Category: NFL Schedules (Page 2 of 4)

The New Orleans Saints and their fans endured decades of suffering on the football field. However, a national tragedy brought a city and a team together. It also eventually brought a champion. Before looking ahead at the upcoming Saints schedule, let’s take a look back at the history of the franchise.

Saints Schedule: Past and Present

New Orleans was granted an NFL franchise in a deal between Congressman Hale Boggs, Senator Russell Long and then NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle. Boggs headed a congressional committee that was overseeing the NFL-AFL merger. Rozelle announced the city had been awarded a team on “All Saints’ Day” in November 1966. Boggs’ committee later approved the merger.

The Saints schedule began in 1967. John Gilliam returned the first opening kickoff of the team’s first-ever game 94 yards for a touchdown. The Saints, however, would lose the game as part of a 3-11 inaugural season. The record was a sign of things to come, as the Saints failed to make the playoffs from 1967-86.

New Orleans captured its first-ever playoff appearance in 1987, but suffered a 44-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in the Wild Card round. The Saints also reached the playoffs in 1990, ’91 and ’92, but were bounced in the first round every season.

It wasn’t until 2000 that the Saints captured their first playoff victory in franchise history. After winning the NFC West, the Saints knocked off the St. Louis Rams in the opening round, 31-28. The Saints lost to the Vikings.

The 2005 season was greatly impacted by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The team was forced to play its first “home game” at Giants Stadium. The Saints also “home” games in San Antonio and Baton Rouge. New Orleans went just 3-13, but it was the beginning of big things to come.

The team made Sean Payton their new head coach and signed quarterback Drew Brees before the 2006 season. In their first year back in New Orleans, the Saints would go on to win the NFC South title and appear in the conference championship game for the first time in franchise history.

In 2009, the Saints went 13-3, won the NFC South title and knocked off the Vikings in overtime in the conference title game to reach the Super Bowl. Brees then led the Saints to a 31-17 win over Peyton Manning and Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

The history of the Saints would be incomplete without the bounty scandal involving players and coaches. Several players and coaches, including Payton, were hit with lengthy suspensions for the “pay for performance” program. The NFL concluded that the program rewarded players for injuring other players.

Download: Saints Schedule

The Washington Redskins are among the older and most decorated franchises in NFL history. However, there has been plenty of controversy surrounding the franchise. Before looking at this year’s Redskins schedule, let’s go back and look at the team’s past.

Redskins Schedule: Past and Present

The franchise was originally founded as the Boston Braves in 1932. The team became the Boston Redskins in 1933 and played at Fenway Park until 1936. The franchise moved to the nation’s capital and became the Washington Redskins 1937. They defeated the Chicago Bears in the NFL Championship Game in their first season in their new home.

The ‘Skins beat the Bears again in the 1942 championship game, but did not have a single playoff appearance from 1946-70. During this run of futility, the Redskins were the last American football team to integrate in 1962.

Led by NFL Most Valuable Player Larry Brown, the Redskins went to their first Super Bowl in 1972. However, they were unable to overcome the undefeated Miami Dolphins and suffered a 14-7 loss.

Led by head coach Joe Gibbs, quarterback Joe Theismann and running back John Riggins, the Redskins defeated the Dolphins, 27-17, to capture their first title since ’42. The ‘Skins returned to the big game the following year, but suffered a 38-9 loss to the Los Angeles Raiders.

Washington would again win the NFC crown and trounce the Denver Broncos, 42-10, in Super Bowl XXII. Just four seasons later, quarterback Mark Rypien guided the Redskins to a 37-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVI. Entering 2013, the victory marked the last time the ‘Skins hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

Since the Super Bowl win in 1992, the Redskins have only appeared in the playoffs five times. However, they were led to the postseason in 2012 by quarterback Robert Griffin III, who the Redskins traded up to take with the second overall pick in the ’12 draft. “RG3” headlines a young core that includes running back Alfred Morris and wide receiver Pierre Garcon.

