▶The 16-game era is over after owners vote to extend regular season to 17 games.
Owners increase schedule for first time in 43 years
The NFL is increasing the regular season to 17 games and reducing the preseason to three games to generate additional revenue for America’s most popular sport.
Team owners on Tuesday approved the 17th game as expected, marking the first time in 43 years the regular season has been increased. It went from 14 to 16 games in 1978.
The Super Bowl now will move back a week to Feb. 13, which places it directly in the middle of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. Coincidentally, NBC has the broadcast rights to both.
Each extra NFL game will be an interconference matchup based on where teams finished in the previous season. AFC teams will be hosting the 17th game in 2021.
The NFL also is looking into having “full stadiums in the upcoming season,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
Beyond next season, the league plans for some of the extra games to be played at international sites, with regular hosts London and Mexico City possibly joined by other venues.
This year, the AFC East will host the NFC East in Week 17, with Washington at Buffalo, the New York Giants at Miami, Dallas at New England and Philadelphia at the New York Jets.
The NFC West teams will visit AFC North clubs, with Seattle at Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore, Arizona at Cleveland and San Francisco at Cincinnati.
NFC South members go to the AFC South, so New Orleans will be at Tennessee, Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay at Indianapolis, Carolina at Houston and Atlanta at Jacksonville.
For NFC North clubs, Green Bay goes to Kansas City for a juicy matchup of Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes, while Chicago is at Las Vegas, Minnesota at the Los Angeles Chargers and Detroit at Denver.
The full schedule will be released in May, but the Buccaneers will kick off the season on Sept. 9. The regular season will end Jan. 9.
Bills: Buffalo added experienced starting depth to their offensive line by signing Bobby Hart to a one-year contract on Tuesday. Hart is a sixth-year player who spent the previous three seasons starting at right tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals. He was part of a Bengals’ offensive line that helped running back Joe Mixon top 1,100 yards rushing in both the 2018 and ’19 seasons . ... With a revised stadium feasibility study in hand, the Bills are preparing to open discussions with state and local governments to determine whether to renovate the current facility or build a new home either near the existing suburban site or downtown.
Giants: New York signed tight end Cole Hikutini and former Tennessee Titans defensive backs Joshua Kalu and Chris Milton.
Raiders: Agreed to a contract extension with left tackle Kolton Miller that will keep him locked up through the 2025 season.
Packers: Re-signed both veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis and defensive end Tyler Lancaster.
49ers: Signed wide receiver Mohamed Sanu for a second stint with the team.
Texans: Running back Phillip Lindsay was one of four free agents signed by the Houston Texans on Tuesday. Houston also signed punter Cameron Johnston, receiver Alex Erickson and defensive back Desmond King II.
Vikings: Re-signed left guard Dakota Dozier.
Titans: Agreed to terms with safety Matthias Farley on a one-year contract.
Chargers: Signed cornerback Ryan Smith to a one-year contract.