NFL rumored to be considering 14 game season starting in October

But behind the scenes, teams have been modeling out shortened seasons. One particular scenario that has taken hold, according to team sources, is a 14-game schedule that would start in October and result in the Super Bowl being pushed back just one week to Feb. 14. Under this scenario, the two games that would be cut would be cross-conference matchups. The week off in between Championship Sunday and the Super Bowl would be removed, which would include the cancelation of the Pro Bowl.

If they're going to cut 2 cross conference games then no Seahawks or 49ers please. Lol

Edit: Correct that - no Seahawks or Rams and therefore no west coast trip. 49ers can come to Foxboro. Though that would give the Patriots more home games so that probably won't happen.

I would wager they are “considering” a wide variety of possibilities.

There’s a million scenarios at this point.

One thing is clear: they will exhaust all opportunities to have some sort of season. Whether it’s a full season with fans or a half season with no fans.

XLIX said:

I would wager they are “considering” a wide variety of possibilities.

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For sure. Still so many possibilities to how the pandemic plays out and how the states will be managing it.

I don't think they'll go less than a 9 gamer like in the strike year. Pats vs AFC East twice and then the division champs across the AFC - Ravens, @Texans, @Chiefs.

They could have fans in the stands... no problem. And make some extra dough!

Just mandate these.

I just wonder what will happen with my season tickets

My first choice was no Jets.

Then I realized I was punting away 2 easy wins so I opted for AZ and LAC.

They seemed from a ratings perspective the least desirable games.

On the other hand on paper those look like wins too.

Have Ironman football weekends where Pats have a Giants/Jets doubleheader.

This is completely ridiculous, and totally ignorant of how this pandemic will function. This pandemic will comes in waves and there will be varying hotspots that emerge from time to time, for a very long time to come. How do you navigate around that? Cancel games? Move to a different stadium? Just dumb.

Best just to televise games in empty stadiums.

PP2 said:

This is completely ridiculous, and totally ignorant of how this pandemic will function. This pandemic will comes in waves and there will be varying hotspots that emerge from time to time, for a very long time to come. How do you navigate around that? Cancel games? Move to a different stadium? Just dumb.

Best just to televise games in empty stadiums.

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If they televise from empty stadiums - which I think will happen - I sure hope they don’t put in ambient crowd noise. After watching 60 seconds of Korean baseball, I can state unequivocally that piped in crowd noise is far worse than no crowd noise.

XLIX said:

If they televise from empty stadiums - which I think will happen - I sure hope they don’t put in ambient crowd noise. After watching 60 seconds of Korean baseball, I can state unequivocally that piped in crowd noise is far worse than no crowd noise.

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The Colts organization should be able to help with their expertise in this area.

Did Goodell even leave his basement yet?

XLIX said:

If they televise from empty stadiums - which I think will happen - I sure hope they don’t put in ambient crowd noise. After watching 60 seconds of Korean baseball, I can state unequivocally that piped in crowd noise is far worse than no crowd noise.

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Please don't make me have piped in crowd noise. 70's sitcom laugh track. I'll deal with no noise. You'll be able to hear players on the field, so that might be fun.

PP2 said:

This is completely ridiculous, and totally ignorant of how this pandemic will function. This pandemic will comes in waves and there will be varying hotspots that emerge from time to time, for a very long time to come. How do you navigate around that? Cancel games? Move to a different stadium? Just dumb.

Best just to televise games in empty stadiums.

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Yeah, I don't understand all these decisions to shut things down in a few months when we have no idea what the situation will be like by then. The dates being set seem so arbitrary; there's absolutely no guarantee things will have blown over by the time reopening dates come around. It's also just as possible things will have been over for quite a while by then and they overshot the target. Why not just wait until we have more information to definitively decide when things will open?

Once you start modifying seasons...just don’t play. It waters the product down. Just bag it and call it a day.

ViperGTS said:

Once you start modifying seasons...just don’t play. It waters the product down. Just bag it and call it a day.

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Can’t agree there. I’d much rather have a shortened season (with or without fans) than no season at all. It isn’t like this is being caused by labor unrest or a lockout or anything like that.

XLIX said:

Can’t agree there. I’d much rather have a shortened season (with or without fans) than no season at all. It isn’t like this is being caused by labor unrest or a lockout or anything like that.

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I get that sentiment, but man. No fans? Doubt the players would ever get up for the games like they usually do and that would make for some poor football. All the communications would be heard loud and clear. There are so many pitfalls.

ViperGTS said:

I get that sentiment, but man. No fans? Doubt the players would ever get up for the games like they usually do and that would make for some poor football. All the communications would be heard loud and clear. There are so many pitfalls.

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I think the players would act like professionals. They understand the situation as well.

I don’t see how not having fans would make a player run slower or throw the ball worse in the heat of the moment. If anything, we’d see fewer false start penalties. You’ll never see anyone upset over watching a game with fewer flags.

Steve:Section 102 said:

Please don't make me have piped in crowd noise. 70's sitcom laugh track. I'll deal with no noise. You'll be able to hear players on the field, so that might be fun.

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How about a sad trombone sound effect, when Brady throws a back-breaking 4th quarter red zone pick?

ViperGTS said:

Once you start modifying seasons...just don’t play. It waters the product down. Just bag it and call it a day.

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Yeah, I agree with @XLIX. Gimme a 12 game season, I am good.

XLIX said:

I think the players would act like professionals. They understand the situation as well.

I don’t see how not having fans would make a player run slower or throw the ball worse in the heat of the moment. If anything, we’d see fewer false start penalties. You’ll never see anyone upset over watching a game with fewer flags.

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Remember this? Players weren’t a fan.

2015 White Sox–Orioles crowdless game - Wikipedia