(08-27-2018, 02:56 AM)JUNGLE CAT 2017 Wrote:

(08-26-2018, 06:32 PM)JagFanFirst Wrote: Season-ending injuries are always bad, to but to lose your season for a game that counts for nothing...it's infuriating. Every preseason, I don't worry so much whether or not we win the game--more than anything, I just want to make sure players--on both sides--come out healthy. For example, I'm not a Vikings fan, but I hated it for them when they piled up so many injuries last week against us. And now it's happened to us.

Reducing the number of preseason games is something that's been talked about league-wide in the past. Prior to 1978, the NFL played SIX preseason games, and 14 regular season ones. In 1978, the schedule changed to what we know today. My guess is the owners won't willingly reduce the number of games, because to do so would reduce revenue. I get it. But with the league being so sensitive to injuries these days, it's something that might merit serious consideration.

How many preseason games sounds right to you to prepare the players? Do we need four? Is next week's game against the Bucs really necessary? Truth be told,with a few minor exceptions, we pretty much know who's going to make the roster right now.   Then you add the value for the fan.  Why should Buc fans (or anyone else hosting a game next week) pay full price for games where the starters won't play?

Would you recommend a schedule with two preseason games and 18 regular season games? Or would you like to see preseason games simply eliminated, with no compensation in the regular season?

I developed a plan for an 18-game NFL season. ALL NFL teams play 18 games. Two pre-season games followed by a "normal" 16-game season. After 16 games are completed, the entire NFL takes Christmas off. 

After Christmas, the last two games of the 18-game regular season are actually THE divisional playoff as the four teams within each division face off. Importantly, each team has a chance to win the division. If a #1 seed is knocked off by #4 seed in the divisional semi-final then #4 advances to the divisional championship game. If #3 seed beats #2 seed the divisional championship pits #3 v. #4 divisional seeds and #1 and #2 play a consolation game. This completes 18 regular season games for each NFL franchise.

Following the divisional round comes conference championship round. Two conferences have determined the four divisional winners during the regular season. So each conference hosts two semi-final conference playoff games. ONLY the two winners of the conference semi-final advance to a conference title game. There is no consolation game. Logically, the two conference champs square off in the Super Bowl.