NFL Scheduling Formula
2011 Opponents
The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis.
Under the formula, every team within a division plays 16 games as follows:
- Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games).
- The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games).
- The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games).
- Two intraconference games based on the prior year's standings (2 games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in the same way each year.
The official 2011 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring.
NFL Kickoff 2011 Weekend will begin on Thursday night, September 8, and the regular season will conclude on January 2.
Wild Card Weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, January 8-9; Divisional Playoff games on the weekend of January 15-16; and the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 1.
Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil field Stadium in Indianapolis will be played on Sunday, February 6.
1. New Orleans Saints
Home: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Away: Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
