Report: NFL Planning For A Season As Short As Eight Games

Daniel Kaplan of SportsBusiness Journal is reporting that the NFL has plans in place for a season as short as eight games.

Yikes.

While it sounds shocking, it makes perfect sense for the league to have plans for how they might deal with missed football games. While no one wants a shortened season, I think most fans would agree that they would rather have eight games than, well, no games.

In the strike shortened season of 1982, the NFL played only nine regular season games. The league then instituted a 16-team playoff tournament for the Super Bowl championship. The Washington Redskins were the eventual winner.

When I first heard of this prospect I couldn’t help but wonder how the NFL would work out the schedule? In 1982, the first two games of the season were played before the players went on strike. After they returned, the NFL picked up the schedule from that point. They ignored the divisional standings and took the top 16 teams into the playoffs. The Chiefs went 3-6 and did not qualify.

The reports are that the proposed eight game season could start in late November. The Chiefs open the third week of November by taking on the Patriots in New England. They then have vs. Steelers, @Bears, @Jets, vs. Packers, vs. Raiders and @Broncos. That would be seven (brutal) games. It would include four road games and three home games. My guess is that the NFL would add one more game to the end of the year. I’m not sure how the other schedules for other teams work out but it would make sense for the eight game to be at Arrowhead vs. the Chargers. This would mean the Chiefs would play the division once, plus four out of division opponents.

This is just one scenario. There are a million different factors the NFL would have to work out to make things as fair as possible. Regardless of what would happen, some teams would get a raw deal. If all this tells us anything, it is that KC’s schedule is difficult no matter which way you slice it. Sigh.

What do you think Addicts? Will there be a shortened season and if so, will it benefit or hurt the Chiefs?