From refrigerator magnets to a national event - NFL Schedule release

it builds and it builds. And we've been talking about schedule release since before the draft now, and we started getting some of the little tidbits right, some of the little appetizer games. You know, we have each network released a game. We had the International Series games come out all right after the draft, and now we have the

whole enchilada, so to speak. Um, let's let's first start with Jeff, Judy and then and then Jeff, I'd love to just get your thoughts on the spectacle that this has become, especially for planners, right, I mean, like this is like a huge This was a huge day for everyone looking to plan their next six months right right, Like I mean, I happen to know some fans who actually try to travel to some of the away games. So for them, it's it's a very big deal right there,

you're trying they or they have season tickets. They want to know. I get that. The fact that it is now a week's long extravaganza is just a credit to the marketing genius that they employed at the NFL. Because listen, it was not that long ago. I remember you used to get a phone call from somebody in the league office and they would say like, hey, I want the schedule, like literally, that's what it was. It was that many

years ago that that happened. So this is just I mean, it's amazing that and and now it's like a sort of a week long thing that it's it's remarkable and credit to them because they've created another fan that everybody is wrapped up in. Yeah. I remember those days, but you would just get the the opponents was a big deal. To know they were gonna play whatever the Chiefs, We're gonna play against the AFC East. That was a huge revelation.

So now to get to a place where we are just you know, waiting with bated breath to see what's going to happen with this. I remember, I remember like the cards, Yeah, put on a little mini cars. That's so twentieth century, right, come on, way beyond that. This is like I'm waiting for Jerry Joe to introduce some kind of a reality show where you actually have every city doing some big event trying to top each other.

Explain this because all the social media teams out there with the team doing it right right right, Yeah, that's a great and in credit to all the social media teams out there, all departments just do a phenomenal job, you know, making schedule release into this huge piece of digital entertainment, so to speak. And it's it's really fun to see how they got the creativity that's out there amongst all of our teams, social clubs and of course

our our own here at NFL Media as well. Actually watch I would watch a hard knock style show, um, the Schedule group, like the people are in the room, like the David tom Brady unretired after they had already started planning for him to be entired. I would like to watch that episode of you know, like their heads blowing up and like the woking up the schedule and

going back. I think I'd watch that stuff. I would agree, because it's a great point, like how many games would have been in prime time for the Bucks, you know, if if Brady wasn't there, you know, And and now of course they're, um, they're they're very well represented on

the primetime schedule clearly. So I'm also curious, um, as you guys spend many of your Sundays on the road or at games period, um, Because as well as I understand it, there's certain individual UM in our newsroom who controls many of these game assignments and many of these um quote unquote requests. And I was told that when the International Series came out, if you happen to request, you are already out of the running. Uh this, how

does that work? Um? As as you guys who spend so much of your your fall in winter, you know, on the road and covering so many games in Jeff, I'll start with you, and then Judy had let me get your take. Care what does this day do for you? As you kind of start to begin to plot out me, Okay, this is something I could be it could be here, could be there, that sort of thing I'm sure Judy

would agree with this. I think for me generally, there's different phases of the schedule that that you kind of The first couple of weeks there's a lot of build up and excitement because you you want to see these matchup, You see Bills Rams, Oh, I can't wait to see. And then by time we get through week three, week four,

you kind of know who's good. You kind of know who was overhyped and who's not gonna be who's gonna be disappointing, And the game has become a lot more um harder to predict where you want to go watch teams play because you now you know you're gonna see some weird matchups, some not that entertaining matchup. So you go through that phase and you get around mid season, and then towards in the year, things pick up because you kind of know the playoff race is in play.

So for me, that's kind of more of how I look at it. Just early on there's a ton of buzz, but by week three weeks four, you're kind of like, do I really want to watch the Commanders play the Texans? You know, it's just it's not It's not to me I want to see you can probably say right now you do not. Yeah, yeah, I would agree with that.

I think like it's very hard to map out past weeks one and two, maybe three, where you're gonna go because things sort out, I mean, unfortunately we have injuries will happen, like you'll just you get a much better feel after was opening weeks and I not usually look at the schedule and like I look at week one, like where are we likely to be in week one? Um? And then frankly this year, I mean on a personal level, I was looking at the Christmas and Christmas Eve schedual

and like, what's what's the travel likely to be there? Um?

But it's really I find it's really hard to project, um, more than a few weeks out, even once you're in the season, Like it's hard to project more than the next week coming up what you're going to be interested in, because you know, the season is really fluid and the games that look great, you know there's a there's a Monday night game in the next to last week of the season that I think is Bengals Bills right which right now would seem to be like a blockbuster game.

