Schedule idea

[CWalker4205]

the extra bye week is already part of the plan according to Clayton on ESPN

[Ccat]

I do. It's the people in here batting around the idea (the OP) that need to think

The only idea I was batting around was 2 bye weeks instead of one. The preseason being shortened isn't my idea, it's a given.

[bigmanstew]

18 Games

6 vs. Division

4 vs. NFC other division Rotating

4 vs. NFC other division Rotating

4 vs. an AFC division on a rotating basis.

Or which could be more interesting

9 vs Division. With the extra home division game rotating between teams.

4 vs. A rotating NFC division

4 vs. A rotating AFC division

1 vs. The same seed vs AFC 1-16.

with the NFL wanting to expand internationally the extra game vs. the AFC would be perfect for that.

[tarheelpride]

18 Games

6 vs. Division

4 vs. NFC other division Rotating

4 vs. NFC other division Rotating

4 vs. an AFC division on a rotating basis.

Or which could be more interesting

9 vs Division. With the extra home division game rotating between teams.

4 vs. A rotating NFC division

4 vs. A rotating AFC division

1 vs. The same seed vs AFC 1-16.

with the NFL wanting to expand internationally the extra game vs. the AFC would be perfect for that.

My idea:

6 division games

4 vs. NFC division (like they're doing now)

2 vs. NFC based off standings (they do this now too)

4 vs. AFC, rotational

2 vs. AFC, based on standings from previous years

that would make the most sense to me

[bigmanstew]

My idea:

6 division games

4 vs. NFC division (like they're doing now)

2 vs. NFC based off standings (they do this now too)

4 vs. AFC, rotational

2 vs. AFC, based on standings from previous years

that would make the most sense to me

That is a solid proposal. I just like the idea of having more division games.

If we played each team 3 times then that would be 50% of the schedule which would be an improvement over the 37.5% (6/16) that is currently in place and 6/18 would drop it to 33%.

Theoretically under current conditions a team could go winless in the division and be division champs, just as a team could go undefeated in the division and not win it. That to me is one weakness in the current structure.

Adding the extra game vs. the division would make each of those games more valuable.

[MadHatter]

Preseason games suck for fans, but are an integral tool for the teams. These games are used to implement changes in shceme, as well as evaluate players in real life game action.

[bigmanstew]

Preseason games suck for fans, but are an integral tool for the teams. These games are used to implement changes in shceme, as well as evaluate players in real life game action.

I believe most of the installation and tweaking is done in the off season and training camp, and preseason games aren't valued that much. Teams typically play vanilla and the starters only play 1/2 or 3/4 of a game once and barely see action in others.

It's a good tool for seeing young players and can help develop depth but for the starters the bulk of the work is done elsewhere in my opinion.