The possibility that the NFL could expand its schedule to 17 games per season is an idea that owners and the NFL Player’s Association are becoming increasingly comfortable with.
CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reports that “momentum is growing,” with team owners specifically. With 17 games, the CBS Sports report explains that the fall schedule would be extended to 19 weeks with two bye weeks.
The structure would push the Super Bowl into the final weekend of February and each team’s extra game would be pushed out of the United States. In particular, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is in favor of an eight-game London slate and international locations like Mexico, Germany and Brazil are in consideration.
The NFL has played a 16-game season for 42 seasons, only introducing a double-bye schedule during the 1993 season.