NFL moves toward 17 regular-season games, three preseason games

[Woodman]

https-::profootballtalk.nbcsports.com:2021:02:23:nfl-moves-toward-17-regular-season-games-three-preseason-games:


Last year, the NFL secured the ability to expand the regular season to 17 games. The league is moving closer to officially implementing a 17-game schedule for 2021.
Via Mark Maske of the Washington Post, expansion of the regular season is “not yet certain,” but it’s currently believed that the league will adjust the annual 20-game slate from 16 regular-season games and four preseason games to 17 and three.
Owners previously had been debating whether to move the preseason to three or to two games. Last year, the NFL had no preseason games, due to the pandemic. This year, the pandemic once again could limit or eliminate the slate of exhibition games.

[Woodman]

https-::profootballtalk.nbcsports.com:2021:02:23:nfl-moves-toward-17-regular-season-games-three-preseason-games:


Last year, the NFL secured the ability to expand the regular season to 17 games. The league is moving closer to officially implementing a 17-game schedule for 2021.
Via Mark Maske of the Washington Post, expansion of the regular season is “not yet certain,” but it’s currently believed that the league will adjust the annual 20-game slate from 16 regular-season games and four preseason games to 17 and three.
Owners previously had been debating whether to move the preseason to three or to two games. Last year, the NFL had no preseason games, due to the pandemic. This year, the pandemic once again could limit or eliminate the slate of exhibition games.

Too many pre-season games imo.

[Joe Fo Sho]

Increasing the number of regular season games in the same year they decrease the salary cap?

[The last buffalo fan]

Increasing the number of regular season games in the same year they decrease the salary cap?

It is the NFL.

If it is because they will be allowing more fans into the stadiums, makes sense.

[TigerJ]

I would have guessed that the Players Association would have insisted dropping 2 preseason games if the league were to add a regular season game to the schedule. But what do I know?

[OpIv37]

3 is better than 4 but not as good as 2.

I'm not sure how I feel about a 17 game regular schedule. It's going to result in some weird standings and tiebreakers.

[Forward_Lateral]

Stupid.

Are the playoffs still expanded?

[Oaf]

3 is better than 4 but not as good as 2.

I'm not sure how I feel about a 17 game regular schedule. It's going to result in some weird standings and tiebreakers.

I'm good with 2 PS games, with 17 reg and eventual expansion to 18 reg.

[The last buffalo fan]

More of the Buffalo Bills during the year is always good for me!

[Woodman]

Stupid.

Are the playoffs still expanded?

Excellent question

[Mace]

Just imho, they need to re examine what preseason and preseason games mean, devalue that revenue and maybe televise lower key scrimmages cheap for devoted fans.

The 16 game schedule is already grueling and extra games will add contract and toll on health.

I'd love to see more football, but realistically you're just shifting meaningless practice player action early to meaningless backup player action later except for a few teams with something to lose or gain. Teams that clinch early will coast longer, teams on the edge will try harder and have more injuries that prevent them from getting farther. Less action necessarily by your starters after you clinch something will lead to a diluted product when it gets meaningful again.

I kind of see it ending up where the teams that work to the playoffs regular season end up not being the same teams in the playoffs. It's a mean, physical sport and it might be smarter to lighten up early and leave the rest as it is, imho.

[The last buffalo fan]

You just said it, Mace. It is business not a sport for everybody. I'm sure that they have discussed it before, and like you said too, they will figure it out how to minimize injuries, etc., maximazing benefits. Of course not everybody will win here.

[notacon]

3 is better than 4 but not as good as 2.

I'm not sure how I feel about a 17 game regular schedule. It's going to result in some weird standings and tiebreakers.

How? I don't see it.

[jamze132]

Stupid.

Are the playoffs still expanded?

I think that is permanent.

[Woodman]

I would have guessed that the Players Association would have insisted dropping 2 preseason games if the league were to add a regular season game to the schedule. But what do I know?

Same here.