It’s official now. The 2021 NFL season will expand from 16 to 17 games. Along with the addition of one game this season, the preseason will subtract a game, moving from the standard four games to three.
.@NFL Season To Feature 17 Regular-Season Games Per Team: https://t.co/aaamJxq9C3 pic.twitter.com/txLUL26H6V
— NFL345 (@NFL345) March 30, 2021
The last time the NFL expanded its number of games in a season was 1978, going from 14 to 16 games. This means this is the first change to the NFL schedule in 43 years.
Each team will add one non-conference game to their already set opponents this season. The AFC West will face teams from the NFC North who finished in the same spot in their division. For the Raiders, that is facing the Chicago Bears.
In addition, the AFC teams will all host that game this season, giving the Raiders nine home games and eight road games this season. See all Raiders’ home and away opponents here.
Along with the announcement of the 17-game expansion, the NFL announced all teams will play international games within an eight-year span beginning in 2022. The Raiders last played in London in 2019, so they should be good for a while on the international front.
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