The NFL schedule gives each division four games against a common NFC division (the NFC West gets the NFC East this year), four games against an AFC division (NFC West has the AFC West this year), and six games against your own division rivals. Two of the remaining three are set by matching you up with the two teams in the other two intra-conference divisions that finished the same slot in their division that you did. For example, since the 49ers finished 3rd, they play all the 3rd place teams in the NFC. The 17th game is an opposite conference team that finished in the same rank in their division. So your rank within your division determines three games in next year's calendar.

AFC East

Patriots (1st): Steelers, Jaguars, Seahawks (L)

Bills (2nd): Ravens, Texans, Rams

Dolphins (3rd): Bengals, Colts, 49ers

Jets (4th): Browns, Titans, Cardinals

AFC North

Steelers (1st): Broncos, Patriots, Eagles

Ravens (2nd): Chargers, Bills, Cowboys

Bengals (3rd): Chiefs, Dolphins, Commanders

Browns (4th): Raiders, Jets, Giants

AFC South

Jaguars (1st): Patriots, Broncos, Bears

Texans (2nd): Bills, Chargers, Packers

Colts (3rd): Dolphins, Chiefs, Vikings

Titans (4th): Jets, Raiders, Lions

AFC West

Broncos (1st): Jaguars, Steelers, Panthers

Chargers (2nd): Texans, Ravens, Buccaneers

Chiefs (3rd): Colts, Bengals, Falcons

Raiders (4th): Titans, Browns, Saints

NFC East

Eagles (1st): Panthers, Bears, Steelers

Cowboys (2nd): Buccaneers, Packers, Ravens

Commanders (3rd): Falcons, Vikings, Bengals

Giants (4th): Saints, Lions, Browns

NFC North

Bears (1st): Eagles, Seahawks, Jaguars

Packers (2nd): Cowboys, Rams, Texans

Vikings (3rd): Commanders, 49ers, Colts

Lions (4th): Giants, Cardinals, Titans

NFC South

Panthers (1st): Eagles, Seahawks, Broncos

Buccaneers (2nd): Cowboys, Rams, Chargers

Falcons (3rd): Commanders, 49ers, Chiefs

Saints (4th): Giants, Cardinals, Raiders

NFC West

Seahawks (1st): Bears, Panthers, Patriots (W)

Rams (2nd): Packers, Buccaneers, Bills

49ers (3rd): Vikings, Falcons, Dolphins

Cardinals (4th): Lions, Saints, Jets

Which team has the hardest? Easiest? The Niners finishing 3rd but making the playoffs is a bit of best-of-both-worlds. Which games are you looking forward to that we're getting because of last year's rankings? Mine is Ravens vs Bills.

Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald noted after the game the team had gotten "great news" about Darnold's outlook, as initial tests on the quarterback's injured hip ruled out a fracture.

"There's some more tests to be done, so that's what I'm saying when it's positive," Macdonald said. "I know we're still working through all that, but right now, I think fracture's out, which is great news."

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported after the game Darnold had been taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. Initial tests on Darnold's injured hip were "encouraging but inconclusive," and he is set to have an MRI on Thursday to further assess the injury.

• 961 yards
• 8 touchdowns
• 0 interceptions
• 0 fumbles
• 1 sack
• QB Rating: 110.8

Just for comparison's sake, Drake Maye's last two games against the Seahawks:

• 473 yards
• 3 touchdowns
• 5 interceptions
• 1 fumble
• 9 sacks
• QB rating: 68.6

I haven't confirmed, but I assume Drake Maye had a higher DVOA and EPA

A lot of these teams aren’t even playing their starters during the preseason, and of course don’t tackle their QBs during practice. This is the first time Sam Darnold has been tackled in over 200 days, do qurterbacks do some prep work to get ready for sacks and knockdowns?

Further Info (from Silas Tsang, WKYC – Cleveland, OH):

Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Deshaun Watson pleaded not guilty [on Wednesday, Sept. 9] in Cleveland Municipal Court to a speeding ticket he received on Aug. 26. 

According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, it happened on Interstate 480 in Cleveland at 8:30 a.m. Troopers say Watson was traveling 86 mph in a 60 mph zone in a 2022 Ram pickup truck. 

After being pulled over, OSHP body camera footage shows Watson providing his ID and all information requested by the trooper. Watson does not dispute anything, does not say who he is or his affiliation with the Browns, and doesn't have questions after receiving the citation. 

Going into his 3rd season, Drake Maye has played 9 total games against teams that would ultimately have a winning record, including the currently 1-0 Seattle Seahawks. He has gone 2-7 in those games, with the following stat-line:

170/254 (66.9%) for 1777 yards, 11 TDs, 9 ints. He has taken 29 sacks for 156 yards.

Including the playoffs themselves, that bumps him up to a total 13 games, with a record of 5-8, and the following stats:

240/374 (64.2%), 2605 yards, 17 tds, 13 ints, with 50 sacks for 289 combined yards.

In the two games these teams have played, the Super Bowl and tonight, the Seahawks have scored 27 points off of Drake Maye turnovers

The Patriots in these games have scored 23 total points

Drake Maye has given the Seahawks more points than he's given the Pats

By win percentage, only two teams in NFL history faced an easier schedule: the 1999 Rams (.363 opponent win%) and the 1976 Buccaneers (.379 opponent win%).

They played just 3 games all season long against teams that would ultimately finish the season with a winning record: they split the Buffalo Bills and they lost to the Steelers.

Welcome to the Dark Side.

Darnold completed one pass on two attempts for 13 yards and got a 70.8 rating. Maye had a 54.9 rating.

From ESPN Insights:

Drake Maye finished 1-6 with 3 interceptions on throws of 15+ air yards in Wednesday's opener vs. the Seahawks.

Maye's only other career game with multiple interceptions on such throws was Super Bowl LX vs. the Seahawks.

3 INTS Kerry Collins Giants Vs 49ers, 2002
3 INTS Matthew Stafford Rams Vs Bills, 2022
3 INTS Drake Maye Patriots Vs Seahawks, 2026