Using the 2011 NFL season still in limbo, fans wait anxiously for the end of the labor talks in between team owners and the NFL Players Association. One certain topic that remains unsolved may be the extension in the typical season, possibly to 18 games. Fans have expressed their displeasure more than a four-game preseason, and many prefer eliminating two of those games and replacing them with far more contests that actually count. The owners are on board with this notion for apparent revenue reasons, but the players express issues over fatigue and injury troubles. Even when agreed upon, the extension would not take effect ahead of the 2012 season.

If the game schedule increases from 16 to 18 games, the NFL's rotational format should be altered. But how could this be achieved in a manner that would spark interest and avoid any diluting of the schedule? The current scheduling structure is as follows.

Every single team plays six games against divisional foes: 3 household and 3 away. Every single team plays the 4 teams from an additional division within their conference on a 3 year rotational basis. Furthermore, every franchise plays one team from the remaining two intraconference divisions. These matchups are determined by standing from the year just before, so the second location team from 1 division would play the second location team from two others. Finally, all four teams inside a division play exactly the same 4 teams from a division outside of their conference, which brings the total to sixteen games per season for every team.

In its present format, each and every NFC team only plays 4 AFC teams per season. This implies the two higher New York City teams, the Giants and Jets, only meet inside the normal season each and every 4 years. An extended schedule should involve conventional and/or geographical rivals. By way of example, in a 17-game schedule, the could play the every season. If the eighteen game schedule proposal passes, the Steelers could play the Eagles along with the Cowboys annually. Each and every 4 years, the Steelers would play the Eagles and Cowboys twice, home and away. Picture the Jets and Giants, Redskins and Ravens, or Dolphins and Buccaneers meeting each year.

The NFL schedule, in its existing state, seems to perform. But if the fans and owners want more, they are going to get it. How better to spark interest than with interconference rivals meeting on the field every season?