But I mean, who the heck knows, but what the season is gonna look like by then, So it it's really hard to project what you're going to be interested in past September. We've known, you know, who the opponents are going to be for quite some time. We've known

now since the season ended. With the strength of schedules, we're going to be right with the Rams having the toughest strength of schedule, the NFC East having like collectively the worst strength of schedule, are the easiest strength of schedule. I guess I should say which kind of makes sense

based on what we've seen from that division in recent years. Um, when you see the dates and you see when these teams are playing each other, Judy, does it feel like you have a better grasp on what those games will mean and what those teams are playing for at that time? Yeah, on both extremes, the good, the really good teams and the you know, really bad teams. Um, you know, I look at the Rams schedule the Chiefs schedule, and you're looking at like the sort of really tough stretches like

the Chiefs just have. I mean, man, you know they're gonna if if they're in the NFC Championship game, again this year, which is of course entirely possible. Like they're they're gonna it, that's for sure, Rams the box, I mean, Bengals, Bills, all outside of the division, right, I mean you look at and where I look at when the schedule comes out is um. I know we're sort of saying like, oh,

it's just the order that we're waiting for. But the order is really important, right, Like are they playing a ton of those games in a row where they're going from one, you know, powerful opponent to another to another, you know, and in the cases of those teams they are, So yes, I do think you get a better feel for what that season is going to be, Like, you know,

it's it's gonna be hard. For instance, that the Patriots, who we haven't talked about, but the Patriots have a really tough stretch at the end of their schedule, and like you're you're just looking at that like, wow, I mean that is going to be a test of of a team that I don't think we really have a great feel on after this offseason. So yeah, you definitely get a feel for what their season might look like. Yeah, Jeff, do you kind of see the the order of these things,

and maybe not even the end. But you know, we look at a team like the Chiefs really struggled at the beginning of the season last year, right, and then you look at some and then they were able to figure it out, you know, towards the middle and then down the stretch of course, But do you look at like the way teams are gonna have to start the season, like especially teams where we have high expectations, you know, and the run that they're gonna go, the you know,

the road away the amount like do you have the Saints starting with three division games in a row in the first year the Dennis Allen era. There are some really interesting quirks at the beginning of the season as well. Yeah, I was. I was intrigued by by certain teams, some of the better teams. Some had really tough beginnings, like

the Chiefs. I mean, you're right, seven out of eight games or against playoff teams from last year, which I've never seen that before before, with with the you know, the Tom Brady's and the Josh Allens, all those guys coming at you. But then like with the Bengals playing like their last six games are pretty are pretty brutal, with with the Bills and the Ravens and the Patriots

and the Broncos and the Bucks. So it's just I do feel like there's going to be some game some some teams that if they start slow the Chiefs did last year, which was a typical they're usually a pretty good team in September, But if they start three and four, I don't see how they come back from that, Whereas on the flip side of it that the Bengals are kind of hovering around five and five, six and five going into the end of the season, trying to make

a playoff push, Like, I don't know how you should buy that kind of crucible, and so I do think it makes it for more. It's more entertaining. But keep in mind, going back to the Chiefs example, last year, they were they had a stretch there after that three and four start where they were playing the Packers, the Cowboys, and I forget somebody else, um in the three games start,

the Raiders in the three games stretching, Aaron Rodgers got covid. Uh, I think Amari Cooper was knocked out for COVID, and the Cowboys had a couple of d linemen down and so all of a sudden. You know, you try to predict this stuff, but people, people get hurt. Things happened, Uh, things can change. The Cowboys are like that too. Like the Cowboys I think have a tough few games. They have feet easiest strength of schedule based on last year's

results in the league. But there is a stretch early where they have their tough games, and so they got to start fast and then then things he's up like they'll they should be able to roll up wins, you know, in the second half of the season, but that first part of the season they're going to get. It's a real test I think to see, uh you know where

they fit in among the league's eleague teams. Yeah, and I'm just looking like Week one, he's insane, like days away from the kickoff game, which might be on paper, one of the best kickoff games we've ever you know, had scheduled with the Buffalo Bills, who you know, I don't think anybody would have batted an eye if they would have ended up in the Super Bowl, right based on the game they played against the Chiefs um and then you have you know, them playing against the Super

