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Q: How is the home team decided for non-divisional games? The PG reported on Monday that Sunday's game against the Chiefs will be eighth time in the past nine games between the two teams that the game will be in Kansas City. Is this ever considered when the schedules are made?

Joe Deffner, Forest, Va.

BOUCHETTE: When the NFL expanded to 32 teams in 2002, it also went to a scheduling formula that guarantees teams will play on a rotating basis. Besides playing each team in your own division twice, each NFL team will play teams from one other division in the AFC and one in the NFC. That leaves to games left and they play those based on where they finish the previous season.

This season, for example, the Steelers play the first-place teams from the AFC North (Miami) and South (Tennessee). Home-and-away is also predetermined, so no inequity such as the Steelers always going to Kansas City will take place. The schedule already is set for 2010. In addition to their own division, the Steelers will play at home: New England, New York Jets, Atlanta, Carolina and one team from AFC West based on their finish in the division. On the road they will play at Buffalo, at Miami, at new Orleans, at Tampa Bay and at AFC South team based on their finish.

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