Throughout the years, many people and groups have taken exception with the name “Redskins” because of its racial connotation. However, several attempts to get the franchise or the league to change the name have all failed.

Download: Redskins Schedule

Though their history may be brief, the Baltimore Ravens have already collected a pair of Super Bowl rings. The reason Baltimore’s history is so brief is because in order to look to the future, it was forced to leave its past behind. Before glancing at this year’s Ravens schedule, let’s take a look at how they got to Baltimore.

Ravens Schedule: Past and Present

The history of the Ravens schedule began when owner Art Modell uprooted the Browns from Cleveland in 1996. There were a few caveats attached to the move. First, the NFL promised Cleveland that a team would be back in the city no later than 1999. In addition, Modell was not permitted to use the Browns’ name, likeness or franchise records. In essence, the Ravens would become a new team.

In their first draft as the Ravens, the team selected offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and linebacker Ray Lewis in the first round. These two players would become the backbone of the team for the next decade and beyond.

After three straight losing seasons to begin their stay in Baltimore, the Ravens fired head coach Ted Marchibroda and replaced him with Brian Billick. Led by one of the fiercest defenses in NFL history, the Ravens clobbered the New York Giants, 34-7, in Super Bowl XXXV. Lewis was named the game’s MVP.

Billick’s tenure would last until he was fired after the 2007 season and was replaced by John Harbaugh. The same year, the Ravens selected quarterback Joe Flacco in the first round of the draft. The Ravens advanced to the AFC title game in ’08, but suffered a 23-14 loss to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Ravens reached the playoffs the next three years, but never made it past the conference title game. In September 2012, Modell, who sold his controlling stake in the team in 2004, passed away. The Ravens raced out to a 9-1 start and would eventually win the AFC North. Prior to the start of the playoffs, Lewis announced that he was retiring at the end of the year.

After downing the Colts in the opening round, the Ravens pulled off a 38-35 upset double-overtime win over the Broncos in Denver. The Ravens went on to trounce the New England Patriots in the AFC title game to secure a spot in Super Bowl XLVII, where Harbaugh, Flacco and Lewis led the team to a 34-31 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

Download: Ravens Schedule

The Rams have taken a long and rather circuitous road to end up in St. Louis. Despite all the changes of scenery, the Rams have fielded some of the more memorable teams in NFL history. Before looking ahead to this year’s Rams schedule, let’s take a look back at the history of the franchise.

Rams Schedule: Past and Present

The history of the Rams schedule began when they were born as the Cleveland Rams in 1936. The moniker was chose to pay homage to Fordham University, which also uses a ram as its mascot. After spending one year in the second American Football League, the Rams joined the NFL.

After failing to post a winning season in each of their first six years in the NFL, the Rams suspended operations for World War II in 1943. The Rams were back in 1944 and went on to win the NFL championship in 1945.

After the title win, the Rams packed up and moved to Los Angeles. After the move, the Rams had the distinction of signing the first two African-American players to play in the league after the war. In 1948, halfback Fred Gehrke painted the now famous horns on the team’s helmets. The horns marked the first modern helmet log in professional football.

The Rams beat the Cleveland Browns for the NFL title in 1951, but they would fail to win another playoff game until after the merger in 1974. Beginning in ’74, the Rams reached the playoffs seven straight years, but they never hoisted the Lombardi Trophy. Los Angeles appeared in the Super Bowl only once during the stretch, suffering a 31-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Led by running back Eric Dickerson and later quarterback Jim Everett, the Rams enjoyed a great deal of success throughout the 1980s. However, the Rams, who by this point were based in Anaheim, again were not able to get over the hump. The never advanced to the Super Bowl and were beaten a combined 54-3 in their two NFC Championship game appearances.

After the 1994 season, the Rams packed up the moving trucks again and landed in St. Louis. In 1999, former Arena League quarterback Kurt Warner and running back Marshall Faulk led the Rams to a 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV. The Rams returned to the big game in 2001 and were heavily favored to beat the New England Patriots, but suffered a shocking 20-17 loss.