Bowl champion L A. Rams right here, in Los Angeles, Bill's Rams insane hundred eighteen days away from that game as we sit here taking inside report today. Then you've got, like I said, a number of division games, Saints and Falcons, one of the more bitter rivalries you know in this in the league. Kicking things off, You've got Steelers Bengals, another fantastic division matchup. Got a brand new quarterback going to be starting for Pittsburgh. Um, I mean Baltimore in

the Jets, the Ravens of the Jets. Two teams with great expectations now based on what they've done this offseason. Patriots and Dolphins always a fun one, and that one in Miami in September, Patriots struggle with the weather in December in Miami there huge, and then Tampa and Dallas on Sunday night, and then Denver and Russell's return to Seattle to open things up on Monday. Like I mean,

you know, it's like are you not entertained well? And it's it's really is the natural extension of what you've seen happen in over the last to three years with the off season. I mean, there's just been so much happening. Was even like five years ago, it wasn't you'd have free agency, you'd have the draft. But now it's like people are making blockbuster trades and huge moves and even throwing the draft. The first day the draft, You've got

eight nine trades happening. There's just so much of a push that all these teams are making to be a good So when you get to week one, this is the culmination of that. And that's what I was saying, like after a couple of weeks, you find out how good teams actually are, but you want to see how this all looks on paper. Even the Jets, you know what they've done in the last couple of years for the draft and Zack Wilson, it's intriguing. What is it

gonna look like? What is too are gonna look like in Miami with all these weapons and any of the teams that aren't even the cream of the crop in the a f C. Right Sure, all right, guys, So as we you know, assessed with the schedule, you know now is going to look like once we see where and when these games are being played in what time and on what network and whether they are in prime time or not. As as we've kind of talked about here.

It gives us a little bit of a better grasp on what these teams might end up looking like based on how we view them at this point. Obviously a lot can change injuries as teams develop the training camp. But we're gonna take a quick break and when we come back, it's never too early or way through early. Yes the grounds and so yes, way too early predictions of all sorts when we come back here an inside report.

I bet you're with you on NFL Inside Report. Judy Batista and Jeffrey Jadilla are joining us here today as the dust is now settled on the two game NFL regular season schedule after our big schedule release extravaganza on NFL networking throughout the NFL media social platforms, and now we know where, we know when, we know how all of these teams will be playing, and you know, let's just talk let before we get into the predictions here, guys.

You guys kind of laid out some prime time predictions earlier, right, and so you both said that that Judy, you said the Chiefs you wanted to see essentially in prime time all season long. I would like an entirely separate package of a f yes, like, but the Chiefs. I think the Chiefs will be well represented in prime time? Does that satisfy you? Yes? Yes, But I would watch I mean seriously, I would watch the Chiefs every week if

I could. And then, of course, Jeffrey, you said, the Bucks, who also have five prime time games, we're gonna see him on Sunday night, will seem on Thursday night, Monday night. You know, all of the prime time mechanisms, and they'll have three of those games at home Chiefs, Ravens, and Saint It's gonna be phenomenal. And then on the road at the Cowboys and the Cardinals, Like, there's there's a lot to like there too. As you know, Tom Brady's

returned through a wrench into the scheduling algorithm. Oh yeah, no, definitely. Yeah. You wonder how much, you know, you wondn't what the schedule would have looked like if he wasn't playing. Even with that, you know, they're going to an international game. They're playing, Like, would that have happened? Would he have been playing over there? I doubt it, But they said, they said they committed to the box going to Germany. They knew he was retired, so they were going then

he retired, Like what a deal? What? What a deal? Maybe that's why Brady came back because they were going to Germany. That's it right, sure? Okay, So I wonder, by the way, if Brady like is looking at the Fox schedule, like huh, I'd be doing this game, that game, this game, that game. Right, that's a whole different podcast, right there, no doubt. All right, let's run through some of these predictions here, just based on how we see it now after the schedule has been laid out, we'll

take it um, division by division. Will start in the a f C, and let's start in the a f C East, and we'll go, Judy, give your years first, and then Jeff you'll follow up for all the a f C teams, and then we'll flip it for the NFC. So let's start in the East here, Judy, what do you got? I have the Bills. I don't think anybody. I think maybe the Dolphins closed the gap a little bit, but not not nearly enough, because the Bills I think

got better. Um, they filled their only holes were I think cornerback they needed, and and then they got von Miller to rush the passer when they really need them. Yeah, the Bills certainly for me, Jeff definitely Bills. I mean they have own the ship this year. Yeah, and they have to this. This is beyond the division. This is

about getting a Lombardi Trophy. So if they blow the division, I can't imagine with that time will do And and perhaps you know, beginning to run now of Patriot like dominance in the a f C East with a quarterback that's certainly capable of it. Very interesting there are, Judy, Let's move to the north. I have the Bengals um in part because I have a few. First, all the Steelers, we don't know who their quarterback is going to be. Their defense is intact, but we don't know what their

