Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Our Hashmarks Crew breaks down the lowlights of each team's 2008 schedule.
Arizona: The Cardinals, still trying to break through with all that young talent, have challenges at the start and at the end of the schedule. The Cardinals have road games in three of their first four games -- at San Francisco, Washington and the Jets. In their 15th game, the Cardinals have to go to New England before coming home to end the season against defending NFC West champion Seattle.
Atlanta: Not that it'll matter, but the Falcons end the season with road games in their 12th, 13th and 15th games at San Diego, New Orleans and Minnesota, But again, the Falcons will likely be just playing out the string by then, anyway.
Carolina: Coach John Fox's fate in Carolina will likely be sealed in the final five weeks. The Panthers play three 2007 playoff teams in that stretch, including road games against the Packers and Giants.
Chicago: The Bears are the only team in the NFL to have three straight rod games, from Weeks 11-13. The Bears also have tough bookend road games to start and finish the season. The Bears open the season at Indianapolis, which will be the Colts' first game in their new building. Then, the Bears have to end the season at Houston, which is expected to be pushing for an AFC playoff spot.
Dallas: The Cowboys can't be thrilled with the back end of their schedule. Four of the final five games are not going to be easy, starting on Thanksgiving Day at home against Seattle. The Seahawks are no holiday cake-walk. The next week, Dallas has to go to Pittsburgh and then goes home to host the Giants. In the final game, Dallas has to go to Philadelphia in a game that will likely have playoff implications.
Detroit: The Lions, who fell apart at the end of the 2007 season, could be primed for a repeat. The final six games are difficult as he Lions play four teams during that stretch that made the playoffs last season. Highlighting the difficult road is away games at Indianapolis and Green Bay in the final three games of the season.
Green Bay: There is little rhythm to the Packers' schedule. They have difficult games throughout the season. It never eases up. The Packers have back-to-back road games at Jacksonville and at Chicago (Monday night) in their 14th and 15th games.
Minnesota: The Vikings will have trouble starting strong in what is a pivotal year for coach Brad Childress. The Vikings start the season on Monday night at Green Bay, then host Indianapolis in the second week. Their third and fourth games are road tests at Tennessee and New Orleans. The Vikings end the season at home against the Super Bowl champion Giants.
New Orleans: The Saints will have to find a way to survive a brutal stretch in the middle of the season. The Saints have a 43-day stretch in which they are playing away from New Orleans. The Saints' lone home game during that stretch is against San Diego -- in London -- on Oct. 26.
New York: The defending Super Bowl champions don't have an awful schedule. But if they do have a complaint it is that three of their four prime-time games are on the road. It is never easy winning away from home under the lights. New York's road night games are Oct. 13 at Cleveland, Nov. 9 at Philadelphia and Dec. 14 at Dallas.
Philadelphia: The Eagles better have their ducks in a row going into December. Three of their games that month are against NFC East opponents. The Eagles have road dates at the Giants and Redskins and finish the regular season at home by hosting the Cowboys.
San Francisco: The 49ers have their bye week after their eighth game. And they'll have a difficult time getting there. San Francisco's five games before the bye are against New Orleans (home), New England (home), Philadelphia (home), Giants (away) and Seattle (home).
Seattle: The defending NFC West champions have a fairly manageable slate. But there are two interesting two-game stretches. On Oct. 5 and 12th, the Seahawks have to visit the Giants and then host the Packers. On Thanksgiving Day, the Seahawks have to go to Dallas and then have to host New England.
St. Louis: If the Rams are going to bounce back and make some noise in the NFC West, they'll have to find away to win December games in the division. Before ending the year at Atlanta, St. Louis has three straight games against all of its division opponents.
Tampa Bay: After a favorable slate in the first three months, the Buccaneers' schedule gets tricky late. The meat of Tampa Bay's schedule is its 12th, 13th and 14th games when the Bucs play all three of their NFC South opponents, including road games at Carolina and Atlanta.
Washington: The Redskins have plenty of reason to squawk. The season starts difficult and ends just as tough. The Redskins have the set-up game by being the visitor in the season opener at the defending Super Bowl champion Giants on Sept. 4. Then, the Redskins have to face their other NFC East opponents, Dallas and Philadelphia, on the road in the fourth and fifth weeks. Tthe Redskins have to finish the season with road games in three of their final four games -- at Baltimore, Cincinnati and San Francisco.
