With the NFL Draft officially in the books, all eyes are on the impending schedule release.
Much like the draft, the NFL schedule release is practically a holiday in its own right.
Fans across the country anxiously go through their team’s schedules, game by game, playing the win-loss game in their heads hoping that they can get to at least 10 or 11 wins to feel good about their playoff chances.
Of course, we know the opponents who each team will play this coming season – but the order of the matchups is very important.
Another exciting aspect of the schedule release is the primetime games slate.
How is the Sunday Night Football package? What about Monday Night? Thursday night? Thanksgiving? Christmas? Etc. Etc. Etc.
Well, pretty soon we’re going to find out about all of that.
According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk, next week would be the perfect time for the league to release the schedule.
“How about next week? That’s currently looking more likely. Especially since next week is a big week for the TV industry, with the “upfront” presentations in New York,” Florio speculated.
“Given that the league now authorizes each of the networks to announce a game or two in the days preceding the full release, it makes sense for the networks to generate maximum buzz by sharing a taste of the schedule on the day they unveil their full fall lineups.”
“If not next week, the next week is the week preceding Memorial Day weekend. That’s not the week for getting the most possible attention for the coming schedule,” he added.
Interestingly, Florio suggested that the NFL stretch out the schedule release and make it a week-long event.
“We still think the NFL could turn the schedule release into a full-week event. Between Thursday nights and Sunday nights and Monday nights and Thanksgiving and Christmas, the NFL could take over four nights,” he suggested.
“On Monday, Sunday night. On Tuesday, Monday night. On Wednesday, Thursday night. On Thursday, Thanksgiving and Christmas in the late morning/afternoon and the rest of the schedule that night.”
This kind of structure won’t be happening this year. But for a league that loves to milk everything as best they can, it’s certainly a suggestion worth considering.
As the defending Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs will be hosting the Thursday night opener to kick off the season.
Who will their opponent be?
One fascinating matchup that is set in stone is the Week 1 showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers which will take place in Brazil on Friday, September 6th.
If both those teams live up to expectations, that matchup could prove to be extremely meaningful in the playoff picture.
We know the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys will host games on Thanksgiving.
Who will their opponents be?
What will the primetime matchup be after we’re done with our turkey dinners?
Also, the NFL is smartly taking over Christmas Day … The NBA is certainly no match for the most powerful league in the world.
What will the Christmas matchups be?
We’ll soon find out the answer to that question and every other for that matter…
What are your thoughts on the upcoming schedule release?
Do you agree with Florio that the NFL should make it a week-long event?
What matchups are YOU hoping for???