Entering the 2014 season, the Rams have only one playoff win and have appeared in the postseason only twice since 2002.

Download: Rams Schedule

There is arguably no more notorious franchise in NFL history than the Oakland Raiders. For decades, few teams in all of sports have embodied their moniker more than the Raiders. Before glancing at this year’s Raiders schedule, let’s take a look back at the Silver and Black.

Raiders Schedule: Past and Present

The Oakland Raiders were founded in 1960 as an original member of the American Football League. Following the 1962 season, Al Davis was named head coach and general manager. Davis left briefly in 1966 to become the AFL Commissioner, but returned to the team as a general partner after the league merged with the NFL.

After acquiring quarterback Daryle Lamonica, the Raiders knocked off the Houston Oilers in the 1967 AFC title game. The Raiders secured a spot in Super Bowl II with the win, but suffered a 33-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers.

In 1969, John Madden would become the team’s new head coach. The Raiders reached the AFL title game in his first season, but lost to the Chiefs. During Madden’s run from 1969-78, the Raiders never had a losing season. Oakland won its division six times and beat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl XI.

Under new coach Tom Flores, the Raiders returned to the title bout in 1980. Led by quarterback Jim Plunkett and cornerback Kenny King, the Raiders hammered the Eagles, 27-10, in Super Bowl XV.

Following the 1981 season, the Raiders left Oakland for Los Angeles. Just two seasons later, Marcus Allen led the now L.A. Raiders in a 38-9 rout of the Redskins in 1983. The win marks the last time the team hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.

The Raiders stayed in Los Angeles before moving back to Oakland after the 1994 season. The Raiders won three straight AFC West titles from 2000-2002, with the run culminated by an AFC championship in 2002. The celebration wouldn’t last long, as the Raiders were embarrassed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 48-21, in Super Bowl XXXVII. The Bucs were coach by Jon Gruden, who the Raiders sent to the Bucs for a compensation package prior to the start of the season.

The Super Bowl loss sent the Raiders into a tailspin they haven’t gotten out of. Since the loss, the Raiders have yet to post a record above .500 in any season.

Download: Raiders Schedule

The New England Patriots have gone from NFL laughing stock to undeniable dynasty during their existence. Two men are largely responsible for ushering in a new standard of excellence and a new era of the NFL. Before looking at this year’s Patriots schedule, let’s take a look back at their past.

Patriots Schedule: Past and Present

The history of the Patriots schedule begins in 1960. The Boston Patriots were one of the original eight American Football League, and the Pats beat the Buffalo Bills in the league’s first-ever preseason game. The Patriots made their only AFL playoff appearance in 1963. That year, Boston knocked off the Bills in the divisional round before suffering a 51-10 loss to the San Diego Chargers in the championship game.

After moving to the NFL during the merger in 1970, the team became the New England Patriots to coincide with their move to a new stadium for the 1971 season. The team originally wanted to change its name to the Bay City Patriots, but it was rejected by the league.

The Pats would only make three playoff appearances from 1964-1984, the first of which came in 1976. New England lost all three of the playoff games. In 1985, the Patriots went 11-5, won the AFC East title, and trounced the Miami Dolphins in the AFC title game to earn their first Super Bowl berth. The Patriots would prove to be little more than a sacrificial lamb for the Chicago Bears, who hammered the Pats, 46-10, in Super Bowl XX.

New England wouldn’t win another playoff game until head coach Bill Parcells and quarterback Drew Bledsoe led the team to Super Bowl XXXI. Once again, the Pats failed in their bid to hoist the Lombardi Trophy as they fell to the Green Bay Packers.

After an ugly situation that included a resignation, an antitrust lawsuit and a compensation package, Bill Belichick was allowed out of his contract with the New York Jets to become the new head coach of the Patriots in 2000. During the 2001 season, Bledsoe was injured in Week Two. The injury opened the door to the emergence of Tom Brady and was the first event in what later became a dynasty.

