The NFL scheduling formula, largely untouched for 24 years, might be on the cusp of a significant shake-up, according to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. He recently hinted that the league has actually tossed around the idea of making a massive change to how games are put together, which could totally reshape the season for every team.
Jerry Jones Is All About “My Town Against Your Town”
Jones spilled the beans during an interview with 105.3 The Fan. They were talking about his Cowboys’ Week 4 game against the Houston Texans, and whether we should see more of those intense geographic rivalries. Jones pretty much said, “Yeah, the league has considered it.” He noted that adding more rivalry games could definitely be “in the mix,” but other priorities often come up. He stressed that the current rotation is designed for “fair, complete competition year-in, year-out” across the entire league. But make no mistake, he’d look at it, and not just for Dallas and Houston, but for “the entire league.”
Why does this guy want more rivalry games? It’s all about that fundamental “my town against your town, and who’s the best town?” vibe, which he sees as crucial to football. He even pointed to the Thursday night game between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, two teams in the same division, as a prime example of the kind of proximity-fueled competition that’s “hard to emulate anyplace but in the United States.” It’s clear Jones believes those kinds of matchups ignite something special that makes the game even better.
The Current Schedule Breakdown: A Deep Dive
Right now, getting more geographic rivalries into the mix is a tough ask, thanks to the established NFL scheduling formula. This bad boy was created way back in 2002 when the league bumped up to 32 teams. The only real “tweak” since then came in 2021, when they added that 17th game we all know and… well, we know.
Here’s how the current formula breaks down the 17 games:
* **Six games:** Every team plays home and away against its three division opponents. That’s a classic, always will be.
* **Four games:** You get to battle all four teams from another division within your own conference. This rotates on a three-year cycle.
* **Four games:** Then, you face off against all four teams from a division in the other conference. That one cycles every four years.
* **Two intraconference games:** These are based on how teams finished the prior year. If you were first in your division, you play the first-place teams from the two same-conference divisions you aren’t already scheduled to play that season. Second-place teams play second-place teams, and so on.
* **One interconference game:** Also based on last year’s standings, on a rotating four-year cycle. A first-place team from one division plays a first-place team from an opposite-conference division.
So, while Jones’s comments throw a huge question mark on a formula that’s been steady for decades, it’s clear any change would be a monumental shift. Will we see more local battles down the line? It’s definitely something to keep an eye on as the league continues to evolve.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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