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 2009 schedule, with playing dates and times, will be announced in the spring.

NFL Kickoff 2009 Weekend will begin on Thursday night, September 10, and the regular season will conclude on January 3. 

Wild Card Weekend will be Saturday and Sunday, January 9-10; Divisional Playoff games on the weekend of January 16-17; and the AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 24. Super Bowl XLIV at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida will be played on Sunday, February 7.
 
2009 OPPONENTS

AFC EAST

Miami Dolphins                       
Home:    *Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away:      Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, San Diego Chargers, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
 
New England Patriots*            
Home:    *Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away:      Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 
New York Jets*                        
Home:    *Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away:      Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
 
Buffalo Bills*                            
 Home:    *Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Away:      *Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers

AFC NORTH
 
Pittsburgh Steelers               
Home:    *Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Away:      Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
 
Baltimore Ravens*                  
 Home:    *Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Away:      Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
 
Cincinnati Bengals*                
Home:    *Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Away:      Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
 
Cleveland Browns*                 
Home:    *Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Away:      *Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions

AFC SOUTH
 
Tennessee Titans                  
Home:    *Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Away:      Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
 
Indianapolis Colts*                  
Home:    *Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Away:      Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
 
Houston Texans*                     
Home:    *Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks
Away:      Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
 
Jacksonville Jaguars*             
 Home:    *Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Away:      *Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cleveland Browns, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

AFC WEST
 
San Diego Chargers              
Home:    *Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Away:      Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
 
Denver Broncos*                    
 Home:    *Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Away:      Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
 
Oakland Raiders*                    
Home:    *Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Away:      Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
 
Kansas City Chiefs*                
Home:    *Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Away:      *Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins

NFC EAST
 
New York Giants                    
 Home:    *Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
Away:      Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
 
Philadelphia Eagles*               
Home:    *Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
Away:      Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
 
Dallas Cowboys*                      
 Home:    *New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers
Away:      New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
 
Washington Redskins*           
Home:    *Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs
Away:      *Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

NFC NORTH
 
Minnesota Vikings                 
Home:    *Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Away:      Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
 
Chicago Bears*                        
Home:    *Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Away:      Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
 
Green Bay Packers*                
Home:    *Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Away:      Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
 
Detroit Lions*                           
 Home:    *Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Washington Redskins, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Away:      *Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

NFC SOUTH
  
Carolina Panthers                  
Home:    *Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Away:      Atlanta Falcons, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, New York Jets
 
Atlanta Falcons*                       
Home:    *Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
Away:      Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, New York Jets
 
Tampa Bay Buccaneers*         
Home:    *Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Away:      Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins
 
New Orleans Saints*               
Home:    *Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, New York Jets
Away:      *Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, St. Louis Rams, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins

NFC WEST 
 
Arizona Cardinals                   
 Home:    *St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Away:      St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
 
San Francisco 49ers*              
Home:    *Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Away:      Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
 
Seattle Seahawks*                  
Home:    *Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Away:      Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
 
St. Louis Rams*                       
Home:    *Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Away:      *Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans