Football Updates regarding the 17 Game Schedule in 2021 from Peter King

FloridaMan88 · 03-01-2021, 10:27 AM

From his column today:

Link: https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ia-peter-king/

Quote:

- The 17-game schedule is highly likely in 2021. No surprise there. TV partners and NFL schedulers are working under the assumption that the 17-game schedule (the way was paved for it last March when players approved a new CBA) will debut in 2021.

- The league calendar gets pushed back one week, with a likely Feb. 13 Super Bowl in Los Angeles. No extra bye—17 games in 18 weekends. Super Bowl LVI, originally scheduled for Feb. 6, 2022 and airing on NBC, has not been officially moved yet. The league hasn’t said a word about moving the game to officials in Los Angeles. But the NFL won’t start the season on the ratings-quashing Labor Day Weekend, and the league doesn’t want to add an extra regular-season bye week. So that adds up to Feb. 13, which would be the latest Super Bowl in history.

- The best game of 2021, Aaron Rodgers versus Patrick Mahomes, is on track. Really, only one game in 2021 would rival Green Bay-Kansas City. That’s Tampa Bay at New England, with Tom Brady’s return to Foxboro. Pittsburgh at Green Bay is interesting too, with the very likely last meeting of Ben Roethlisberger and Rodgers. Brady in Foxboro is great theater, of course. But Rodgers-Mahomes is a much better game, with two passers at the peak of their powers.

- A note about how the league configured the extra game: When the NFL was choosing options, the formula that prevailed—follow me now—was AFC versus NFC, cross-conference matchup from two years ago, 2021 matchup based on 2020 standings. Now that you’re totally confused, here’s an example: The four AFC West teams played the four NFC North teams in 2019. In 2020, Kansas City finished in first place in the AFC West, Green Bay first in the NFC North. So in 2021, it’s AFC West against NFC North, and 1-versus-1 from ‘20 becomes Green Bay versus Kansas City. I will bet you a Kroll’s West cheeseburger with an ice-cold Spotted Cow that the networks will brawl over this ratings-gold game. This game alone is reason enough for the league to rush the 17th game onto the 2021 schedule.

- Hearing it’s most likely to be AFC hosting all 16 newly invented games in 2021. Then NFC teams hosting in 2022. If that’s how it goes, it’s the fairest way. Competitive equity is the key. You don’t want three NFC East teams playing eight at home and the fourth playing nine at home.

htismaqe · 03-01-2021, 10:30 AM

Tampa / New England would be a terrible football game. It's not even close to the matchup of KC / GB.

**alpha_omega** · 03-01-2021, 10:30 AM

Thanks for the update...still don't like it.

FloridaMan88 · 03-01-2021, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Tampa / New England would be a terrible football game. It's not even close to the matchup of KC / GB.

The only drama would be to see when/if Brady/Belichick embrace each other postgame.

**Rain Man** · 03-01-2021, 10:32 AM

I really don't need a 17th game. In fact, I don't even want one.

Shag · 03-01-2021, 10:50 AM

every team's 17th game in 2021

SEA at PIT
LAR at BAL
ARI at CLE
SF at CIN

GB at KC
CHI at LV
MIN at LAC
DET at DEN

WFT at BUF
NYG at MIA
DAL at NE
PHI at NYJ

NO at TEN
TB at IND
CAR at HOU
ATL at JAX

*per Peter King who says a 17th game is "highly likely" in be added in 2021
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 1, 2021

htismaqe · 03-01-2021, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I really don't need a 17th game. In fact, I don't even want one.

You're going to get one. The NFL doesn't care what YOU want.

FloridaMan88 · 03-01-2021, 10:53 AM

Carolina at Houston if Watson ends up getting traded to the Panthers will have some intrigue.

louie aguiar · 03-01-2021, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I really don't need a 17th game. In fact, I don't even want one.

I agree- not a fan of 17 games. Seems like a shameless money grab.

**DaneMcCloud** · 03-01-2021, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by htismaqe

You're going to get one. The NFL doesn't care what YOU want.

It's a damn shame, too.

As much as I enjoy the NBA playoffs from April-June, I'll rarely tune into a regular season game, unless it's just an amazing matchup between two of the top 6 teams in the NBA, because they play 82 games in a season, which is just too many games, IMO, to determine the top 16 of 30 teams.

Now, the NFL is going to have 17 regular season games, in addition to three rounds of playoff games featuring 14 of 32 teams, in order to determine a champion? That's insane. The old system of 12 teams was just fine.

Plus, the good teams stand to lose more than the bad teams in a 17 game season with 7 playoff teams per conference.

It's much easier for a great team to stumble than it is for a middling team to win an "upset" but when you're designing the season AND the playoffs for upsets, why even bother watching until the playoffs?

**wazu** · 03-01-2021, 11:10 AM

I hate that they are pushing the season later. Go earlier when the weather isn't complete shit for half the country. If it's about Labor Day weekend, just make that weekend a bye after week 1. Or better yet play 2 games before Labor Day and actually move the end of season schedule up a week.

htismaqe · 03-01-2021, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

It's a damn shame, too.

