{"id":868894,"date":"2026-04-18T04:05:46","date_gmt":"2026-04-18T04:05:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/868894\/"},"modified":"2026-04-18T04:05:46","modified_gmt":"2026-04-18T04:05:46","slug":"bengals-qb-joe-flacco-blasts-nfl-18-game-schedule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/868894\/","title":{"rendered":"Bengals QB Joe Flacco Blasts NFL 18-Game Schedule"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Quarterback Joe Flacco of the Cleveland Browns.<\/p>\n

The Bengals are on watch as the NFL is rumored to be going to an 18-game regular season schedule<\/a> in the next few years. This would eliminate another week of the pre-season, dropping it to just two games.<\/p>\n

While it seems like a no-brainer for the common fan, it would come with a lot of challenges for the players. The NFL<\/a> and its owners would love the extra revenue. However, the players wouldn\u2019t be too crazy about another week of putting their body through countless car crashes.<\/p>\n

Bengals QB Joe Flacco recently weighed in on the possibility, and he didn\u2019t mince words.<\/p>\n

Bengals QB Joe Flacco Torches Idea of 18-Game Regular Season Schedule\"Cincinnati<\/p>\n

Justin Casterline\/Getty ImagesCINCINNATI, OHIO \u2013 OCTOBER 26: Head coach Zac Taylor and Joe Flacco #16 of the Cincinnati Bengals talk during the second quarter in the game against the New York Jets<\/a> at Paycor Stadium on October 26, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio.<\/p>\n

The long-time NFL signal caller had this to say<\/a> about the possibility of the NFL regular season schedule expanding to 18 games.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a player, I loved playing 16 games, and I think the NFL had an awesome formula for 16 games and four rounds of playoffs and I think it was super competitive. I don\u2019t think people realize that when you put guys through an 18-game regular season schedule. <\/p>\n

I think what could happen is the playoffs start to suffer and you get teams that are so beat up by that point in the year that they\u2019re not really at their best. So instead of getting top-level football, you\u2019re getting a couple teams going against each other at 75 percent. Basically, it becomes a war of attrition.<\/p>\n

I think the more games you add on to the season, the less chance you give yourself of having that competitive true event where everybody can really enjoy and know they\u2019re seeing the best of the best.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flacco also implied the low quality of Super Bowls the last two years may have something to do with the already-long 17-game schedule.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last two years, the Super Bowls haven\u2019t really been super competitive and I think maybe you have to look at that a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

These are very interesting comments from Flacco, and are likely in line with the opinions from a lot of players from around the league.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati Meeting With QB Athan Kaliakmanis Day Before the 2026 NFL Draft\"Cincinnati<\/p>\n

GettyPITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA \u2013 NOVEMBER 16: Head coach Zac Taylor of the Cincinnati Bengals looks on during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> at Acrisure Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The report comes from\u00a0Aaron Wilson<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0X, whom provides sports coverage for\u00a0KPRC2<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cRutgers\u00a0quarterback, and\u00a0@GopherFootball\u00a0<\/a>transfer Athan Kaliakmanis visits\u00a0#Commanders<\/a>\u00a0today,\u00a0#Bengals<\/a>\u00a0on Wednesday, per league source.<\/p>\n

Had a Zoom meeting with\u00a0#Broncos<\/a>\u00a0had formals with\u00a0#Raiders<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0#Bengals<\/a>. Plus,\u00a0#Bears<\/a>\u00a0#Giants<\/a>, and\u00a0#Eagles<\/a>\u00a0local prospect days Passed for 8,604 career yards, 55 touchdown, 27 interceptions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consider a snippet from\u00a0CBS Sports\u00a0on Kaliakmanis.<\/p>\n

\u201cKaliakmanis won\u2019t wow you, but he won\u2019t lose you games either. Since leaving Minnesota for Rutgers, he\u2019s completed 67% for nearly 1,400 yards with a clean 9-to-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Average arm, average athleticism, but he knows who he is. Gets the ball out on time, makes smart reads, doesn\u2019t overextend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The \u201cGreek Rifle\u201d is in the Nick Mullens bucket as steady backup material. Not flashy, but teams like guys they can trust in a pinch.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kaliakmanis<\/a> isn\u2019t a guarantee to be drafted, yet the Bengals may look to bring him in as a UDFA.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tBrevan Bane<\/a> Brevan Bane is a sports scribe covering the NFL for Heavy.com, with a focus on the Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals. Brevan began his writing career by making a platform on Twitter and leveraging his presence into writing and content creation opportunities for outlets like PurplePTSD, Vikings Territory, The Noise, Hockey Wilderness, and the VikesNow YouTube channel. You can follow him on X @brevmanbane. More about Brevan Bane<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

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