The Patriots went on to win beat the heavily-favored St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI in what would be the first of three Super Bowl titles in four years. The Pats also appeared in Super Bowl XLII and XLVI, but suffered losses to the New York Giants in each game. The Pats went 16-0 during the regular season in 2007, but their hopes of the second perfect season in NFL history were dashed by the Giants.

Download: Patriots Schedule

The Carolina Panthers are one of the NFL’s youngest franchises. However, Carolina has accomplished a great deal during its brief history. Before taking a look at the upcoming Panthers schedule, let’s go back and look at the team’s past.

Panthers Schedule: Past and Present

The Carolinas, and more specifically Charlotte, North Carolina, was awarded an expansion franchise by the NFL in 1993. The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, would begin play during the 1995 season. Dom Capers was tabbed to be the franchise’s first head coach and the team selected Penn State quarterback Kerry Collins in the first round of the ’95 draft.

The Panthers played their home games during their first season at Clemson University because construction on their new stadium was ongoing. After beginning the year with five straight losses, the Panthers went on to post the best first-year record for a franchise team at 7-9.

The following year, Capers won Coach of the Year honors for leading Carolina to a 12-4 record and an NFC West title. The Panthers knocked off the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional Round before suffering a 30-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game.

The 1998 season marked the end of the Capers and Collins era. George Seifert took over as head coach in 1999. His less-than-stellar tenure was highlighted by a 1-15 finish in his final season in 2001. John Fox became head coach in 2002 and the team signed quarterback Jake Delhomme prior to the start of the 2003 season.

The Panthers enjoyed their best season in ’03, winning the NFC South title before beating the Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Rams and Philadelphia Eagles en route to their first Super Bowl appearance. Carolina suffered a heartbreaking 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVIII.

Carolina would reach the NFC title bout again in 2005, but fell to the Seattle Seahawks. The Panthers went 12-4 and secured a first round bye in 2008, but were on the wrong end of a shocking 33-13 loss to the Arizona Cardinals in the divisional round. The loss sent the Panthers into a hole they have yet to completely crawl out of.

After finishing 2-14 in 2010, the Panthers hired Ron Rivera as head coach and selected quarterback Cam Newton with the first overall pick in the 2011 draft. Entering the 2014 Panthers schedule, the team is still looking for its first playoff win since ’05.

Download: Panthers Schedule

Few franchises in the NFL and all of sports have a more storied history than the Green Bay Packers. In addition, no team in the NFL can claim to be more decorated than the Packers. Before examining this season’s Packers schedule, let’s take a look back at the road the franchise has taken to where they are today.

Packers Schedule: Past and Present

Earl “Curly” Lambeau and George Whitney Calhoun founded the franchise in August 1919. The name Packers derives from the Indian Packing Company, who gave Lambeau $500 for uniforms and equipment in exchange for being named a sponsor.

The Packers went 4-3-3 in their first NFL season in 1922. Green Bay was named NFL champions after going 12-0 in 1929. It was the first of three straight titles during the period where the champion was selected by the league.

In 1936, the Packers knocked off the Washington Redskins in the NFL Championship Game. The Packers also came out on top in the championship game in 1939, 1944, 1961, 1962, 1965 and 1966. In ’66, the Super Bowl was introduced, pitting the NFL champion against the AFL champion.

In the first-ever Super Bowl, head coach Vince Lombardi and quarterback Bart Starr led the Packers to a 35-10 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Packers repeated the feat with a 33-14 win over the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl II.

Lombardi stepped down as head coach after the 1967 season. The Hall of Famer passed away from cancer in September 1970. Shortly after his passing, the NFL renamed the Super Bowl trophy the “Vince Lombardi Trophy”.

From 1968-1992, the Packers appeared in the playoffs just twice and recorded only one postseason victory. In ’92, the Packers named Mike Holmgren head coach and acquired quarterback Brett Favre in a trade with the Atlanta Falcons. In 1993, the Packers landed coveted free-agent defensive lineman Reggie White.

The trio would lead the Packers to a 35-21 victory over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI during the 1996 season. The Packers returned to the big game the following year, but suffered a 31-24 loss to the Denver Broncos.

