NFL owners have officially approved a 17 game regular season and three game pre-season schedule beginning in 2021.
The change marks the first changes to the schedule since the 16 game format was adapted in 1978.
In addition to the expanded regular season, the NFL announced an expansion of international games, with all 32 clubs playing at least once internationally over an eight-year period beginning in 2022.
“This is a monumental moment in NFL history,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “The CBA with the players and the recently completed media agreements provide the foundation for us to enhance the quality of the NFL experience for our fans. And one of the benefits of each team playing 17 regular-season games is the ability for us to continue to grow our game around the world.”
The 17th game will feature matchups between the two teams that finished in the same place within opposing divisions in the previous season. The AFC will be the home team in 2021 with the NFC hosting the games in 2022.
The full schedule is below:
NFC East vs. AFC East
Washington at Buffalo
New York Giants at Miami
Dallas at New England
Philadelphia at New York Jets
NFC West vs. AFC North
Seattle at Pittsburgh
Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore
Arizona at Cleveland
San Francisco at Cincinnati
NFC South vs. AFC South
New Orleans at Tennessee
Tampa Bay at Indianapolis
Carolina at Houston
Atlanta at Jacksonville
NFC North vs. AFC West
Green Bay at Kansas City
Chicago at Las Vegas
Minnesota at Los Angeles Chargers
Detroit at Denver
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