NFL owners approved a 17-game schedule on Tuesday, marking the first change in the schedule since the league went to a 16-game season in 1978.
Starting this season, all teams will play 17 regular season games. The preseason schedule has been reduced from four to three games.
The 17th game will be an AFC-NFC matchup featuring teams that finished in the same place within their division. The Steelers will play the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field this year.
In 2022, NFC teams will play host to the 17th game. The Steelers will play a team from the NFC East in their intra-conference game 2022. They’ll play a team from the NFC North in 2023 and a team from the NFC South in 2024.
Each team will get to play 10 home games every year. This year teams from the AFC will play nine regular season home games and one home preseason game, while NFC teams will play host to two preseason games.
In addition to the 17-game schedule, the league announced every team will be required to play an international game once every eight years.
“This is a monumental moment in NFL history,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement provided by the league. “The CBA with the players and the recently completed media agreements provide the foundation for us to enhance the quality of the NFL experience for our fans. And one of the benefits of each team playing 17 regular season games is the ability for us to continue to grow our game around the world.”
The Steelers have the NFL’s toughest schedule in 2021 based on the final records from last season. Team president Art Rooney II foreshadowed Tuesday’s announcement last week when he spoke with fans on a conference call.
“The 17-game schedule will work out well, I think,” Rooney said. “Obviously, this year will be the first year for it, so we’ll get a chance to see how it goes. … I feel good about it, I hope it works, and I look forward to seeing how it does in 2021.”
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.
First Published: March 30, 2021, 7:22 p.m.
