As football season approaches, every big fan wonders how many games they’ll be able to watch this season.
Although the NFL has historically used a set number of games, they recently made a new change to the season’s number of games.
Here’s what you need to know about how many games there are in an NFL season and how they’re matched up for the 2021 season.
How Many Games In NFL Season? (Explained)
There are 17 games in a regular NFL season.
The 2021 NFL season will see its first 17-game season in history.
Historically, an NFL season has had 16 games.
This number was set in 1978 and has included pre-season games as well as in-season games.
However, 2021 changed everything.
The NFL-NFLPA Collective Bargaining Agreement increased the number of games in an NFL season to 17.
That includes one bye week for every team.
Because of that change, the NFL changed the lineups for certain teams.
Each team will now play a certain number of games within its own division, against other divisions within their conference, and then against the other conference.
Part of this change focuses on how a team performed the previous year.
The NFL will use that information to pit that team against a team with the same standing in the other conference.
This is a new game that fans can expect to see in the 2021 season.
For example, if a team performs well in this season and receives first place in their conference, then they’ll be playing a game against the first-place team of the opposing conference next year.
The same goes for every team down the line.
A second-place team in one conference will play a second-place team in the other conference, and so on.
Due to these changes, fans can expect an additional game to enjoy their favorite sport.
That brings the total number of games of an entire NFL season to 272 games.
Why Did The NFL Increase The Number Of Games In The 2021 Season?
It’s been several decades since the NFL last changed the number of games in a season.
That last change happened in 1978.
Some fans may wonder why the NFL felt the need to increase the length of the season by one game.
One of the reasons is that the NFL has enjoyed increased popularity over the years.
As a country becomes more divided, they can still find common ground in sports.
For many people, the NFL has become a place of comfort.
In response, the organization wanted to give fans the chance to enjoy the season a little bit longer.
A major reason they decided to increase the season by one game is potentially increased income.
With one more game, the NFL can rake in another day’s worth of sponsorships, ticket sales, and merchandise sales.
Because of the expected returns in their investment, many franchises negotiated with the organization to ensure their players can reap these benefits, too.
The agreement saw changes in the salaries of many players.
They also reviewed the benefits the players receive in their contracts and edited them as needed.
Finally, players had their revenue share from the organization reviewed and revised according to the new expectations based on the additional game.
The franchises wanted to ensure that their players weren’t missing out on an opportunity to increase their wealth and fame, too.
One final part of the agreement was the review of broadcasting networks.
The NFL wanted certain broadcasters to bid for the rights to broadcast their games.
Not only does this mean the NFL is able to bring in more money, but it also means that fans may find that they need to switch the channel from their usual broadcaster to find the game that they want to watch.
The organization did think about their fans when agreeing to settle with certain broadcasters.
They wanted to make it easier than ever for fans to watch the games that they love.
What Teams Are Playing In The New 17-Game Season?
The 2021 season will see a return of everyone’s favorite teams.
The conferences listed each ranked team based on their performance last year.
Each team will play against the other conference based on its ranking last year.
You can expect each team to play against their opponent at some stage during the new 17-game 2021 season.
Here’s a breakdown of the different conferences and their divisions based on last year’s ranking.
(Note that for each game, the AFC will be the home team.
In 2022, the home team will switch to the NFC, and this alternating pattern will continue in subsequent years.)
NFC East Vs. AFC East
For the 2021 season, the NFC East is going to be the Away team while the AFC East is going to be the Home team.
The lineup for each conference is as follows:
- Washington Football Team vs Buffalo Bills
- New York Giants vs Miami Dolphins
- Dallas Cowboys vs New England Patriots
- Philadelphia Eagles vs New York Jets
NFC West Vs. ACF North
In the 2021 season, the NFC West is going to be the Away team and the ACF North is going to be the Home team.
The lineup for each conference is as follows:
- Seattle Seahawks vs Pittsburgh Steelers
- Los Angeles Rams vs Baltimore Ravens
- Arizona Cardinals vs Cleveland Browns
- San Francisco 49ers vs Cincinnati Bengals
NFC South Vs. AFC South
The NFC South is going to be the Away team and the AFC South is going to be the Home team in the 2021 season.
The lineup for each conference is as follows:
- New Orleans Saints vs Tennessee Titans
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Indianapolis Colts
- Carolina Panthers vs Houston Texans
- Atlanta Falcons vs Jacksonville Jaguars
NFC North Vs. AFC West
During the 2021 season, the NFC North will be the Away team and the AFC West will be the Home team.
The lineup for each conference is as follows:
- Green Bay Packers vs Kansas City Chiefs
- Chicago Bears vs LAs Vegas Raiders
- Minnesota Vikings vs Los Angeles Chargers
- Detroit Lions vs Denver Broncos
What AFC Teams Are Playing Against Each Other In The 2021 Season?
As with every season, the NFL tries to change up the order in which the teams face one another.
It adds some spice to the game and can give a team with lower stats the chance to get a few wins under their belt.
Using the new 17-game format, here’s the schedule for every team from each division in the AFC conference and who they’re going to play against in the 2021 season.
AFC East
In the AFC East division, these are the teams that each AFC East team is going to play against in the 2021 season.
