NFL Schedule released & Dice-K part deux

The NFL has released the full 2007 schedule today, which you can find here.

Of course, the most important schedule to me is that of my New England Patriots, which is - as I promised - detailed below and on the sidebar - for easy reference once this post has gone the way of the archives.

9/9 @ New York Jets, 13:00 CBS

9/16 SAN DIEGO CHARGERS, 20:15 NBC

9/23 BUFFALO BILLS, 13:00 CBS

10/1 @ Cincinnati Bengals, 20:30 ESPN

10/7 CLEVELAND BROWNS, 13:00 CBS

10/14 @ Dallas Cowboys, 16:15 CBS

10/21 @ Miami Dolphins, 13:00 CBS

10/28 WASHINGTON REDSKINS, 16:15 FOX

11/4 @ Indianapolis Colts, 16:15 CBS

11/11 bye

11/18 @ Buffalo Bills, 13:00 CBS

11/25 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES, 20:15 NBC*

12/3 @ Baltimore Ravens, 20:30 ESPN

12/9 PITTSBURGH STEELERS, 13:00 CBS

12/16 NEW YORK JETS, 13:00 CBS

12/23 MIAMI DOLPHINS, 13:00 CBS

12/29 @ New York Giants, 20:15 NFLN/WCVB

* The Sunday night game v. Philadelphia is subject to change under the NFL's flex scheduling rules for weeks 11-17. All games from 11/18 on are subject to flex scheduling rules, but with the Patriots already having three prime-time games during this stretch, moving a fourth game into prime time is unlikely. It's more likely that the Pats-Eagles game would be moved out of prime time if another game for that week became more attractive for the NFL to move into that slot.

Right off the top, I'll predict a 13-3 regular season record for my team, based on the free agent signings that they have made this off season which will definitely help. Plus I'm a homer when it comes to my teams. Anyway, these are the games I expect the Pats to lose in 2007: at Cincinnati (revenge for 2006?), at Miami (October wins in Miami are rare but not unheard of) and at home vs. Washington (not that the 'skins are better, just that this is one of the teams the Patriots have played bad-luck ball against over the years and haven't beaten them since the initial meeting in 1972.) The Pats will beat San Diego at home in Week 2 and at Indianapolis in Week 9. Both will be close, hard fought games.

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In other local relevant sports news, Diasuke Matsuzaka makes his second appearance of the season today and first of many at Fenway Park. The game is at 19:05 EDT tonight v. Seattle. An interesting bit of trivia is that the first batter Dice-K will face is the Mariners leadoff hitter and fellow countryman, Ichiro Suzuki. A Japanese rivalry, American style... should be good.

UPDATE: Dice-K was good tonight (7 IP, 3 R, 8 H, 4 K, 1 BB), but Felix Hernandez, the Mariners pitcher, was better. He threw 7 innings of no-hit ball and only allowed one hit over 9 innings. Ichiro was 0-3 with a strikeout vs. Matsuzaka.