Monday, November 19, 2012

Inter-Divisional NFL Games, Part II





Friday I looked at the commonness of the Patriots and Colts playing each other.  That match-up has happened 10 out of the 11 years of the current scheduling arrangement.  There is one other match-up that has happened 9 out of 11 years:




Panthers Cardinals Divisions Play?
2002 4* 4* No
2003 4 4 No
2004 1 4 Yes
2005 3 3 No
2006 1 3 No
2007 2 4 Yes
2008 2 2 No
2009 1 1 No
2010 3 1 Yes
2011 4 4 No
2012 3 2 No


Yes.  The Cardinals and Panthers have played that often only missing each other in 2006 and this year.  While the Patriots-Colts match-up has been the result of consistent excellence of both teams, this match-up is primarily random.  They have finished in the same spot in all four possible spots.  They have only finished in the same spot in the standings six times, but none of them when they would have been playing anyway.   They will also automatically be playing next year, as the South and West are matched up next year.








No comments:

Post a Comment