Tuesday Cheese Curds: Just release the schedule already!

TL;DR

The NFL schedule release week is criticized for being unnecessarily prolonged, as the schedule is already finalized. The debate over strength of schedule is deemed irrelevant due to team changes from year to year.

Key points

NFL schedule release week is criticized for being dragged out.
Strength of schedule is based on last year's performance.
Teams in the NFC North have undergone significant changes.

Mentioned in this story

Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay PackersSeattle SeahawksChicago BearsMinnesota Vikings

GREEN BAY, WI - SEPTEMBER 20: Fireworks explode over Lambeau Field prior to the game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers on September 20, 2015 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) | Getty Images Among the many dumb things on the NFL calendar, “schedule release week” is right up there at the top. Why does this need to be dragged out over multiple days? The schedule is finished. It’s done. The league knows when all the games are going to be played. No last minute details are being hammered out. Just tell us when the games are going to be played! Adjacent to that, and perhaps even dumber, is the debate over strength of schedule. What does it even mean to have a strong or weak schedule? This is all based on last year, of course, but we all know that teams change dramatically from year to year. Just look at the NFC North. The Bears turned over the entire back end of their defense and traded one of their top receivers. The Vikings have a new starting quarterback. The Lions’ whole identity is volatility. How can you project anything meaningful from last year to this year from that group? And that’s assuming nothing will change! Packers fans know better than most how much even a well-equipped team can change over the course of a single season. Heck, look how different the Packers looked from the beginning of the Broncos game to the end! Strong schedule, weak schedule, none of it means anything in May, and it may mean something different in September than it does in December. We’ve just got to wait and see what happens, and wait for NFL to finally dole out the schedule. Strength of schedule is kind of hard to parse, but this is a good way to look at it. Or you can look at it like this. Still basking in the afterglow of the NFL Draft? Me too. No Packers here, but this is an interesting way to look at the league. I wonder if the same 10 teams would be on the list at the end of this season. Michael Silver has long been a sympathetic, insider voice for the saga, but he’s got a good take here. Missed opportunity for dog lovers out there.

Q&A

Why is the NFL schedule release week considered unnecessary?

The NFL schedule release week is seen as unnecessary because the schedule is already finalized, and fans are eager to know the game dates.

How does strength of schedule impact NFL teams?

Strength of schedule is based on previous season performance, but it may not accurately reflect a team's current capabilities due to offseason changes.

What changes have occurred in the NFC North that affect team projections?

Teams like the Bears and Vikings have made significant roster changes, including defensive overhauls and new quarterbacks, making past performance less relevant for future projections.

Tuesday Cheese Curds: Just release the schedule already!

TL;DR

Key points

Q&A

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