Why Are NFL Teams Playing 17 Games?

The NFL regular season is expanding from 16 to 17 games in 2021. Here’s everything to know about why the league is doing this.

NFL’s decision to play 17 games

Recently, the NFL has come under fire for their decision to play 17 regular season games instead of the usual 16. This change has caused a lot of controversy and many people are wondering why the NFL would make such a decision. There are a few reasons why the NFL decided to play 17 games and we will be discussing them in this article.

More time for players to rest and recover

The NFL’s decision to play 17 games is a victory for player safety. The additional week of rest will allow players to recover from injuries sustained during the season. It also gives teams an extra week to prepare for the playoffs.

The NFL has come under fire in recent years for its treatment of players’ health and safety. In 2017, a report by The Huffington Post found that the league was “negligent” in its handling of concussions. In 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against the NFL alleging that the league failed to disclose the risks of brain injury to players.

The additional week of rest will help to mitigate some of these concerns. It will also give players more time to spend with their families and on their personal lives outside of football.

More time for players to develop

The extra game will give young players more time to develop and hone their skills. It will also give teams a chance to see more of what they have in these players before making decisions on their futures.

In addition, the 17-game schedule will create more content for networks to televise and fans to consume. With two additional weeks of football, there will be more opportunities for fans to watch their favorite teams and players. This should lead to higher ratings and more revenue for the NFL.

More time for players to get into game shape

The NFL preseason is only four weeks long, and many players don’t even suit up for all of the exhibition games. That leaves a lot of rust to knock off before the regular season starts. By playing an extra game, teams will have more time to work players into game shape and prepare them for the rigors of a 16-game regular season.

How this impacts the fans

The National Football League is expanding the regular season from 16 games to 17 games beginning in the 2021 season. This means that each team will play one additional game and have one bye week. This schedule change has been met with mixed reactions from fans. Some are excited for the extra game, while others are worried about player safety. Let’s take a look at how this impacts the fans.

More time to watch their favorite teams

With the NFL expanding the regular season to 17 games, fans will have more opportunities to watch their favorite teams. The extra game also means that there will be more primetime games and nationally televised games, which will be a boon for ratings. In addition, the NFL’s bye weeks will be spread out more evenly, so fans won’t have to go as long without seeing their team in action.

More time to attend games

There are several benefits for the fans when it comes to the NFL playing 17 games. One of the most obvious benefits is that there are more games to attend. For avid fans that live in the same city as their favorite team, this means being able to go to more home games. It also means that there are more opportunities to see the team play live if they travel to away games.

Another benefit is that it gives fans more time to connect with other fans. With more games comes more opportunities to tailgate, host watch parties, and go out to bars and restaurants to watch the game with friends. For many fans, these activities are just as important as the actual game itself. They provide a chance to socialize and connect with other people who share their passion for the team.

Finally, more games means more chances to win prizes and memorabilia. Many businesses hold contests and giveaways during NFL games, and fan groups often organize raffles and fundraisers. With 17 games instead of 16, there are simply more opportunities for fans to get their hands on coveted items.

More time to tailgate

Tailgating is a popular pre-game activity for many NFL fans. It usually involves grilling food and drinkings in parking lots outside of the stadium before the game. With the new 17-game schedule, fans will have more time to tailgate before the game. This will be a welcomed change for many fans who are looking forward to spending more time with friends and family before the game.

How this impacts the NFL’s bottom line

The NFL is playing a 17 game season this year and some people are wondering why. The answer is simple: money. By adding an extra game, the NFL can generate more revenue from ticket sales, TV contracts, and merchandise. This extra game also means that the players will get an extra game check, which is a huge financial incentive for them.

More revenue from ticket sales

With the NFL expanding the regular season to 17 games, each team will now get an extra home game. This means more revenue for the teams from ticket sales, concessions, and merchandise.

It also means that fans will have to spend more money on tickets, and they may not be as willing to do so if prices increase too much. In addition, some fans may not be able to attend as many games if they are played on weekdays, which could impact attendance and revenue.

More revenue from television contracts

The NFL is set to add a 17th game to the regular season schedule in 2021, a move that has been met with mixed reactions. Some believe that the additional game will lead to more injuries and less rested players, while others see it as a way for the league to generate more revenue.

The primary reason for the change is to generate more money for the league. With an extra game comes an extra week of television broadcasts, which means more revenue from television contracts. The NFL is already the most-watched sport in the United States, so it stands to reason that adding an additional game would only increase those numbers.

In addition to generating more money from television contracts, the NFL will also be able to sell more tickets and concessions. An extra game means an extra home game for each team, which means more people in the stands and more revenue from ticket sales and concessions. It’s estimated that each team could bring in an additional $20 million annually from these sources.

So while there are some valid concerns about player safety and fatigue, it’s clear that the primary motivation for adding a 17th game to the NFL schedule is money. And given the league’s massive popularity, it’s likely that this decision will prove to be a lucrative one.

More revenue from sponsorship deals

The addition of a 17th game will generate an additional $2.5 billion in revenue for the league, 50% of which will go to the players. While the players may be getting a larger percentage of the pie, the total pie is still growing, which benefits both sides. The extra game also gives the league more flexibility when it comes to scheduling. With an odd number of teams, there are always going to be Bye weeks, and those weeks are often used as a way to generate interest in other games (e.g., Manning vs Brady). With an extra game, the NFL can schedule more interesting matchups in those Bye weeks, which should lead to even more revenue.