When will the Washington Commanders begin playing 18 regular-season games?

The NFL owners expanded the regular season schedule from 16 games to 17 for the 2021 season, so this year will be the fifth season with 17 games, which everyone knew was temporary, as NFL owners had desired an 18th game. So, how long will the 17-game regular season be temporary?

The players’ union, you recall, in a close margin, voted to expand the regular season to a bizarre 17 games in March 2020. The owners had offered more money and benefits, and the players voted in favor of it.

Following the 2030 season, the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is set to expire, and well before that time, the NFL owners would like to avoid any lockouts and tough negotiations with the players’ union.

However, suppose the players don’t want to expand to 18 games, and there is no agreement over the next couple of seasons. Then, the NFL owners will threaten a lockout, and the players will most likely cave again, allowing owners to expand the season to 18 games.

NFL football is brutal on the human body, and 18 regular-season games certainly take a toll on the players. Furthermore, keep in mind that the owners have invested heavily in recent years, scheduling games each week on Thursday nights. Of course, owners claim there is really no evidence that Thursday night games are more dangerous for the players. Oh, please.

How did Thursday Night Football happen anyway?

The owners went out and reached an agreement with Amazon Prime Video. Guess what? The contract stipulates that the Thursday night games are contracted through the 2033 season. The 2020 agreement saw the players accept some compensation in the form of revenue sharing with Amazon Prime. Meanwhile, the players were also accepting the addition of a 17th game and Thursday Night Football.

Based on this trend, when the owners and players reach a new CBA, the NFL owners will likely secure the 18th game, and what will the players agree to this time?

Then, you watch, and the owners will begin talking about reducing the preseason to one game and playing 19 regular-season games. All with the intention of going to zero preseason games and a 20-game NFL regular season schedule.

But hey, the players have agreed to the changes. They can’t whine now. They need to learn how to negotiate.

What is the franchise history for regular-season games?

1932: 10 regular-season games1933-1960: 12 regular-season games1961-1977: 14 regular-season games1978-2020: 16 regular-season games2021-currently: 17 regular-season games