"There are currently 16 games played in a full week of the NFL's 17-week schedule. Week 17's slate had four games with no meaning toward the playoffs - either qualifying or seeding. Next week will see several more that will have no real meaning. In fact, we're seeing teams shutting down players with games left to play. Even when they don't appear that seriously injured. And don't even get the NFL started on its "tanking" teams."
"The NFL shifted to a 16-week schedule in 1978 and kept it until 1990, when the 16-games over-17-week schedule was born. One of the then NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's less than ideal ideas. The 2021 season brought us 17-games on an 18-week schedule and now the NFL is talking about going to 18 games. The NFL fully believes in addition by expansion. The correct answer may be the reverse."
"The Solution That means no more bye weeks. No more regular season games outside the United States either. Roger Goodell can have his beloved international games played in the preseason. Goodell also needs to end weekly Thursday night games with one obvious exception. Play the Thanksgiving Day games. That week should be the only time in the season that a game is played on any day other than Sunday or Monday night."
There are many regular-season games without playoff relevance, and teams have begun shutting down players late in the season, sometimes without serious injury. The NFL expanded to 17 games and considers 18, but the recommended solution is to reduce rather than add. Return to a 16-game, 16-week schedule with no bye weeks. Eliminate regular-season international games and move them to the preseason. End weekly Thursday night games except Thanksgiving and remove Monday double-headers. Make division contests four times, schedule four rotating interdivisional games every seven years, and limit playoffs to division winners only, eliminating wildcards and prompting a final realignment.
Read at Inside The Star
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