http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24503...ason-games

Personally, I don't watch too much NFL (if any, if I'm being honest) but I enjoy scheduling.

Currently, the NFL plays 16 games:

1. home-home with division opponents for 6 games
2. entire division in other conference for 4 games
3. entire division in own conference for 4 games
4. opponents in conference who finished with the same ranking the season before who are in divisions not being played per #3 above for 2 games

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18 would be interesting. I suppose something like this:

1. home-home with division opponents for 6 games
2. entire division in other conference for 4 games
3. two entire divisions in own conference for 8 games

Example: 2018-19 Philadelphia Eagles
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens
Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns

This type of scheduling keeps conference games more meaningful for wildcard seedings.

OR

1. home-home with division opponents for 6 games
2. entire division in other conference that is not the same geographical division for 4 games
3. entire division in other conference that is the same geographical division for 4 games
4. entire division in own conference for 4 games

Example: 2018-19 Philadelphia Eagles
Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans
Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars, Indianapolis Colts

By annually playing the same geographical division of the other conference, it allows fans to travel to more "closer" games developing inter-conference rivalries.

I think the season and the preseason is fine. I could argue that maybe the preseason gets reduced by one game. I think they could do the evaluations for the 53 man roster within 3 weeks. I think if anything, the playoffs slots get expanded.

Another idea is a 17 game season with the extra game being a neutral site game in a foreign country. 8 in europe, 4 in mexico or canada. 4 in Asia.

You could go even deeper and ask what do users expect from the next collective bargaining agreement.