The NFL implemented a significant scheduling change in 2021, expanding its regular season from 16 games to 17. This shift marked a departure from the traditional format, which had been in place for decades. Now, rumors are circulating that the league may be considering further expansion, potentially lengthening the schedule even more in the future.
The NFL’s current format consists of 17 regular-season games and three preseason games. However, Commissioner Roger Goodell has hinted at a potential shift, suggesting that reducing preseason games to two while increasing regular-season games to 18 is a “logical” next step for the league.
“Roger Goodell says the “logical step” is for the NFL to expand to an 18-game regular season.
“We went to 16 and four, and now 17 and three. So 18 and two is a logical step.”
Expanding the regular season to 18 games would introduce several challenges that would require careful consideration. One potential solution would be to introduce a second bye week, helping to mitigate player safety concerns that would inevitably rise with the increased number of games. However, reducing the preseason schedule by another game would create an evaluation conundrum, making it more difficult for teams to assess talent and make informed decisions during training camp, particularly when trimming their rosters from 90 players to the regular season’s 53-man limit.
The Buccaneers’ performance has remained strong across the NFL’s season format changes. During the last 16-game season in 2020, they secured an 11-5 record and claimed the Super Bowl title. In 2021, when the league expanded to 17 games, the Buccaneers posted an impressive 13-4 record and advanced to the Divisional Round of the NFC playoffs, where they ultimately fell to the Los Angeles Rams.
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