Buffalo Bills (Home)
At home, the Buffalo Bills are going to play against the following teams in order:
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Washington Football Team
Buffalo Bills (Away)
During their away games, the Buffalo Bills will play against these teams in order:
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tennessee Titans
Miami Dolphins (Home)
For their home games, the Miami Dolphins will play against these teams in order:
- Buffalo Bills
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons
- Baltimore Ravens
- Carolina Panthers
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- New York Giants
Miami Dolphins (Away)
The away games for the Miami Dolphins will be played against these teams in order:
- Buffalo Bills
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tennessee Titans
New England Patriots (Home)
During their home games, the New England Patriots will play the following teams in order:
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New York Jets
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New Orleans Saints
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tennessee Titans
New England Patriots (Away)
For their away games, the New England Patriots are scheduled to play the following teams in order:
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New York Jets
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Los Angeles Chargers
New York Jets (Home)
During the 2021 season, the New York Jets will face the following teams during their home games:
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New Orleans Saints
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Tennessee Titans
New York Jets (Away)
In the 2021 season, the New York Jets will face the following teams during their away games:
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- New England Patriots
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Denver Broncos
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
AFC North
These are the teams within the AFC North and their matchups in the new 17-game 2021 season.
Pittsburgh Steelers (Home)
At home, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing the following teams in order:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Chicago Bears
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tennessee Titans
Pittsburgh Steelers (Away)
At their away games, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing the following teams in order:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Buffalo Bills
- Green Bay Packers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
Baltimore Ravens (Home)
During their home games, the Baltimore Ravens will be playing against the following teams in order:
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Green Bay Packers
- Indianapolis Colts
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Minnesota Vikings
Baltimore Ravens (Away)
As the visiting team, the Baltimore Ravens will be playing against the following teams in order:
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Chicago Bears
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Miami Dolphins
Cleveland Browns (Home)
At home, the Cleveland Browns will be playing against the following teams in order:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Arizona Cardinals
- Chicago Bears
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Houston Texans
- Las Vegas Raiders
Cleveland Browns (Away)
At their away games, the Cleveland Browns will be playing against the following teams in order:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Green Bay Packers
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
Cincinnati Bengals (Home)
The Cincinnati Bengals will be playing the following teams at home in order:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Green Bay Packers
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Minnesota Vikings
- San Francisco 49ers
Cincinnati Bengals (Away)
The Cincinnati Bengals will be playing the following teams during their away games in the following order:
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cleveland Browns
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Chicago Bears
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New York Jets
AFC South
During the 2021 NFL season and pre-season, the AFC South’s teams will play both interconference games and intraconference games.
Here are the teams and their opponents.
Tennessee Titans (Home)
The Titans will be playing the following teams at home:
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Arizona Cardinals
- Buffalo Bills
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Miami Dolphins
- New Orleans Saints
- San Francisco 49ers
Tennessee Titans (Away)
The Titans will be playing the following teams at away games:
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Los Angeles Rams
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Seattle Seahawks
Indianapolis Colts (Home)
During the 2021 season, the Colts will be playing the following teams at home:
- Houston Texans
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Rams
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts (Away)
In the 2021 season, the Colts will be playing the following teams at their away games:
- Houston Texans
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- Arizona Cardinals
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- San Francisco 49ers
Houston Texans (Home)
The Texans will play the following teams at home:
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- Carolina Panthers
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Seattle Seahawks
Houston Texans (Away)
The Texans will play the following teams during their away games:
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tennessee Titans
- Arizona Cardinals
- Buffalo Bills
- Cleveland Browns
- Miami Dolphins
- San Francisco 49ers
Jacksonville Jaguars (Home)
At home, the Jaguars will play the following teams:
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Tennessee Titans
- Atlanta Falcons
- Arizona Cardinals
- Buffalo Bills
- Denver Broncos
- Miami Dolphins
- San Francisco 49ers
Jacksonville Jaguars (Away)
At their away games, the Jaguars will play the following teams:
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Tennessee Titans
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Los Angeles Rams
- New England Patriots
- New York Jets
- Seattle Seahawks
AFC West
The final division in the AFC conference is the AFC West.
During the 2021 season and pre-season, their teams will face opponents both within their division and in other divisions.
Kansas City Chiefs (Home)
At home, the Chiefs will play the following teams:
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Buffalo Bills
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Green Bay Packers
- New York Giants
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Kansas City Chiefs (Away)
At their away games, the Chiefs will play the following teams:
- Denver Broncos
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Tennessee Titans
- Washington Football Team
Las Vegas Raiders (Home)
The Raiders will play the following teams at home:
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Miami Dolphins
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Football Team
Las Vegas Raiders (Away)
Away, the Raiders will play the following teams:
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Indianapolis Colts
- New York Giants
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers (Home)
During 2021, the Chargers will play the following teams at home:
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Minnesota Vikings
- New England Patriots
- New York Giants
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Los Angeles Chargers (Away)
The Chargers will play the following teams in 2021 during their away games:
- Denver Broncos
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Houston Texans
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Football Team
Denver Broncos (Home)
The 17-game 2021 season will see the following teams play against the Broncos at home:
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Baltimore Ravens
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Detroit Lions
- New York Jets
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Washington Football Team
Denver Broncos (Away)
The 17-game season will see the following teams play against the Broncos at their away games in 2021:
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Las Vegas Raiders
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- New York Giants
- Pittsburgh Steelers
Conclusion
Teams will play against one another in intraconference and interconference matches.
As usual, after proving themselves within their own conferences, six teams will emerge to battle it out in the playoffs for the Superbowl.
Check the AFC match listing to find out who your favorite team in the AFC plays against in the 2021 season.
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