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One of the big changes we’ll see to the NFL schedule in 2021 is the addition of a seventeenth regular season game, tacking on a new hurdle for every team to overcome in pursuit of the playoffs. And while it isn’t completely set in stone just yet, we have a good idea of which matchup the New Orleans Saints will draw — and where they could be playing.
NBC Sports’ Peter King shared his insight, reporting that the “most likely” scenario is for the AFC to host the 17th game in 2021, with the NFC hosting in 2022 as the start of a new rotation. That would mean another away game for the Saints this season, against Derrick Henry and the Tennessee Titans.
Henry didn’t suit up against the Saints in their 2019 meeting, having rested due to injury. The league rushing yards champ in each of the last two seasons, Henry has played against 30 of the NFL’s 32 teams: all except for the Saints and his own Titans, who drafted him back in 2016. You have to think that’s a date he’ll end up circling on his calendar.
If the Saints do get stuck with a road game at Tennessee, their list of business trips will grow to include their regular NFC South rivals as well as the New England Patriots, New York Jets, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Washington Football Team.
We’ll know for sure when the NFL releases its schedule later this offseason, after league ownership has gathered for its annual spring meetings in March. The drop date typically falls in mid-April, but uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic pushed back the 2020 release until May 7. Here’s hoping things get closer back to normal in 2021.
As for how future matchups in this seventeenth regular season game will be decided: here’s how King broke down the formula as it currently stands.
“When the NFL was choosing options, the formula that prevailed—follow me now—was AFC versus NFC, cross-conference matchup from two years ago, 2021 matchup based on 2020 standings. Now that you’re totally confused, here’s an example: The four AFC West teams played the four NFC North teams in 2019. In 2020, Kansas City finished in first place in the AFC West, Green Bay first in the NFC North. So in 2021, it’s AFC West against NFC North, and 1-versus-1 from ‘20 becomes Green Bay versus Kansas City.”
What does that mean for New Orleans? If we’re looking ahead to the 2022 schedule, it would have the Saints playing their same-place finisher in the AFC West, who they just saw in 2020. They handled their business against the quarterback-less Broncos and outlasted the Chargers in overtime while being upset by the Raiders and narrowly defeated by the Chiefs, so it’s anyone’s guess how a rematch might turn out. If it’s any consolation, King’s description of the scheduling formula would at least have that game played in the Superdome.
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