As much as I enjoy the NBA playoffs from April-June, I'll rarely tune into a regular season game, unless it's just an amazing matchup between two of the top 6 teams in the NBA, because they play 82 games in a season, which is just too many games, IMO, to determine the top 16 of 30 teams.

Now, the NFL is going to have 17 regular season games, in addition to three rounds of playoff games featuring 14 of 32 teams, in order to determine a champion? That's insane. The old system of 12 teams was just fine.

Plus, the good teams stand to lose more than the bad teams in a 17 game season with 7 playoff teams per conference.

It's much easier for a great team to stumble than it is for a middling team to win an "upset" but when you're designing the season AND the playoffs for upsets, why even bother watching until the playoffs?

Yep.

Much like basketball (you talked about the NBA, but NCAA is similar) they're moving towards 2 seasons. One season for everybody, and another season just for the good teams. Wait until they expand the playoffs again.

**morphius** · 03-01-2021, 11:26 AM

It is hard enough keeping people healthy to the playoff's, adding another game makes it even more difficult. Plus the current schedule sort of makes sense. Right now there are 2 games difference between you and everyone in your division that are set up to help balance the scale for the lower finishing team from the previous year. Do we really need a third? Plus it means that there is a more likely chance that you will play the team in the regular season once before you see them in the SB.

Mecca · 03-01-2021, 11:28 AM

You have to see the long game here. The eventual goal of all this is simple. 18 games, 18 games works because it makes expansion easier. The easy number you get with 18 games is 40 teams.

With that you probably get 2 byes a year, expanded playoffs etc. With that plan you lengthen the season and increase profit by alot.

It's about money.

Deberg_1990 · 03-01-2021, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morphius

It is hard enough keeping people healthy to the playoff's, adding another game makes it even more difficult. Plus the current schedule sort of makes sense. Right now there are 2 games difference between you and everyone in your division that are set up to help balance the scale for the lower finishing team from the previous year. Do we really need a third? Plus it means that there is a more likely chance that you will play the team in the regular season once before you see them in the SB.

We are getting very near to ‘load managing’ in the NFL.

Who cares about September and October games?

I’ll take a healthy team in December and January over winning home field advantage anyday. See Tampa Bay.

03-01-2021, 10:30 AM	#2
htismaqe 'Tis my eye! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Chiefsplanet Casino cash: $10269900	Tampa / New England would be a terrible football game. It's not even close to the matchup of KC / GB.
Posts: 100,022	3 0

03-01-2021, 10:30 AM	#3
alpha_omega Supporter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Liberty Casino cash: $1651251	Thanks for the update...still don't like it.
Posts: 16,737	3 0

03-01-2021, 10:32 AM	#5
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3328491 VARSITY	I really don't need a 17th game. In fact, I don't even want one. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,425	6 0

03-01-2021, 10:50 AM	#6
Shag MVP Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: San Diego, CA Casino cash: $2183342	every team's 17th game in 2021 SEA at PIT LAR at BAL ARI at CLE SF at CIN GB at KC CHI at LV MIN at LAC DET at DEN WFT at BUF NYG at MIA DAL at NE PHI at NYJ NO at TEN TB at IND CAR at HOU ATL at JAX *per Peter King who says a 17th game is "highly likely" in be added in 2021 — Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) March 1, 2021
Posts: 5,148

03-01-2021, 10:53 AM	#8
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $3172906	Carolina at Houston if Watson ends up getting traded to the Panthers will have some intrigue.
Posts: 38,233

03-01-2021, 11:10 AM	#11
wazu ... Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $2212295 VARSITY	I hate that they are pushing the season later. Go earlier when the weather isn't complete shit for half the country. If it's about Labor Day weekend, just make that weekend a bye after week 1. Or better yet play 2 games before Labor Day and actually move the end of season schedule up a week. Last edited by wazu; 03-01-2021 at 11:27 AM..
Posts: 27,764

03-01-2021, 11:26 AM	#13
morphius World's finest morphius Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $6945027	It is hard enough keeping people healthy to the playoff's, adding another game makes it even more difficult. Plus the current schedule sort of makes sense. Right now there are 2 games difference between you and everyone in your division that are set up to help balance the scale for the lower finishing team from the previous year. Do we really need a third? Plus it means that there is a more likely chance that you will play the team in the regular season once before you see them in the SB.
Posts: 25,971

03-01-2021, 11:28 AM	#14
Mecca Hockey Town Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Kansas City, Missouri Casino cash: $2627050	You have to see the long game here. The eventual goal of all this is simple. 18 games, 18 games works because it makes expansion easier. The easy number you get with 18 games is 40 teams. With that you probably get 2 byes a year, expanded playoffs etc. With that plan you lengthen the season and increase profit by alot. It's about money.
Posts: 110,934