quarterback is going to be. Cleveland, you have no idea what DeShawn Watson's available. If he could be, he could be there on Week one, he might not be there at all. So you can't predict anything about them. And then the Ravens I have high hopes for, but like you know, they had to rebuild part of their because of injuries. They had to rebuild some of their defense. Lamar's got to stay healthy. So I feel most confident

about the Bengals, and also I'm a huge Joe Burrow fan. Yes, yeaham with you, and people, for whatever reason seemed to write off the Bengals as if they were just some nice little story that there are really continue better that got better excited went to the draft, that having to do a whole lot. I mean, it's like they were

really stacked team. And so I'm with you. You they're the safest pick in the a f C North, and I think that after the way they played last year and the way things went down in the Super Bowl against the Rams, that they're going to be highly motivated. I don't see how they I think they're they're a very strong pick in that division. And they're young exactly right. Their studs are young like the Bills, like could be in a position to do this for quite a while.

How about the South duty I'm going with the Colts. I like what they did this offseason and I don't like what happened in Tennessee this offseason. So the combination of those things I have. I think Matt Ryan brings a really important stabilizing influence. The defense is going to be good in Indianapolis. I think the Colts do it this year. Look, I mean, they were almost a playoff team last year except for catastrophic failure at the end, So I think this is the year they win the

division again. Yeah, I'm with you on that one as well. They got a huge game against Jacksonville early in September eighteen, which allows them to exercise and demons from the end of last year. They played the Titans twice in October, so they could actually get ahold of this division early and lost them, you know, two times last year. I think that they've been a quarterback away for while, and I think Matt Ryan's the best coreback they've had since

Andrew Luck was there. And I do feel like the Tennessee Titans took a step back losing A J. Brown. I think you don't know what dere can we getting hurt in this past year. Is he starting to that point running back start getting more and more banged up? So I trust the Colts a lot more. And by the way, Matt Ryan had a really good season with practically no offensive what last year, no receiving, so like, I have a lot of faith in Matta. Some improvements there for sure. Let's move then to the a f

C West and feel free to throw your hands. Um, I'm still going with the Chiefs. I cannot pick against Patrick Mahomes until proven otherwise. Um, but wow, that division is going to be spectacular and I cannot wait for that Chargers Chiefs game like wee week two on Thursday night, Like that game is gonna be crazy. And how about Chargers Raiders to kick things all of it? What about the I mean, we're not even talking about the Broncos. We haven't even mentioned the Broncos Russell So but the Chiefs.

I'm going with the Chiefs. Yeah, finally we're gonna differ here. I'm going Chargers. I feel I feel like they were so close to uh winning the division last year. Obviously a lot of fourth down calls by Brandon Staley blew up in his face, but justin Herbert, in my mind, is everybody as good as Patrick Mahomes now, Um, I mean as far as talent, he hasn't won as many games,

but he's a cyborg as well. And I think the moves they made the off season with Khalil Mack and j C. Jackson and cal Vanoy and the safety they got J T. Would I mean, it's just if they are healthy. On paper, they look like one of the top two or three teams in the a f C. I can't bet again. I think I think they're there, certainly with a with a quarterback that has all the tools to get it done. Let's now move to the NFC, shall we, And let's start with the East. A team

and a division. I guess that benefits by playing each other based on strength of schedule. It's just I've never seen that before. All four teams of the NFC East that the lowest random in terms of the easiest strength of schedule. So there you have it. Uh, Jeffrey, why don't you lead us off here in the NFC? What do you got an ease? I'm going to Philly and I know the Cowboys went it last year, but I just feel like the Eagles. I think getting a J.

Brown is gonna help out. Dylan hurts a lot. I like what they have offensively around him, even though he's got to improve as a pastor. With Davante Smith and Dallas Goddard and Miles Sanders. I feel like Nick Serianni is a better coach, and I thought he was gonna be and I got I just think Dallas is talented, but it feels like every other year you don't know what you're gonna get from them. I have the Cowboys, but I'm not completely just because I do think the

Eagles have very much closed the gap. UM, And I agree with you, Sirianni is a better head coach than I thought he was gonna be rid of the gate and I think Jalen hurt so be just fine. I opted to go with the Cowboys because, you know, I trust Dak Prescott. Of all of the quarterbacks in the division,

