I've had next years schedule started since the beginning of this year. We rotate NFC divisions every four years (next year NFC North), AFC divisions every three years (next year AFC North), play our division rivals twice (both home and away) and play the other division teams in our conference that finish in the same place we do (this year #1).

Since one of the #1 teams we already play because we play the entire division (Bengals), the only two matchups up for grabs were the AFC South (Colts) and the AFC West (Chargers). That's the only real news, except the home / away games have been designated.

2010 Look Ahead:

(NFC North)
@ Lions (Possibly Thanksgiving)
Packers
Vikings (maybe Favreless)
@ Bears

(AFC East) (Div)
Bills
@ Bills
Dolphins
@ Dolphins
NY Jets
@ NY Jets

(AFC North)
@ Steelers
Ravens
Bengals
@ Browns

(Other #1 seed teams in the conference)
Colts (Probably Week 9 or 10)
@ Chargers

While that means we get the Colts, Chargers, Steelers, Bengals, Ravens, Packers and Vikings (with or without Favre), the Steelers and Chargers are the only AWAY games of that bunch. Colts at home again, finally! We've done pretty well at Steelers and at Chargers.

We get the away games in the division either way, and the rest of our away games seem pretty tame (using 2009 glasses).

For me, living in NFC North land, it means a solid shot for four games locally broadcast (one for sure).