The NFL is expected to approve a 17-game schedule for the 2021 season, meaning each team in the league would play an additional game than usual.
While the schedule is not yet out, we already know it is structured for each team to play its divisional opponents twice (six games), all teams from two other divisions: one AFC and one NFC (eight games), plus the teams from the other two divisions within the conference that finished in the same spot in the 2020 standings (two games).
But who will each team play and how will home field be determined for the extra game?
NBC Sports’ Peter King outlined the most likely scenario earlier this month: the cross-conference matchups from 2019 (ie. AFC West played the NFC North) would face the team that finished in the same spot in the standings in 2020.
For example, in 2019 the AFC West played the NFC North. In 2020, the Chiefs finished first in the AFC West and the Packers finished first in the NFC North. So, in 2021, the extra game would be the Chiefs vs. the Packers.
King added that homefield will be alternated each year, starting with the AFC in 2021.
Based on this formula, here is what the extra game matchups should look like in 2021: