When Did the NFL Go to 17 Games?

The NFL has long been a 16-game regular season league, but that may be changing soon. Some reports have suggested that the league is considering adding two additional games to the schedule, which would bring the total up to 18. This would obviously have a major impact on the way the season is played, and on the teams themselves. So when did the NFL go to 17 games?

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1.The NFL’s history with game schedules

The National Football League (NFL) has a long history of altering its game schedule. The most recent change occurred in 2021, when the league expanded from 16 to 17 regular-season games. This was not the NFL’s first foray into changing the number of games in a season, however. The league has played as few as 11 games and as many as 18 during its 100-plus years in existence.

The NFL’s first season was in 1920 and consisted of 11 games. The schedule remained at 11 games for the next four seasons before expanding to 12 games in 1925. After two more years at 12 games, the NFL increased its slate to 13 contests in 1928 and 13 games remained the standard until 1932. That year, the league once again expanded, this time playing 14 regular-season contests.

The NFL played 14 games every season from 1932 through 1977 before going to 16 contests in 1978. The decision to add two additional regular-season contests was not an easy one for the league, as it meant extending the season by three weeks.

The NFL essentially kept the same format from 1978 until 2020, when it decided to add one more game to the schedule. This meant that teams would now play 17 regular-season contests, with each club getting one bye week.

Why the NFL decided to add a 17th game

The NFL decided to add a 17th game to the regular season schedule in 2021 in order to increase revenue. The league had been considering this move for a while, but the Covid-19 pandemic accelerated the timeline. The additional game will be added to the schedule on a rotating basis, so each team will play 17 games every other year. This change means that each team will now play 16 games in odd-numbered years and 17 games in even-numbered years.

The NFL is not the only professional sports league to add games to its schedule. The MLB added two extra wild card teams in 2012, going from eight to 10 teams in the playoffs. And the NBA increased the size of its playoff field from 16 to 18 teams in 2016.

How the 17th game affects the NFL’s regular season

In 2021, the NFL’s regular season will expand from 16 to 17 games for the first time in its history. The change comes as part of a new labor agreement between the league and its Players Association, which was reached in March of 2020.

The new agreement also includes an opt-out clause for players who do not want to play the 17th game, and a provision that limits the number of practices and padded workouts teams can have during the preseason and regular season.

The expanded 17-game schedule will begin in Week 1 of the 2021 season, with each team playing one additional game against a division opponent. The extra game will rotate each year so that every team plays every other team at least once every eight years.

The decision to add an extra game to the NFL’s regular season schedule was largely driven by financial considerations. With television ratings for football remaining strong and interest in the sport continuing to grow, league officials believe that adding another game will only increase revenue.

Some fans and pundits have criticized the decision, arguing that it will lead to more player injuries and make it harder for teams to make the playoffs. Others have welcomed the change, saying that it will make the regular season more competitive and exciting.

Only time will tell how the 17th game will affect the NFL’s regular season, but one thing is certain: it is sure to be a major talking point during the 2021 season.

How the 17th game affects NFL teams’ preparation

The NFL’s decision to add a 17th game to the regular season schedule has had a big impact on how teams prepare for the season. The extra game means that teams have to start their preparations earlier and that they need to be more careful about how they manage their players’ workloads.

Some teams have chosen to use the extra game as a chance to rest players who are dealing with injuries or who are at risk of injury. Others have used it as an opportunity to give young players a chance to prove themselves. Regardless of how teams have approached the 17th game, it has had a big impact on the way the NFL season unfolds.

How the 17th game affects NFL players’ contracts

In 2021, the NFL regular season expanded from 16 to 17 games. This means that NFL players are now obligated to play one additional game each season. While this may not seem like a big change, it actually has a significant impact on player contracts.

In the past, contracts were structured so that players would receive a certain amount of money for each game they played. For example, a player with a $1 million contract would earn $62,500 per game. With the new 17-game schedule, however, players will now earn less money per game. For the same $1 million contract, a player would now earn only $58,823 per game.

This may not seem like a big difference, but over the course of an entire season, it can add up to a lot of money. For a player with a $10 million contract, the difference would be nearly $1 million!

