Why Did the NFL Go to 18 Games?

The NFL has been playing a 16 game regular season since 1978. But in 2021, they’ve decided to add two more games to the mix. Why did they make this change?

There are a few reasons why the NFL decided to go to 18 games. First, they wanted to create more meaningful and competitive matchups between divisional rivals. Second, they hoped that by adding two more games, they could generate more revenue.

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Reasons for the Change

The NFL made the change to 18 games in an effort to generate more revenue. With two additional games, the NFL is able to bring in more money from ticket sales, advertising, and merchandise. The NFL is also able to attract more viewers with the additional games.

Ratings Decline

It’s no secret that the NFL’s ratings have been in decline in recent years. This has been attributed to a variety of factors, including cord-cutting, the national anthem protests, and competition from other leagues. Whatever the reasons, the NFL needed to do something to stem the tide.

One way they hoped to achieve this was by expanding the regular season from 16 games to 18 games. This would allow for more marquee matchups and, theoretically, lead to a boost in ratings. However, this plan was met with significant pushback from players and fans alike.

The main concern with expanding the season is player safety. With two additional games, players would be at an increased risk of injury. This could lead to even more missed time due to injury, as well as increased wear and tear on their bodies over the course of their careers.

In addition, many fans were worried that adding two more games would water down the quality of play. With so many extra games on the schedule, teams would be forced to rest their starters more often and focus on player development rather than winning. This could lead to a decline in the quality of play overall.

Despite these concerns, the NFL decided to go ahead with their plan and expanded the regular season to 18 games starting in 2020. Time will tell whether this was a wise decision or not, but it’s certainly a risky move on their part.

Lack of Parity

In 1978, the NFL converted from a 14-game schedule to a 16-game schedule. The additional games were added to Thanksgiving weekend and expanded the playoffs from 8 teams to 10 teams. The decision was made in order to create more equality between teams and add more excitement late in the season.

The NFL has been very successful since 1978, but there has been a recent push to expand the regular season to 18 games. This proposal has been met with resistance from players, who argue that it would increase the risk of injuries. However, the NFL owners believe that the extra games would be beneficial for several reasons.

First, they would create more revenue for the league. Second, they would add more excitement late in the season, when many teams are out of playoff contention. Finally, they would create more equality between teams by giving each team two additional games against opponents within their own division.

The NFL owners are currently in favor of expanding the regular season to 18 games, but the decision ultimately lies with the players’ union. If they vote in favor of the change, it could happen as early as 2021.

Player Safety

One of the key reasons that the NFL decided to go from 16 games to 18 games was player safety. This was a key concern for a lot of people, especially given the number of concussions and other injuries that have been reported in recent years.

With more games, there would be more opportunities for players to get hurt. The NFL wanted to make sure that there were measures in place to protect players from getting injured. This included changing the rules around practice and adding more medical staff to support the players.

Another reason for the change was to create more revenue. This was something that the owners were interested in and it was one of the main driving factors behind the decision. With 18 games, there would be more fans attending the games and more people watching on TV. This would lead to increased revenue for the NFL.

The last reason is that it would allow for a better product on the field. With 16 games, there were often teams that were out of contention by mid-season. By increasing the number of games, it would make it more likely that teams would be competing for a playoff spot until late in the season. This would make for a more exciting product on the field and a better experience for fans.

How the Change Affects Fans

In 2020, the NFL regular season will be expanded from 16 games to 18 games. The change has been met with mixed reactions from fans. Some are excited for the extra games, while others are worried about player safety. How will this change affect the fans?

More Injuries

The change from a 16 to an 18-game regular season will have a profound impact on how teams approach the game and how fans view the sport. There are many potential consequences of the switch, but one of the most significant is the increased risk of injuries.

Players are already at a high risk of injury during a typical 16-game season, and adding two more games will only increase that danger. In addition, the shorter offseason means that players will have less time to recover from any injuries sustained during the season. This could lead to more players being placed on injured reserve and could also have long-term consequences for their health.

The increased risk of injuries is likely to have a significant impact on how teams approach the game. They will be forced to be even more cautious with their star players and may be less likely to take chances on plays that could result in an injury. This could make the game less exciting for fans who want to see their favorite players on the field as often as possible.

It remains to be seen how all of these changes will affect the NFL in the long run, but it is clear that the switch to an 18-game season will have a major impact on player safety, fan enjoyment, and how teams operate.

More Fatigue

The switch to 18 games will likely have a number of impacts on player safety, most notably an increase in injuries due to fatigue.

In 2011, the NFL players union commissioned a study that found that, on average, each player was getting about 12 snaps per game. If we assume each team plays 16 regular season games (going from 16 to 18), that’s an extra two games’ worth of snaps (192 total) for each player over the course of a season.

For a running back or receiver, who might have 30 or more touches per game, that’s an extra 60 or so touches over the course of a season. For an offensive lineman, who might have 60 or more run-blocking snaps per game, that’s an extra 120 or so blocking attempts over the course of a season.

Given that the average NFL career is just over three years, and that most players are only in their 20s when they enter the league, it stands to reason that there would be more injuries among veteran players as they approach 30 and beyond.

Less Excitement

The new NFL season format may mean more action for fans, but some of the excitement that comes with the sport may be lost in the process.

With only two bye weeks instead of four, there will be fewer opportunities for fans to sit back and enjoy watching their favorite team play. Additionally, with less time off between games, players will have less opportunity to rest and recover, which could lead to more injuries.

And while expanded playoffs may mean more teams are in contention for a spot in the Super Bowl, it also means that there will be more games played overall. This could lead to fan fatigue, as well as an overall decrease in the quality of play by the end of the season.

How the Change Affects Players

The NFL decided to increase the regular season from 16 to 18 games in 2021. The players are not happy with the change. They feel that it will increase the risk of injuries. The NFL Players Association is trying to negotiate a better deal for the players. Let’s take a look at how the change affects the players.

More Injuries

The change to an 18-game regular season schedule will have a profound impact on how teams manage their rosters, and the extra two games will almost certainly lead to more injuries.

It’s well established that the risk of injury increases as the number of games played goes up. A study of 2,308 NFL players found that those who played in 16 games had a 37 percent lower risk of injury than those who played in all 17, and the risk decreased even further for players who participated in only 15 games.

There are a number of reasons for this, but the most important is simply that there are more opportunities for injuries to occur when players are on the field more often. In addition, the additional wear and tear can lead to cumulative effect over the course of a season that can make players more susceptible to injuries.

The NFL’s decision to move to an 18-game schedule is likely to have a significant impact on player safety. The league has already taken steps to address this issue by instituting a number of rule changes designed to protect players, but it remains to be seen whether these will be enough to offset the increased risk posed by the additional games.

More Fatigue

The extra two games would also lead to more player fatigue and, as a result, more injuries. In 2011, there were 1,153 reported concussions in the NFL. Players who sustain too many concussions can suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which can lead to memory loss, depression and dementia. In 2017, a study found that 110 out of 111 deceased NFL players had CTE.

Adding two more games to the season would also increase the risk of other injuries, such as ACL tears and broken bones. In 2016, there were 222 ACL injuries reported among NFL players. Adding two games to the season would likely lead to even more ACL injuries, as well as other injuries that come from playing on a tired body.

Less Excitement

In a sport where one game can make or break a team’s season, adding two extra regular season games could make the NFL less competitive. With 16 games, there are more opportunities for upsets and surprises. In an 18-game season, the better teams would likely win more often, making the NFL less exciting.