How Are NFL Schedules Made?
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How are NFL schedules made? The answer may surprise you. Learn about the process, from start to finish, that goes into making the NFL schedule.
How are the NFL’s regular season schedules made?
The National Football League (NFL) schedule is made using a computer program called “Block Scheduling.” Block Scheduling is a process that creates a master schedule for each NFL team, and then customizes that schedule to fit the needs of each team.
The first step in creating the Block Schedule is to determine which teams will play each other, and when they will play. This is done by taking into account the following factors:
– Conference affiliation
– Previous year’s records
– Divisional rivalry games
– Flexible scheduling (for primetime games)
After the match-ups have been determined, the order of the games is decided by a rotating system that ensures that each team plays every other team in their conference twice over the course of four years. For example, if Team A plays Team B in Week 1 of one season, then Team A will play Team B in Week 13 of the next season.
Finally, the Block Schedule is customized for each team by taking into account their bye week (the week where they do not play a game), as well as any primetime games that have been scheduled by the NFL.
How are the NFL’s preseason schedules made?
At first blush, it seems like a relatively simple process. The NFL releases the 256-game regular-season schedule in April, and each team plays 16 games, eight at home and eight on the road. Things are a little different in the preseason, when teams play four games apiece. Two of those games are at home, and two are on the road.
How are the NFL’s playoff schedules made?
The NFL’s playoff schedule is made using a pre-set formula that has been in place for several years. The first step is to seed the teams based on their regular season record. The top seed in each conference will receive a bye in the first round of the playoffs. The next three seeds in each conference will host a wild card game. The two winners of those games will then travel to the home stadium of the top seed in their conference to play in the divisional round. The two winners of the divisional round games will then advance to the conference championships, with those winners meeting in the Super Bowl.
