Since the NFL decided to go to 17 games starting this season, the 17th game will be scheduled against an opponent from the division in the other conference that the team played 2 years prior. Why not make the 17th game a protected interconference rivalry game? This doesn't work for all teams, of course, but there are quite a few logical "natural" rivalries based on geography that could work. Previously these teams were scheduled to play only once every 4 years.

AFC/NFC
Atlanta/Jacksonville
Baltimore/Washington
Chicago/Indianapolis
Cleveland/Detroit
Houston/Dallas
LA Chargers/LA Rams
Miami/Tampa Bay
NY Jets/NY Giants
Pittsburgh/Philadelphia

(weaker matchups)
Denver/Arizona (maybe Las Vegas/Arizona instead)
Las Vegas/San Francisco (not sure how strong this will be with the Raiders no longer in Oakland)
Tennessee/New Orleans

And among the teams that lack logical interconference rivals, a rotation of matchups can be established.

Buffalo, Cincinnati, Kansas City, New England / Carolina, Green Bay, Minnesota, Seattle

Thoughts?