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How the NFL could logistically handle an 18-game regular season." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBehind the Steel Curtaina Pittsburgh Steelers communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsSteelersOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsFiled under:Latest NewsCommentaryHow the NFL could logistically handle an 18-game regular seasonNew https://www.thesteelerslockerroom.com/authentic-juju-smith-schuster-jersey ,13commentsHow the NFL could logistically handle an 18-game regular season. EDTShareTweetShareShareHow the NFL could logistically handle an 18-game regular seasonCharles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsAs I wrote last week, an 18-game NFL regular season schedule seems fairly inevitable and something that could become a reality within the next half-decade or so. I realize this isn’t necessarily the most popular topic, but the conceptions of Heinz Field, PNC Park and PPG Paints Arena were extremely unpopular in some circles many years ago. However, today, all three are fine venues to catch Pittsburgh’s three major sports teams, and most people don’t seem to remember how angry they used to be.In other words, human beings have a way of adapting and moving forward—even sports fans. Therefore, I’m sure we’ll all quickly grow used to the realities of an 18-game regular season.But how would the league go about this change and do so without upsetting the apple cart too, too much? If you’re going to add two more regular season games, you’re likely going to have to eliminate two preseason games. But if you decide to go ahead and do that, when does the real season start? If you hypothetically go by the 2019 calendar, the real games would start the night of Thursday, August 22, when the Bears kick off the regular season against the Packers. The third week in August is traditionally when the third set of preseason games are played; since there will only be two of those moving forward, the second week of exhibition action would take place in the middle ofthe month—just like it does now; this year, that would occur between Thursday, August 15 and Saturday Womens James Conner Jersey , August 17 (this is just a guess, but teams would likely continue to play their final preseason games on Thursday night so as to have as much time as possible to make the final cuts and get ready for Week 1). Now, in my opinion, if the NFL is going to have its employees play two more regular season games, it’s only fair that it also gives them extra rest in the form of a second bye week. But wouldn’t that push the Super Bowl back to almost the end of February? Under my scenario, it would not.Under my scenario, Week 2 of every regular season would be a bye week for all NFL teams. Sounds radical, I know, but this would serve two purposes.First, it would keep all teams on an even playing field early in the year and allow coaches and players to continue to work on the details over that initial two-week break. In fact, maybe the league could even temporarily expand team rosters ever so slightly and give coaches and general managers until Week 3 to make their final handful of cuts. Secondly, the league-wide Week 2 bye would allow the college kiddos to continue to have the national spotlight on Labor Day Weekend when college football traditionally kicks off. Again, going by the 2019 calendar, Week 3 would begin on Thursday, September 5— instead of a pageant filled contest, it would just be regular Thursday Night Football; the Steelers would take on the 49ers on September 8 instead of the 15, etc., etc. NFL teams would arbitrarily have their second bye weeks over the course of the year T. J. Watt Jersey , and the regular season would end on Sunday, January 5. Under the 2019/2020 calendar scenario, this would push the Super Bowl back to February 9, which isn’t all that bad when you consider Super Bowl XL between the Steelers and Seahawks was played on February 5. As for what the league would do with those two extra games and who would play whom? With each team playing six divisional games, you couldn’t use those opponents because that would mean playing two teams three times and one team twice.I suppose it could be neat to play two extra teams from the other conference. However, there would be little value to that in terms of tiebreakers.There’s probably only one way to do this. Keep the number of divisional games the same (six), as well as the number of non-conference games (four). Continue to rotate divisions within each conference every season—the Steelers play all four teams from the AFC East in 2019. As for what changes,that brings me to the conference match-ups all teams must have each season that are based on where they placed in their divisions the year before. For example, the Steelers finished in second place in the AFC North in 2018. Therefore, they must play the Colts from the AFC South and the Chargers from the AFC West, both of whom finished in second place in their respective divisions in 2018. Under an 18-game season, just create a home-and-home scenario, with each team playing at the other’s venue over the course of the year. If there’s a sweep by one team over another, that would make for an easy tiebreaker when deciding things like seeding and who makes the playoffs. If there’s a split, then conference record becomes the first tiebreaker between non-divisional opponents. There you have it. That’s how the NFL could logistically add two games to its regular season schedule without wreaking too much havoc on our