So why did the NFL make this change? The answer is simple: money. By adding an extra game to the schedule, the NFL can sell more tickets and generate more revenue. And while players may be getting paid less per game, they are still getting paid more overall because they are playing one additional game.

So what does this mean for NFL players? It means that they need to be aware of how their contracts are structured and how many games they are actually being paid for. It also means that they need to be prepared to play one extra game each season. And finally, it means that they should expect their salaries to go down slightly on a per-game basis.

How the 17th game affects NFL fans

The NFL’s decision to add a 17th game to the regular season has been met with mixed reactions from fans. Some are excited for the extra game, while others are worried about player safety and the impact on the quality of play.

The additional game will be played in Week 18, meaning that the regular season will now be 21 weeks long. This means that each team will have two bye weeks instead of one, and that the playoffs will start one week later than usual.

The 17th game will be a divisional matchup, meaning that each team will play one extra game against a division rival. This could have a significant impact on the standings, as divisional games are always tough.

Fans are also concerned about player safety, as adding an extra game means that players will have to play more snaps over the course of the season. This could lead to more injuries, which would impact the quality of play.

It remains to be seen how this change will affect the NFL, but it is sure to have an impact on fans, players and teams alike.

How the 17th game affects the NFL’s broadcast partners

The NFL’s return to a 17-game regular season schedule for the first time since 1978 is a new development for the league’s broadcast partners.

The NFL had been discussing the possibility of expanding the regular season to 17 games for several years, but it was not until 2020 that the league finally decided to make the change. The new17-game schedule will begin in the 2021 season.

The additional game means that each team will now play one extra game per season. The extra game will be played against a team from the same conference as the team’s normal opponent in that week. For example, if a team normally plays the New York Jets in Week 3, they will instead play a team from the AFC East like the Miami Dolphins in 2021.

This change could have a major impact on how NFL games are broadcasted. With an extra game added to the schedule, there are now more opportunities for games to be televised on primetime television. This could mean higher ratings and more revenue for the NFL’s broadcast partners.

How the 17th game affects the NFL’s business partners

The NFL’s decision in 2021 to add a 17th game to the regular season schedule was made with an eye toward increasing revenue, but it also has implications for the league’s business partners.

The most obvious impact is on television partners like ESPN and CBS, who will now be able to air one additional NFL game each week during the season. But the change also affects ticket sellers, as well as businesses that sell products like team jerseys and other memorabilia.

The added game means that each team will now play 16 home games and 16 away games, instead of the current format of eight home games and eight away games. That means that some teams will have more home games than others, which could impact ticket sales.

It remains to be seen how fans will react to the change, but the additional game could mean a lot more revenue for the NFL and its business partners.

How the 17th game affects the NFL’s image

The National Football League has been played with 16 regular season games since 1978. In 2021, that will change as the NFL moves to a 17 game regular season. The 17th game will be played against a team from the opposing conference that finished in the same position in their conference standings the previous season. So if a team finished 1st in their conference, they would play another team that also finished 1st in their conference.

Adding an extra game to the NFL’s regular season schedule has been met with some criticism. Some say that it watered downs the importance of every game. Others worry about player safety, as there would be one more game for players to get injured in.

The NFL is likely adding the 17th game to its schedule in order to increase revenue. With one more game, there would be more ticket and merchandise sales, and more money from TV contracts.

Only time will tell if adding a 17th game to the NFL’s regular season schedule is a good idea or not.

How the 17th game affects the future of the NFL

The change to a 17-game schedule comes with several benefits for the NFL. First, it means that each team will now play one international game each season. This will help the league to continue to grow its fan base globally, as well as provide a unique and exciting opportunity for fans both in the United States and abroad.

In addition, the extra game means that there will be more opportunities for young, talented players to get on the field and showcase their skills. With an extra game, teams will be more likely to give chances to players who might not have gotten them otherwise, which could lead to even more competitive and thrilling matchups.

The downside of the extra game is that it puts an even greater premium on player health and safety. With more games comes more chances for players to get injured, which could have a major impact on both individual careers and team success. The league will need to be mindful of this as it moves forward with its new schedule format.

Overall, the change to a 17-game schedule is a positive one for the NFL. It gives the league an opportunity to grow its popularity internationally, while also giving young players a chance to prove themselves at the highest level.