(RADIO.COM Sports) 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.
While the schedule isn't out yet, we already know it's structured for each team to play its divisional opponents twice (six games), all teams from two other divisions in the NFL (one AFC and one NFC division for eight more games) and 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 in the 17th game and how will home field be determined?
Peter King of NBC Sports outlined the most likely scenario recently: the cross-conference matchups from 2019 would face the team that finished in the same spot in the division standings in 2020.
For example, the AFC West played the NFC North in 2019. The Chiefs then finished first in the AFC West and the Packers finished first in the NFC North in 2020. So here in 2021, Chiefs and Packers would play in the extra matchup. King added that home field alternate each year, starting with the AFC in 2021.
Based on that formula, here's what the extra game matchups should look like in 2021.
Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs
Chicago Bears at Las Vegas Raiders
Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Chargers
Detroit Lions at Denver Broncos
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Rams at Baltimore Ravens
Arizona Cardinals at Cleveland Browns
San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals
New Orleans Saints at Tennessee Titans
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Indianapolis Colts
Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans
Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars
Washington Football Team at Buffalo Bills
New York Giants at Miami Dolphina
Dallas Cowboys at New England Patriots
Philadelphia Eagles at New York Jets