17 game season

Jumbo075

Jumbo075

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With 17 games per season, the schedule begs for a change in how it is structured.

The NFL should re-align to only 4 divisions. Combine the east, west, north and south divisions for each conference into one division, and the corresponding place finishers in the 3 other divisions.

For example:

East Division
  1. 12-4 New England Patriots (x2)
  2. 10-6 Buffalo Bills (x2)
  3. 9-7 Philadelphia Eagles (x2)
  4. 8-8 Dallas Cowboys
  5. 7-9 New York Jets (x2)
  6. 5-11 Miami Dolphins (x2)
  7. 4-12 NY Giants (x2)
  8. 3-13 Washington Commanders (x2)
Cowboys would play each of the teams in their division twice (7x2=14 games), and the 4th place finisher in each of the other 3 divisions, for a total of 17 games.

North Division
  1. 14-2 Baltimore Ravens
  2. 13-3 Green Bay Packers
  3. 10-6 Minnesota Vikings
  4. 8-8 Chicago Bears (x1)
  5. 8-8 Pittsburgh Steelers
  6. 6-10 Cleveland Browns
  7. 3-12-1 Detroit Lions
  8. 2-14 Cincinnati Bengals
South Division
  1. 13-3 New Orleans Saints
  2. 10-6 Houston Texans
  3. 9-7 Tennessee Titans
  4. 7-9 Atlanta Falcons (x1)
  5. 7-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  6. 7-9 Indianapolis Colts
  7. 6-10 Jacksonville Jaguars
  8. 5-11 Carolina Panthers
West Division
  1. 13-3 San Francisco 49ers
  2. 12-4 Kansas City Chiefs
  3. 11-5 Seattle Seahawks
  4. 9-7 Los Angeles Rams (x1)
  5. 7-9 Denver Broncos
  6. 7-9 Las Vegas Raiders
  7. 5-10-1 Arizona Cardinals
  8. 5-11 Los Angeles Chargers
Alternatively, you could keep the NFC and AFC intact by combining divisions in those conferences.

AFC-NE Division
  1. 14-2 Baltimore Ravens
  2. 12-4 New England Patriots
  3. 10-6 Buffalo Bills (x1)
  4. 8-8 Pittsburgh Steelers
  5. 7-9 New York Jets
  6. 6-10 Cleveland Browns
  7. 5-11 Miami Dolphins
  8. 2-14 Cincinnati Bengals
AFC SW Division
  1. 12-4 Kansas City Chiefs
  2. 10-6 Houston Texans
  3. 9-7 Tennessee Titans (x1)
  4. 7-9 Denver Broncos
  5. 7-9 Indianapolis Colts
  6. 7-9 Las Vegas Raiders
  7. 6-10 Jacksonville Jaguars
  8. 5-11 Los Angeles Chargers
NFC SE Division
  1. 13-3 New Orleans Saints (x2)
  2. 9-7 Philadelphia Eagles (x2)
  3. 8-8 Dallas Cowboys
  4. 7-9 Atlanta Falcons (x2)
  5. 7-9 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (x2)
  6. 5-11 Carolina Panthers (x2)
  7. 4-12 NY Giants (x2)
  8. 3-13 Washington Commanders (x2)
NFC NW Division
  1. 13-3 San Francisco 49ers
  2. 13-3 Green Bay Packers
  3. 11-5 Seattle Seahawks (x1)
  4. 10-6 Minnesota Vikings
  5. 9-7 Los Angeles Rams
  6. 8-8 Chicago Bears
  7. 3-12-1 Detroit Lions
  8. 5-10-1 Arizona Cardinals
 
Jumbo075

Jumbo075

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Actually, if the NFL re-aligns, this alignment makes a lot more sense, but the owners would never agree to it because it breaks up too many historical rivalries.

East
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Buffalo Bills
3. New England Patriots
4. New York Giants
5. New York Jets
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Washington Commanders

North
1. Chicago Bears
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Detroit Lions
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Indianapolis Colts
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. Tennessee Titans

South
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Houston Texans
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Miami Dolphins
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

West
1. Arizona Cardinals
2. Denver Broncos
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Las Vegas Raiders
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. San Francisco 49ers
8. Seattle Seahawks
 
jazzcat22

jazzcat22

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CowboysZone ULTIMATE Fan
Why should Dallas be in the East still? Your 2nd scenario seems more feasible.
 
Creeper

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How do you choose teams for the playoffs? The top 2 in each division or the winner of each division with wild cards based on record? I am against a 17 game schedule, although I am in favor of eliminating 1 preseason game. I am indifferent to re-alignment. If they are going to re-align then they should put teams into regional divisions even if it means breaking up rivalries. Teams will form new rivalries. The Giants and Jets for example will be a more intense rivalry. The Cowboys and Texans will form a rivalry in all likelihood.
 
Pompey-Cowboy

Pompey-Cowboy

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Is there a date set for when this decision is actually made? Will be interesting to see what solution they do choose.
 
Pompey-Cowboy

Pompey-Cowboy

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Personally, I don't see them changing the current divisional structure at all. I think they just simply add an extra 'finished in the same place as you' opponent to each schedule.
 
G2

G2

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Jumbo075 said:
Actually, if the NFL re-aligns, this alignment makes a lot more sense, but the owners would never agree to it because it breaks up too many historical rivalries.

East
1. Baltimore Ravens
2. Buffalo Bills
3. New England Patriots
4. New York Giants
5. New York Jets
6. Philadelphia Eagles
7. Pittsburgh Steelers
8. Washington Commanders

North
1. Chicago Bears
2. Cincinnati Bengals
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Detroit Lions
5. Green Bay Packers
6. Indianapolis Colts
7. Minnesota Vikings
8. Tennessee Titans

South
1. Atlanta Falcons
2. Carolina Panthers
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Houston Texans
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
6. Miami Dolphins
7. New Orleans Saints
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

West
1. Arizona Cardinals
2. Denver Broncos
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Las Vegas Raiders
5. Los Angeles Chargers
6. Los Angeles Rams
7. San Francisco 49ers
8. Seattle Seahawks
Click to expand...
I think this makes the most sense. I couldn't care less about the current division rivalries. They would still exist because they would still play each other, but it wouldn't be watered down. It might actually put more emphasis on it.
 
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