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The 2021 NFL regular season is going to be unlike anything we’ve ever seen before. No, not because the Miami Dolphins will finally win a playoff game—though I wouldn’t rule that out. But because for the first time in the history of the sport, teams will play a full 17-game regular season.
This news was reported minutes ago by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
NFL is expected to expand the regular season schedule this week to 17 games. The league had played a 16-game regular season schedule since 1978, by far the longest stretch without a change in NFL history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 28, 2021
This news isn’t necessarily a surprise. After all, this is something the players and owners have been trying to agree on for several years. However, the question now is, who will the Dolphins play in their extra game this upcoming season?
Based on what we heard previously and this most recent tweet from ESPN’s Field Yates, this would set the Miami Dolphins up for a home game vs. the New York Giants in 2021.
Joe Judge vs. Stone Cold Brian Flores.
Tua Tagovailoa vs. Daniel Jones.
Kenny Golladay vs. Xavien Howard?
I’ll wait until the roster is ‘complete’ before listing off the other matchups I desire. But this has the potential to be a slobber knocker. Honestly, all of the proposed 17th games have the potential to be slugfests. And anytime we have a chance to endure more meaningful football, that’s a WIN.
Using the formula reported by @peter_king (https://t.co/LAbNkZCi5p), here are the expected matchups for the NFL's 17th game for each team in 2021. pic.twitter.com/x4D4uF4jue
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 28, 2021
Now don’t forget, nothing is 100% official. But it does look like the NFL will finally be expanding to a 17-game regular season. This means we will never have to worry about another 7-9 or 8-8 season for as long as we live. (Only something far worse like 8-9 or 8-8-1.)
Not to mention it makes anyone trying to accomplish perfection, like the 1972 Dolphins, that much more difficult.
Earlier this week, Sports Business Journal reported that the league could move to a schedule rotation for all international games if the NFL expanded to a 17-game season. Every team would be expected to play an international game at least once every eight years.
What are your thoughts about the move to a 17-game season? Do you think the Giants can contend with the Dolphins? Let us know in the comments section below!