It’s official: The NFL expands the regular-season schedule to 17 games

The NFL officially confirmed they’re moving to a 17-game schedule starting this season. This was expected, but now it’s in writing. The San Francisco 49ers' additional game will come on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The NFC will play eight home games and nine games on the road. The full schedule should come out either a week or two before the NFL Draft.

In addition to the inter-conference matchup, there will now only be three games. Plus, all 32 teams will play internationally at least once in an 8-year period starting in 2022. Ian Rapoport was on NFL Network Tuesday afternoon saying the interest will grow to venues that we haven’t seen internationally and how we could see games in other places besides London.

Here’s more info on the schedule:

Pelissero also mentioned that the NFL informed teams they can begin Phase 1 of OTAs on April 19. Players are still allowed to work out at the facility in small groups, as they have been. The NFL and NFLPA still have to discuss and agree on whether there will be virtual or in-person meetings and when on-field workouts will happen.

If there isn’t an agreement between both sides on the 2021 offseason rules, then the normal CBA provisions would apply.