The 2021NFL season is the inaugural year for the league's 18-week, 17-game season.This season was the first since 1978 where the number of games was changed. In 1978, the NFL moved from 14 games per season to 16. Now, it looks as though the 17-game season is here to stay for the next few years at least.This weekend's Week 17 matchups will not mark the end of the NFL season. Week 18 games willbe played Saturday, Jan. 8, and Sunday, Jan. 9, to finish out the 2021 season.MORE:Here's what you need to know
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about Week 18 in the NFL this year.Why is there a Week 18 in the NFL this year?Back in March, the NFL owners agreed toa new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that had been signed the previous year. With this new agreement, the NFL season expanded to 17 games from 16. The CBA runs through the 2030 season.The preseason was changed from four games to three games this season, and teams still only received one bye during the regular season.Alot of the symmetry established by the previous NFL schedule model disappeared this season. For instance, half the league had the advantage of having nine home games, while the other half had nine road games scheduled. Also, each team's 17th game was determined by the divisional standings from the year before. For example,
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teams that finished first last year played each other this season.MORE:When is Super Bowl 2022?The Super Bowl is normally held on the first Sunday of February, but the 17th game this season was tacked onto the end of the schedule instead of the beginning, so the Super Bowl was pushed back a week.The Super Bowl was originally scheduled for Feb. 6, 2022; it will now take place on Feb. 13, 2022.MORE:Week 18 NFL scheduleThe Week 18 games willmostly take place on Sunday, Jan. 9, with two games on Saturday, Jan. 8
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. There will be no "Thursday Night Football"or "Monday Night Football."Saturday, Jan. 8GameTime (ET)TV channelChiefs at Broncos4:15 p.m.ESPN/ABCCowboys at Eagles8:15 p.m.ESPN/ABCSunday, Jan. 9GameTime (ET)TV channelSteelers at Ravens1 p.m.CBSBengals at Browns1 p.m.FoxPackers at Lions1 p.m.FoxTitans at Texans1 p.m.CBSColts at Jaguars1 p.m.CBSBears at Vikings1 p.m.FoxWFT at Giants1 p.m.FoxSaints at Falcons4:25 p.m.FoxPanthers at Buccaneers4:25 p.m.CBSPatriots at Dolphins4:25 p.m.CBSJets at Bills4:25 p.m.CBS49ers at Rams4:25 p.m.FoxSeahawks at Cardinals4:25 p.m.FoxChargers at Raiders8:20 p.m.NBC
