Every year at this time we play the same game. Before the draft, mini-camp, training camp, final cuts or the first key injury of the coming season we sit back and break down the just-released NFL schedule. Who got a good break from the schedule makers? Who took it on the chin?

At this point, who really knows? But we’ll try to break it down a bit.

First, we know the Patriots have the third toughest slate in the NFL based on strength of schedule. The good news is the defending AFC East Champion Dolphins have the toughest in the league. Numerically speaking, the Bears have the easiest tilt.

Second we know the Patriots will be involved in at least four prime-time games, including a pair of Monday night contests beginning with the season opener at Gillette against the Bills.

But there is a lot more to the schedule than the first glance. But it doesn’t take much more of a glance to see that the Patriots face a pretty formidable stretch in November that includes a trio of road prime time games, with the lone home game in the month span the an always-challenging matchup with the division rival Jets. The stretch of night games begins with another chapter in one of the best running rivalries in the game — a visit to Lucas Oil to take on the Colts. The next week its home to see the now Rex Ryan-led Jets before returning to the road for back to back night games with a Monday night in New Orleans followed by a short week to get ready for a Sunday night AFC East battle in Miami. That’s a lot to swallow in a one-month span and could very much have a say in AFC playoff seeding as well as the battle in the East.

All told the Patriots have four of their final six games of 2009 on the road, although December trips to Buffalo (weather game anyone?) and Houston aren’t quite as scary as the nightmarish (get it? — night-mare) November stretch.

Another challenge comes early in the season where the Patriots face a number of teams that are either unfamiliar foes or franchises with new coaches.  The new-look Broncos and Jets will be a challenge to get ready for under their new coaches with limited film to go on. Bill Belichick and Co. also have to get ready for Matt Ryan’s Falcons and Joe Flacco’s Ravens in September, first-time looks at two of the games’ newest passing stars as Belichick tries to devise defensive game plans for the youngsters with no first-hand history to go on.

A couple other tough spots to keep an eye on include facing the physical defenses of Baltimore and Tennessee in a three-week span as well as the unique experience of taking on the Bucs in England. The Patriots are clearly the better team, but the nature of the game across the pond make it a bit of a wild card contest.

Now, let’s look at some of the more beneficial aspects of the schedule. The pros column has to start with the placement of the bye on Nov. 1. That’s nearly dead smack in the middle of the season, comes (by design) just after the trip to Europe and right before the challenging five-game stretch that includes the two division battles and trio of road prime time games. That’s about as good a bye as you could ask for.

I also think it’s good to start the year with three September Sunday-at-1 games. Two are at home and one is just a short flight to New York. Even the opening Monday night games starts at 7 meaning the subsequent short week isn’t quite so short.

It’s also worth noting that the Patriots two short weeks — coming off Monday night games — both come as the team will prepare for division foes. It might be a minor thing, but that might ease the pressure of the short week just a hair.

Put it all together and I think the Patriots have a challenging but manageable schedule this coming fall. And we should all remember that it will look a little different come September, October, November and December than it does right now. Those who are supposed to be “good” won’t be. Those supposed to stink, won’t.

That said, I’m going to play the game we all love to day. Do it with me and leave a comment. Go through the 16 games in your mind and assign either a win or a loss and come up with a record.

Here’s mine: win, win, win, loss, win, win, win, win, loss, win, win, loss, win, win, win and win. That’s right. 13-3 with losses to the Ravens, Colts and Dolphins. 

What do you think?