Intro/Backstory
In 2021, the NFL announced that for the first time in league history, they would be adding an extra regular season game to each schedule. The change created brand new, unique win-loss records for each team to have: 15-2, 11-6, 7-10… and the list continues. This seventeenth game consists of an AFC team playing one NFC team from a rotating division every year, based on standings. However, what if the NFL never had this extra game, and that the 2023 season fell under the old schedule? Which teams would have benefitted, and which would have suffered?
Removed Matchups
Bills vs. Buccaneers
Dolphins vs. Panthers
Jets vs. Falcons
Patriots vs. Saints
Ravens vs. Lions
Browns vs. Bears
Steelers vs. Packers
Bengals vs. Vikings
Texans vs. Cardinals
Jaguars vs. 49ers
Colts vs. Rams
Titans vs. Seahawks
Chiefs vs. Eagles
Raiders vs. Giants
Broncos vs. Commanders
Chargers vs. Cowboys
Division Standings
AFC East: Bills (10-6), Dolphins (10-6)*, Jets (7-9), Patriots (4-12)
AFC North: Ravens (12-4), Browns (10-6)*, Steelers (9-7), Bengals (8-8)
AFC South: Jaguars (9-7), Texans (9-7)*, Colts (9-7), Titans (6-10)
AFC West: Chiefs (11-5), Broncos (8-8), Raiders (7-9), Chargers (5-11)
NFC East: Cowboys (11-5), Eagles (10-6)*, Giants (6-10), Commanders (3-13)
NFC North: Lions (12-4), Packers (9-7)*, Vikings (7-9), Bears (7-9)
NFC South: Buccaneers (9-7), Saints (8-8), Falcons (6-10), Panthers (2-14)
NFC West: 49ers (11-5), Rams (9-7)*, Seahawks (8-8), Cardinals (4-12)
AFC Playoff Picture
#1 Ravens BYE
#2 Chiefs vs. #7 Texans
#3 Bills vs. #6 Dolphins
#4 Jaguars vs. #5 Browns
NFC Playoff Picture
#1 Lions BYE
#2 49ers vs. #7 Rams
#3 Cowboys vs. #6 Packers
#4 Buccaneers vs. #5 Eagles
Changes
-The Jaguars would win the AFC South with a 16-game schedule in 2023, instead of being eliminated from playoff contention on the final day of the regular season.
-The Texans make the playoffs as a wild card #7 seed team instead of a division winner #4 seed.
-The Steelers miss the playoffs entirely, being replaced by the Jaguars.
-The Chiefs, who played the Dolphins in real life, face off against the Texans in the first round
-The Bills would have to play the Dolphins instead of the Steelers.
-The Browns would play the Jaguars instead of the Texans.
-The Broncos would finish second in the AFC West over the Raiders, as opposed to vice versa.
-The Lions received a first-round NFC bye instead of the 49ers, who will have to play the Lions’ opponent in real life, the Rams.
-The Rams and Packers swap seeds due to tiebreakers.
-The Cowboys are the #3 seed instead of the #2 seed.
-The Chiefs are the #2 seed instead of the #3 seed. They swap with the Bills.
-The Jaguars would have to play against the Ravens and Chiefs in the 2024 regular season, while the Texans would play the Browns and Broncos.
-The Broncos would have to play the Dolphins and Texans in 2024, instead of the Jets and Colts. The Raiders would have to play against these opponents instead. Las Vegas played against the Dolphins and Jaguars in 2024.
-There are no schedule changes in the NFC since the standings finished the same as they did in real life.
-The Broncos would finish .500, despite having a losing record with 17 games.
-The Bengals would finish .500, despite having a winning record with 17 games.
-The Saints would finish at .500, despite having a winning record with 17 games.
-The Seahawks would finish .500, despite having a winning record with 17 games.
