So, it seems like we\u2019re a ways away from getting that eighteenth game, despite New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft suggesting otherwise<\/a> on 98.5 The Sports Hub on Monday. According to him, there is a massive push to replace one preseason game with a regular season one, and then get sixteen international games going throughout the year.<\/p>\n Jalen Reeves-Maybin, NFLPA President, pumped the brakes on this, saying that no discussions of an eighteenth game have been conducted, and Roger Goodell seemed to echo that at a news conference. I don\u2019t expect it to happen until the new CBA in five years. But I believe this is something that should happen, for the betterment of the league.<\/p>\n Even if we ignore how obviously superior even numbers are to odd numbers, eighteen games makes plenty of sense in my book. By Kraft\u2019s own admission, the new game would come with the elimination of a preseason game, so it\u2019s not as if it\u2019ll be willed out of nothing. Would such a swap really make that big of a difference on the injury front?<\/p>\n Especially if you package the additional game with a couple other additions. Like, the addition of a second bye week for every team, and unlocking a handful of additional roster spots. The players get more recovery time during the season, and the league gets two extra weeks of football a year. I call that a win-win. Throw a third win in there if you include the fans.<\/p>\n The extra roster spots would permit some additional opportunities to rotate players during games. Call it load management. Teams that are able to get quality reps from their backups in crucial moments get rewarded. It all adds up to me. And hopefully, when the time comes, the league and players can make it add up to them.<\/p>\n New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft (left) with son and Patriots president Jonathan Kraft during Opening Night for Super Bowl LX. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images<\/p>\n More Seahawks on SI stories<\/p>\n Ranking candidates to replace Seattle Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak<\/a><\/p>\n Why the NFL fined Seattle Seahawks owner Jody Allen $5 million<\/a><\/p>\n Jeff Bezos + three other potential buyers for the Seattle Seahawks<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Kraft](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/01kgk1fq18322640xap9.jpg\" "\\"Kraft")
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