NFL expected to announce 17-game season this week

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL is expected to officially expand the regular season from 16 to 17 games in the coming week.

NFL is expected to expand the regular season schedule this week to 17 games. The league had played a 16-game regular season schedule since 1978, by far the longest stretch without a change in NFL history.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 28, 2021

The Washington Post reported that NFL owners will vote on the new schedule this Tuesday and Wednesday. When the league last made a change to its regular-season schedule, it moved from 14 games to 16. It also cut down preseason games from six to four.

The NFL adjusted its playoff field from 12 to 14 teams last season, which should stay the same despite the regular-season schedule change.

According to ESPN, owners were granted the ability to expand to 17 games as part of last year’s collective bargaining agreement with players, however the extra regular season game has already made some players speak out in disapproval.

The league has already approved a scheduling formula for a 17th game, which would include an extra game against a nonconference opponent each year based on standings from the previous season.

ESPN’s Field Yates tweeted the projected matchups for the 17th game, which have not yet been announced or confirmed by the NFL.

Using the formula reported by @peter_king (https://t.co/LAbNkZCi5p), here are the expected matchups for the NFL's 17th game for each team in 2021. pic.twitter.com/x4D4uF4jue

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 28, 2021

If the formula holds true, the Denver Broncos will face the new and improved (maybe) Detroit Lions.