The Brett Favre era ended when he was traded to the New York Jets in 2008. The door opened for Aaron Rodgers, who led the Packers to a 31-25 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV just two seasons later.

Entering the 2014 Packers schedule, the team has won a record 13 NFL championships, including four Super Bowl titles.

Download: Packers Schedule

The Detroit Lions are indelibly linked to one of the game’s all-time greats and arguably the worst single season in the history of the game. There have been some flashes of brilliance in what has been a dim history for the team. Before looking ahead to the new Lions schedule, let’s take a look back at the history of the franchise.

Lions Schedule: Past and Present

The franchise broke into the NFL in 1930 as the Portsmouth Spartans. The team played its first four seasons as the Spartans, but financial problems during the Great Depression initiated the move to Detroit and the name change to the Lions in 1934. The moniker was chosen in homage to the Detroit Tigers.

In their first season in Detroit, the Lions began what became a tradition of playing on Thanksgiving Day. In their second season, the Lions defeated the New York Giants in the NFL Championship Game in 1935. Detroit would be absent from the playoffs until 1952 when the team won the first of two straight NFL titles. The Lions won the NFL championship again in 1957, marking the last time the team won it all.

Following the win in the title game, the Lions endured an extended period of futility. From 1958-91, the Lions appeared in the playoffs only three times and lost all three games. In 1989, the Lions drafted future Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders. Two years later, the Lions went 12-4, won the NFC Central and beat the Dallas Cowboys in the opening round of the playoffs.

Sanders rushed for 2,053 yards en route to winning Most Valuable Player honors in 1997. However, Sanders stunningly retired at the conclusion of the 1998 campaign.

In 2001, the Lions named Matt Millen their new president and CEO. The Lions went just 31-81 in the ensuing seven seasons. The misery was culminated by an 0-16 record in 2008.

Led by head coach Jim Schwartz, quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Calvin Johnson, the Lions went 10-6 and earned a Wild Card spot in 2011. However, the Lions suffered a 45-28 loss to the New Orleans Saints that season.

In 2012, Johnson broke Jerry Rice’s record for most receiving yards in a single season, but the team stumbled to 4-12 record.

Detroit enters the 2014 Lions schedule as one of four teams to never play in a Super Bowl. The others are the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Download: Lions Schedule

The New York Jets are an easily-recognizable franchise in the NFL. However, the Jets no longer player in New York, and didn’t start out as the Jets or in the NFL. Before glancing at the new Jets schedule, let’s take a look at the Jets of years past.

Jets Schedule: Past and Present

The franchise known as the New York Jets started out as the New York Titans in 1960. The Titans were one of the original eight teams in the American Football League and spent their first three years with the moniker. The franchise was renamed the Jets in 1963. The course of the franchise continued to change when quarterback Joe Namath signed with the team in January 1965.

In 1968, Namath led the Jets to an 11-3 record and a 27-23 win over the Oakland Raiders in the AFL Championship Game. With the win, the Jets earned the right to face the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. The Colts were double-digit favorites, but Namath famously guaranteed the Jets would win three days before the game. “Broadway Joe” went on to lead the Jets to a 16-7 win over the Colts in one of the biggest upsets in football history.

The Jets reached the playoffs the following season, but didn’t appear in the postseason again until 1981. In 1982, the Jets notched two playoff victories before falling to the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship Game.

Formally of the crosstown-rival New York Giants, head coach Bill Parcells led the Jets to a 12-4 record and the AFC East title in 1998. The Jets ultimately lost to the Denver Broncos in the AFC title game.

In 2009, the Jets made Rex Ryan their new head coach and selected quarterback Mark Sanchez in the first round of the NFL Draft. The Jets finished 9-7 in ’09 and snuck in to the playoffs. New York knocked off the Cincinnati Bengals and San Diego Chargers before suffering a 30-17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Championship Game. The Jets went 11-5 and reached the conference title game the following year, but against lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Jets enter the 2014 campaign in search of their first AFC title.

Download: Jets Schedule