2025-2026 NFL Season Thread

[BizCat]

NFL approves new CBA... now up to players association

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by imsounoriginal

They do not need to change the number of playoff teams.

If they want to change anything, I'm amenable to re-seeding playoff teams so that lesser divisional winners don't seed higher than a better Wild Card team. But that's about it.

I said the NFL is the only pro sport whose playoff system I'm fine with.

[ChadFL]

I'm surprised they didn't just add an extra 2 preseason games. That's the easiest way for the league to scam season ticketholders into buying more pointless games.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by BizCat

I'd rather see an 18 regular week schedule, with each team getting 2 byes, while playoffs remain the same format (although, seeding can be changed).

They did 2 byes already yrs ago - networks hated it cause it thins out the wkly sched too much.

[El Rey]

Ugh, I realize that this is all for the league to make more money but like Biz said yesterday - no need to fix what's not broken

[dcowboy7]

If something isnt making as much $$ as it really could then isnt it broken.

[ChadFL]

I'd be curious to know what effect a jump in number of games played has had on football players. It's not just the NFL looking to expand their season. It's happening in high school and football.

When I was a kid a typical top college football program played about 10-12 games a season. Nowadays top teams play at least 12 regular season games, plus conference title game, and bowl games. It takes 15 games to reach a national title game now. Same with lower divisions of college ball.

When I was in high school a state title contender typically played about a dozen games in my state. Nowadays it's about 15 games. In addition, players are increasingly playing varsity ball all four years, whereas it used to be three.

All told, that's a lot of extra games before even making it to the NFL.

[ChadFL]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

If something isnt making as much $$ as it really could then isnt it broken.

By that logic we should have 25 game NFL seasons, injuries be damned, right?

[Tony208]

Not sure what is worse, 17 game season or expanded playoff format.

[El Rey]

Equally terrible ideas

[Moviefan1203]

Hopefully the NFLPA approves it. Would be crushing to see it all come crashing down this close to an agreement.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

Hopefully the NFLPA approves it. Would be crushing to see it all come crashing down this close to an agreement.

A lot of players dont want 17 game seasons so well see

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by R3P0

A lot of players dont want 17 game seasons so well see

What else do they have to bargain with?

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Moviefan1203

What else do they have to bargain with?

Theres a ton the biggest issues are going to be the commissioners power to discipline. Take Goodells power away and appoint an independent commission to handle player and team disciplinary actions.

You want expanded playoffs and a 17 game season, give another bye week + lose 2 preseason games NFL fans give 0 ****s about preseason.

[Moviefan1203]

Originally Posted by R3P0

Theres a ton the biggest issues are going to be the commissioners power to discipline. Take Goodells power away and appoint an independent commission to handle player and team disciplinary actions.

You want expanded playoffs and a 17 game season, give another bye week + lose 2 preseason games NFL fans give 0 ****s about preseason.

The players have to give up something to get the changes they want. Others than the marijuana policy, players don’t seem to be asking for much in regards to the commissioner’s power. It doesn’t impact very many players. The players also seem to support expanding the playoffs because it means a bigger TV deal. A bigger TV deal would give more money to the players. What the players really want in this CBA is a bigger slice of the pie. This is where the 17th game comes into play. Besides that, what do the players have to cut a deal? They are going to have to give something the owners want to get bigger contracts.

[Bigdog]

I still say the Thursday time slot game is the most detrimental to the players. Making a team turn around in 3 days time to be prepared for another game is far worse then making them play an extra game per season or expend the playoff picture imo.

It also seems to me that the NFLPA is not a very tight nit group, their leadership seems rather lacking to me.

[dcowboy7]

Originally Posted by ChadFL

By that logic we should have 25 game NFL seasons, injuries be damned, right?

No because eventually supply vs demand kicks in & since tv ratings were up 5% last yr we obviously havent hit that yet.

Originally Posted by Bigdog

I still say the Thursday time slot game is the most detrimental to the players. Making a team turn around in 3 days time to be prepared for another game is far worse then making them play an extra game per season or expend the playoff picture imo.

How come yrs ago when lions & cowboys +2 others played thanksgiving nobody b & moaned then.

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by dcowboy7

No because eventually supply vs demand kicks in & since tv ratings were up 5% last yr we obviously havent hit that yet.



How come yrs ago when lions & cowboys +2 others played thanksgiving nobody b & moaned then.

Actually plenty of teams B&M about the Lions playing Thanksgiving. The Lions started Thanks giving games in 34, Then Dallas wanted in on the action and Dallas started the 4:30 game in 66. To appease the teams and fans *****ing and moaning about Dallas and Detroit on Thanksgiving a 3rd National game was added in 2006

[Samus Aran]

How difficult would it be to have the Thursday night games be between teams coming off byes?

[R3P0]

Originally Posted by Samus Aran

How difficult would it be to have the Thursday night games be between teams coming off byes?

Not difficult at all the problem you have is with the TV contracts, ratings, and the fact you dont want to get stuck with Browns vs Lions on a Thursday Night if Both teams are coming off byes, theoretically its a great idea except weeks 2-3 and 13-17 as there are no byes. I Personally think the bullshit London games are more detrimental to the teams then the Thursday games are. You have 30+ hours in a plane on 2 short weeks, lack of sleep etc etc.

If your an east coast team playing west coast, thats 5 hours back to the east coast from west + 10 hours from East coast to London its brutal.