I trust him the most. UM. But you know, but on my solid and they were undefeated in the division last year, and I think I think that in some ways they're they're they're gonna be a little bit better, UM, as long as they stay healthy along the offensive line, which has been a real difficult piece of that equation in the last few years. Let's move to the North, Jeffrey, Oh, this is it's this green based division as wet as Aaron Rodgers just playing quarterback. It's probably gonna compete for

the worst division in football. If you took the package out of there, you couldn't find even without Davante Yeah, I mean it's just Packers, I mean Bears, Vikings, Yeah, Lions. I can't see them coming anywhere close can being with the Packers in this one. I think the Packers like if Aaron Rodgers said I'm going to play this season throwing off my left hand instead, like okay, yeah, let's do that to liven things up. And then in the

South Tampa bay Um runs away with it again. Jeffrey, how do you see if I don't know if they run away with it, but you know the Saints will give them problems because the Saints have been beating them every t and the regular steve exactly until until it matters most. But yeah, I think Tom Bradie coming back again. This team once we about two years ago and had a lot of key players banged up. They're getting them back. I think keeping top bowls. They're moving in the head coach.

I think there's a lot of uh excited. I think he'll bring a different vibe to it. And so yeah, I think Brady is in a Swan song potentially not betting against that. Yeah, I have the bucks to that that roster is still almost entirely intact from the Super Bowl roster. Um. Uh, look, it's Tom Bradie. I'm not betting against Tom. We've all done that, we made that, we're not doing it again. And then finally Jeff in

the West back to back Rams champs or what I think. So, I mean, the Niners a lot of offseason drama there with Deebo Samuel, and you just don't know if Trey Lances their starting quarterback, I don't know what you're going to get. If Jim Garoppolo was still there with I doubt he will be. That would just be awkward and strange. I just think that the Rams are the safer pick. And and look, they made some good moves in the

off season too. They've done very well bringing in Uh, you know, they've got better at linebacker, They've gotten better at receiver. Um. I don't know how less Steve is doing it, but they always need to find money to pa. Yes, I agree, I think the Rams window is still wide open. Um. The fact that there's so much uncertainty at the Niners really sends them down my list. Um, you know, what what are you getting from Trey Lance if he's the

starting quarterback? Is deeper Samuel going to be there? I mean, you know, no, I you know, I have a lot of faith in Kyle. But no, all right, there's your eight division winner. So now the big one. All the way to February are super Bowl progressions on May, Judy. Thanks. Yeah. So my super Bowl matchup is Bucks Bills. Oh yeah, And I have the Bills winning the Super Bowl mostly because I think that roster is they finally the bride. The roster is just loaded. And if you get through

the a f C, you have already gone through the gauntlet. Right. The a f C all loaded this year they will be battle test if not to say the box won't be, but not to the degree that the a f C teams are going to be. And I just think Josh Allen is at such a high level. Umu, they are my champion. The Buffalo Bills. Yes, dudey just stole my thunder, But I'm going Bills Bucks. I want to pick the

Rams because I like what they did last year. I just don't it's so hard to pick teams to repeat even get back there, and so that's what is holding me back from picking them. And so I think, who's the second best team in the NFC to pick, and it'd be the Bucks. I think Tom Brady comes back and the rebounds and gets them that championship game. But

I agree. I think Buffalo right now almost like the Bulls with Michael Jordan back in the days, having to go through the Celtics and having to go through the Pistons and having to go through all these other great teams to get to where they want to be. I think Josh Allen showed me a lot and losing that game last year in the ANC Championship game, in the way he responded to it was colmost like, Okay, one more thing we got to get through. It wasn't like

we're gonna complain about the overtime rules. We're not going to make a whole bunch of excuses. We had our chance to get to an SC championship game, we'd be blew it. I think if they get to the a f C, and which I think they will, this team is ready to go, and Bob Miller is gonna help them get those right. I don't understand right, not for the reg season, guys. The Cardinals are playing at home in the Super Bowl this year. That's just the thing.

That's the thing we do. We're playing the super Bowl at State Farm stadium in Arizona, and going by the last two Super Bowls, the Cardinals are going to win the Super Bowl in their home stadium. It's just that after what happened for years of never happening, it's now happened in back to back seasons, so that let's make it three in a row. So there you go, Jeffrey

and Judy. Guys, thanks so much for your insights and for having some fun here with us and Inside Report certainly appreciate it, and uh, we'll catch up with you guys again here real soon. Take care and that's gonna do it or this episode of NFL Inside Report. Appreciate you guys for being along here with us on the ride following the schedule release, and we will continue to have episodes here for you throughout the end of this month.

We appreciate you guys being with us and subscribing, rating, and reviewing our show on the I Heart Radio app, on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. For producers Thomas Horn and Tim Paraca, I'm your host, Bret Lewis. We'll catch you next time. NFL Inside Report is the production of the NFL and partnership with I heart Radio. For more official podcasts from the NFL, visit the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.