sensibilities. Ben Roethlisberger likes to point out that he's played through the end of every contract he's ever signed. It's tangible proof of the longtime Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback's commitment both to the game itself and the franchise he's led to a pair of Super Bowl titles.That commitment will be tested over the coming months.The 37-year-old's aching right elbow needs surgery. His 16th season is over just two weeks in. His future is uncertain. And the keys to the offense Roethlisberger operated so deftly for so long are now in the hands of backup Mason Rudolph, who was in elementary school when the player known universally as Big Ben became a full-fledged NFL starter in the fall of 2004.It's an arrangement Roethlisberger stressed is temporary."This is shocking and heartbreaking for me, to miss this much of a season and feel like I am letting down so many people," Roethlisberger said in a statement Monday after being placed on injured reserve. "I can only trust God's plan Jerome Bettis Jersey White , but I am completely determined to battle through this challenge and come back stronger than ever next season."The end of this season arrived suddenly. The Steelers were moving down the field late in the second quarter against Seattle on Sunday when Roethlisberger twice clutched his elbow following pass attempts. Though he stayed in for the remainder of the drive — including a pair of completions with his arm in obvious pain — when the Steelers came out for the second half, their captain wore a white baseball cap and watched from the sideline as they lost 28-26 to drop to 0-2 .Enter Rudolph, taken in the third round in the 2018 draft, who beat out Josh Dobbs for the backup job during the preseason. Now the 24-year-old is tasked with helping the Steelers emerge from an early hole without their unquestioned leader."It's kind of sucky circumstance with our leader and good friend going down," Rudolph said. "He would want me to step up and lead to the best of my ability. That's what I've always believed in and that's what I'm going to do."Roethlisberger underwent an MRI late Sunday. While the nature of his injury hasn't been disclosed, team doctors decided surgery was the best course of action. Roethlisberger will undergo the procedure later this week. There is no timetable for any possible return."It's really surreal," guard David DeCastro said. "But at the same time, you've got to have a football player mentality, next guy up and move on. But with a guy like that it's a little different. Easier said than done that's for sure."Roethlisberger has been Pittsburgh's starter since taking over for Tommy Maddox in Week 2 of the 2004 season as a rookie, developing a signature style for his ability to extend plays, a method dubbed "Ben being Ben." Yet that style evolved over the years as he matured from raw game manager to one of the most prolific passers in league history.His start on Sunday marked the 218th appearance of his career, second most in the history of a franchise that dates to 1932. He holds the club record in just about every major statistical passing category, including yards (56,545), touchdowns (363), attempts (7,230) and completions (4,651).Roethlisberger didn't just put up numbers James Conner Jersey White , he won. A lot, going 144-71-1 in the regular season and 13-8 in the playoffs, restoring the Steelers to glory in the process. His 6-yard touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes with 35 seconds left in the 2008 Super Bowl against Arizona gave the Steelers their sixth title and is considered one of the seminal moments in Super Bowl history.He entered 2019 coming off the best statistical season of his career. He captured the NFL passing title last fall after throwing for a career-high 5,129 yards. He signed an extension in April that runs through the 2021 season and would carry him to the eve of his 40th birthday. He spoke openly during training camp about his love of the game returning, a rekindling that happened to coincide with wide receiver Antonio Brown's offseason departure for Oakland following an ugly falling out with the club.Despite that optimism, Roethlisberger's season was off to a sluggish start. He failed to get the Steelers into the end zone during a blowout loss to New England in Week 1 and was just 8 of 15 for 75 yards against Seattle, though he did complete 5 of 6 passes on the drive that marked his final plays of the season.Roethlisberger complained of elbow pain after falling to the Patriots but played through it, a testament to the toughness that's defined his career. He'll need to rely on that tenacity as he faces a lengthy rehabilitation while weighing whether a 17th season is worth the physically demanding road it will take to get there."n and I fully intend to honor my contract and reward them with championship level play," Roethlisberger said. "I will do all I can to support Mason and the team this season to help win games."Meanwhile, the team that Roethlisberger has served as the face of for so long will have to find a way to move forward without him. Rudolph played capably in the first meaningful snaps of his career, completing 12 of 19 passes for 112 yards, two touchdowns and an interception that came off a deflection. Rudolph won praise from his teammates for his poise, yet the Steelers know it will take all 53 of them — not just one — to fill the void left by Roethlisberger's absence."This is not ideal but at the end of the day, it is what it is," DeCastro said. "As football players, you deal with it. Let's go see what we're made of."