What Do You Think of an 18 Game Regular Season?

I don’t know how much the injury rate increased after the jump from 14 games to 16 games, but I would imagine that every increase in games would affect injury rates by an exponential factor rather than a linear one since you’re more likely to become injured the longer you play. I think this would lead to a lot of crappier players being thrown into games out of necessity, which would bring down the quality of play.

It’s not really that important, but I would also be annoyed at a lot of single-season records getting broken, if not shattered, due to this, like any record related to passing and receiving I would imagine, both offensively and defensively. I’m a stat geek so that would bother me, but it’s not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

But even still… it’s not like I’d be sad if there was an 18 game season! MORE FOOTBALLLLLL

I think they should keep it at 16 and add an extra bye week for each team. This way players can rest and be fresher later in the season and the NFL can make more money by having one more Sunday Night and Monday Night football games. Everyone would win with 18 weeks of football, potentially few injuries and more money for the owners

I am itching for football as much as the next guy right now. So my gut reaction to this question is an 18 game season. But I watch college football as well, and come January/February of every year I am pretty much at my capacity of watching football for a few months.

We should really be asking this question after the super bowl. At that time of year does anyone really feel the season would have been improved if 2 addition regular season games were included? Fans of bubble teams probably would, but I expect that would be the extent of it.

Therefore, I prefer a 16 game schedule.

I am a traditionalist. Football is a winter sport. The proposal is to make the last two preseason games regular season games. That would effectively make 3/4 of the games being played in warm weather. I prefer cold weather, hard hitting, run oriented football. I think this would give way too much of a regular season advantage to the teams that play in the heat, the Dolphins, Charges,Cardinals, Bucs, Jags etc.. Not to mention the all girl teams that play in domes. The great equalizer has always been when the weather gets cold and these teams have to travel up North. This proposal would take away that balance and change the game. I was at the Jets/Dolphins game in Miami last year and I saw the Jets defense droop in the heat and humidity (it was a night game, but it was still brutal). Being accustomed to playing in those conditions is a huge advantage. Then again, I would ban domed stadiums, so take it for what it’s worth.

I dont think that has anything to do with the number or games as much as it has to do with poor scheduling. If teams were playng their division rivals more often in the last few weeks of the season it wouldnt matter if they had to play 20 games. Lets say the last 3 weeks of the season were dedicated to loading up on divisional games. Example: If the colts had to play the texans and titans in week 16 and 18 the last 3 games of their season become too important to sit their starters at least untill the game is way out of hand. The potential swing in the standings could cost a team home field advantage or even a spot in the playoffs all together.
Lets talk about injuries.
If fans or players are concerned about injuries. Well thats fine but this league has expanded before and players have adapted. And they would have to adapt again We have no idea what the physical limit of a NFL player is so none of us can say when were asking to much of them. And if teams make a case for keeping a few more players on their roster. What is the real problem with that? Teams would love to have a chance to keep some extra skill players in case of injury. Mabye last year this team could have kept Woodhead on the roster. Fans would have been all for that. Danny’s a cult hero after his showing in the preseason last year. And Im sure every camp in the NFL has stories just like his.
     One last thing. I hate commenting on money. Its too subjective. So I wont even bother with the players salaries and if they need to increase because they are playing more games. However Im sure season ticket holders would be more inclined to spend their money on more games that mean something instead of a boring 4th preseason game.

More football = more fun

Increase the rosters.
Injuries are not my problem, i want football.
Preseason sucks. Get rid of it. Let teams do intersquad scrimmages and have one exhibition game.

I love the Marqui Match-ups idea. Give the fans the game they want to see.

We worry about the issue at hand first? Like, um… the CBA and potential LOCKOUT?! Deal with that shit FIRST and then worry about extending the friggin season. Jackasses. (not you guys, the owners.)