The NFL offseason has brought sweeping changes across the league. Not only to rosters, coaching staffs, and front offices, but also to the league’s long-term plans. Recently, the NFL finalized future locations for the Super Bowl and NFL Draft. Now, attention has shifted back to one of the league’s most controversial ideas: expanding the regular season to 18 games.
The push for an 18-game schedule has divided fans, players, and analysts alike. Several ideas have surfaced to help accommodate the expansion. However, the NFLPA has made it clear that players have little interest in approving the owners’ proposal. Still, that has not stopped the league from continuing to explore the possibility.
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Recent reports suggest the NFL likely will not expand to 18 games by 2027. However, the league also reportedly will not finalize the location for Super Bowl LXII. That is, until it determines whether the schedule expansion will happen. The NFL should avoid moving to an 18-game season for several reasons. If the league wants to add another week of football, though, there is a much simpler solution: add a second bye week.
A second bye week would also create more flexibility for what the NFL clearly wants to expand most: the International Series. The league recognizes the growing power of its worldwide brand, and interest from international markets continues to rise. An extra week in the schedule would make it easier to accommodate overseas games. This ensures every team gets a fair opportunity to participate each season.
At the end of the day, the NFL will likely continue pushing for an 18-game schedule. Eventually, the NFLPA will relent. Still, the league already has the framework for a more practical compromise: a second bye week. The NFL simply seems unwilling to pursue it, even though it could still generate significant revenue without adding another regular-season game.
Should the NFL scrap the idea of an 18-game season? And instead, add a second bye week to the regular season? Or should the league continue pushing forward with expansion?