pm, FOX (yup)
Sun, Nov. 2 - @ Indianapolis Colts, 8:15pm, NBC (Away game, prime-time, as expected)
Sun, Nov. 9 - Buffalo Bills, 1:00pm, CBS (yup)
Thu, Nov. 13 - New York Jets, 8:15pm, NFL Network (A Thursday prime-time game, icky.)
Sun, Nov. 23 - @ Miami Dolphins, 1:00pm*, CBS (Ah, down to warm Miami, (for The Pats, not me, dammit))
Sun, Nov. 30 - Pittsburgh Steelers, 4:15pm*, CBS (home against the Steelers, good)
Sun, Dec. 7 - @ Seattle Seahawks, 8:15pm*, NBC (West Coast Trip #3)
Sun, Dec. 14 - @ Oakland Raiders, 4:15pm*, CBS (West Coast Trip # 4, ACK)
Sun, Dec. 21 - Arizona Cardinals, 1:00pm*, FOX (Yup)
Sun, Dec. 28 - @ Buffalo Bills, 1:00pm*, CBS (Yup)

As far as the teams the Pats will face, it does not look overly challenging, but that is based on last season. It is impossible to judge which teams are going to make the big turn around this season and go from sucky 1st round draft pick hopeful to playoff contender, but that is what makes the NFL what it is..

Well, there you go. The schedule is set. Bring it on.

GO PATS