Report: NFL Nearing 17-Game, 3-Preseason-Game Schedule
February 23rd, 2021
Tens of thousands of Bucs season ticket holders want to know what next season will bring after the mess that was this year.
Over the past few days, the news has been great.
First, ProFootballTalk.com reported that the NFL is expecting many full stadiums next season, basing revenue projections on 75-percent-of-maximum attendance next season. Of course, that assumes, some states will continue virus restrictions.
Then today comes word that owners are nearing making a 17-game, 3-preseason-game season official for 2021.
As one source with knowledge of the dynamics recently explained it to PFT, the push to complete new TV deals has more to do with officially expanding the regular season to 17 games and less to do with potentially borrowing against future revenues to increase the 2021 salary cap.
The NFL has staged a total of 20-game preseason/regular season for decades. Before the regular season moved to 16 games in 1978, the NFL played 14 regular-season games and six preseason games. Keeping the preseason at three games keeps the total slate at 20.
Perhaps more importantly, a 17-and-three approach also ensures that teams will host 10 total games per year. The 17-game regular season will result in half of the teams having nine home games and the other half having eight. In turn, the half that has nine regular-season home games will have one preseason home game. The half that has eight regular-season homes games will have two preseason home games.
It all makes perfect sense, and the Joe typing here loves preseason games. (The other Joe hates them.) Without preseason, most fans won’t see their beloved teams play before opening day, and that sucks. Plus, preseason is fantastic for bubble players looking to make their mark and it bonds fans to more players on the roster.
The NFL makes preseason easy for teams. Don’t want to play your starters? No problem. Many teams don’t.
Of course, the NFL should cut the price of preseason games, but don’t count on that anytime soon. But for the first time in ages, Joe suspects Bucs season ticket holders will be able to get some decent cash on StubHub for those overpriced August games.
February 23rd, 2021 at 7:35 am
The poor play by most teams should be the impetus to get rid of 4 teams. Shorten the schedule to 14 games and have 3 pre season. So many marginal players makes for town team play.
February 23rd, 2021 at 7:52 am
I’m of the mindset that if they add a new game, then they shouldn’t reduce the cap. Who’s with me? 🙂
February 23rd, 2021 at 7:58 am
mg – you’re aware which franchise would have been on the bubble when they had to make that decision this time last year?
February 23rd, 2021 at 8:03 am
All about the fan base putting pressure on the owner. All sports are watered down with p- poor talent. I’m sorry I remember when winning”The Pennant” meant something.
February 23rd, 2021 at 9:04 am
Sorry mg, I highly doubt the NFL will let you decide how many teams there should be.
February 23rd, 2021 at 10:03 am
I hate when leagues change their number of games. it hurts the sanctity and relevance of records. I hate the idea of 17 games.
February 23rd, 2021 at 10:07 am
I thought a good option would be all teams playing 8 games at home and 8 on the road with one at a neutral site. Some of these games can be the International games when they return thus eliminating certain teams (like the Bucs in the past) always getting ripped out of a home game. Others can be in the US or Canada (Detroit/Buffalo in Toronto) in stadiums that are strategically located: like the Jags and Fins or Bucs in Orlando, Gainesville or Tallahassee, Dallas vs KC in Norman OK or Tennessee vs the Saints, ATL or Bucs at Legion Field in Birmingham or another SEC or ACC stadium that would be relatively neutral. .
February 23rd, 2021 at 11:25 am
2 preseason games 18 regular season games Xtra bye week for everyone (get rid of hall of fame game AKA 5th week of preseason)
February 23rd, 2021 at 11:42 am
love it!!!!!
GO BUCS!!!!
February 23rd, 2021 at 11:50 am
I kind of like the 2 preseason games & 18 regular, but a little worried if that gives teams enough time to evaluate all the players. Especially the rookies.
February 23rd, 2021 at 12:04 pm
What is the current situation for pre-season player pay?
February 23rd, 2021 at 12:08 pm
Brandon Says:
February 23rd, 2021 at 10:03 am
I hate when leagues change their number of games. it hurts the sanctity and relevance of records. I hate the idea of 17 games.
I feel the same way.
February 23rd, 2021 at 12:12 pm
18 games and 2 preseason would make the most sense. Prevents owners from raising season passes one year due to the “extra game” then forgetting to reduce the cost next season when there is one less home game.
February 23rd, 2021 at 12:14 pm
I also think teams should be allowed to expand the practice roster by a couple more players. Or at least keep the expansion allowed this past season permanently
February 23rd, 2021 at 1:33 pm
mg go away buddy I don’t like your focked up ideas
February 23rd, 2021 at 1:43 pm
I wonder if teams with 9 home games will have some sort of competitive advantage. I am sure this will be an every other year occurrence (so any advantage should be leveled out over time), but each season is unique and and in any given year, that extra home game may be just the wee bit of advantage a team needs to make the playoffs, get homefield advantage, or win their division. This is particularly relevant for good teams, because they typically enjoy a true homefield advantage already (which I hope the Bucs benefit from going forward), so the extra home game will be even more valuable to those teams. It would be interesting to see if some stat geek runs the numbers 6-10 years from now to see if it actually results in a statistically significant advantage…or not.
February 23rd, 2021 at 2:16 pm
35 yard line seats 6 rows up behind the Bucs and could not even give regular games away before The Illness.
February 23rd, 2021 at 3:06 pm
Who is this mg dude, he sounds like he was an attempted abortion ,
February 23rd, 2021 at 5:04 pm
firethecannons – whatever you say comrade.
February 23rd, 2021 at 5:08 pm
Buxszntki – wow. my special needs granddaughter I’m raising doesn’t think so.
Adios you pos.
Loved the site for sometime, thanks Joes.
Mahalo
mg
February 23rd, 2021 at 5:38 pm
Back in the 90s they tried at least one season with two bye weeks, no idea why that doesn’t make a comeback, in particular when you had a 17th game. In an era of NFL Redzone, which is the most entertaining thing on TV each year, having a 19 week NFL regular season (including the 2 bye weeks) would be awesome, and I’m sure the NFL can squeeze extra money out of someone for that extra bye week.
February 23rd, 2021 at 5:39 pm
BTW, it was 1993 when the NFL had two bye weeks – that needs to come back.
February 25th, 2021 at 3:59 pm
Lol this mg character consistently has the worst takes.