(07-08-2023 03:40 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote: Let’s pretend the NFL adds expansion teams in Phoenix and Indianapolis. How would things get rearranged then? What about Nashville?
I think your alignment would be the most likely, although Saint Louis is probably the least satisfied. Las Vegas and Nashville would constantly be brought up as relocation possibilities by anyone needing to bilk the public for a new stadium. Nashville and Las Vegas ultimately expansion teams. It's possible Nashville could go straight to a stadium with a roof, as I suspect there would be a strong bid to land the SEC Championship game, Final Four, and so on. It also would give Nashville a venue for large touring acts and the CMAs.
I would also expect that the Rams would want what ultimately became SoFi stadium at one point, so I could see an expansion to Los Angeles in 2020 as the fifth team in the AFC West. The NFC team that comes in with them is less obvious, but I could see Sacramento possibly committing to a stadium project suitable for both MLS and the NFL.
AFC East (4) - Baltimore Colts, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets
AFC North (5) - Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis*, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs
AFC South (4) - Miami Dolphins, Houston Oilers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Nashville*
AFC West (5) - Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles*
NFC East (4) - Dallas Cowboys. New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders
NFC North (5) - Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Cardinals
NFC South (4) - Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West (5) - San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Las Vegas*, Phoenix*,
Sacramento*
For teams in the divisons with 5 teams: 8 games in the division, 4 games against one other division in your own conference; 5 games against the other conference (if paired with a 4-team division, the fifth game is against a team in the other division with 4 teams in that conference)
For divisions with 4 teams: 6 games in the division, 4 teams against one division in your own conference; 2 games against teams in the other 4-team division in your own conference (based on prevoius season's finish); 5 games against the other conference (if paired with a 4-team division, the fifth game is against a team in the other division with 4 teams in that conference)
The AFC and NFC would alternate which conference gets the ninth regular season home game each year.
