# Roger Godell, take a look at these pathetic games and screw the 18 game schedule! **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [December 28, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426 "2012-12-28T21:21:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426/21 "2012-12-30T20:30:03Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The regular season will start the week after Labor Day. So, these extra games are going to be played in lousy weather in many cities. Oh no! Anything but football in lousy weather! ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426/22 "2012-12-31T15:20:52Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > The regular season will start the week after Labor Day. So, these extra games are going to be played in lousy weather in many cities. The regular season would run until mid January. Not only would there more snow games, but also the potential of cold rain slop fests in San Francisco, Oakland, Seattle, and even places like Carolina and Jacksonville. … Awesome? ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426/23 "2012-12-31T15:23:18Z")
Seriously. They call that slop “football weather.” ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426/24 "2013-01-03T08:24:29Z")
I’d prefer Week 1 be Labor Day weekend again, but that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![Omniscient](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omniscient/32/3290_2.png) [@Omniscient](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omniscient)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 8:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426/25 "2013-01-03T08:50:39Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > The argument FOR an 18-game season, of course, is money, money, money, money, and so I’ve no doubt there will soon be an 18-game season. Let’s not forget that fans get to watch more football (and less shitty preseason). Personally, I want a 18 game season. I don’t care about records, they went from 14 to 16 and mooted a bunch of records but we’re still paying attention to stats. In any case football stats have always been of marginal importance (quick, what records to Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw and Tom Brady hold?) and now the stats that matter are fantasy stats, not records. The injury issue is legit, but I think the logic that a 16 game is markedly safer than a 18 game one is spurious at best when considering long term illness. There will be more knee injuries, broken bones and concussions but I think a change in playing style, equipment and rosters are far more important than limiting the number of games. I think too many players play 90%+ of the snaps in a game, there should be larger rosters with more rotation. I think helmets are too good of weapons and should be changed in some way to offset that. I think more pads should be mandatory. I think the rise of the passing game is directly responsible for the increase in big hits, and maybe the rules should be changed to re-emphasize the running game. If 2 more games are too dangerous, then all 16 games are too dangerous. Saying that 18 games is a bad idea because it’s too dangerous is like saying it’s okay to play Russian roulette 3 times, but 4 times is just too risky. Change the game, don’t play less of it. That said, it’s probably fair to focus on making the game safer first before extending it. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2013, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426/26 "2013-01-03T16:52:08Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > This week, we’re going to get quite a few regular season games that make up the week 17 schedule. > > Ready for the Thad Lewis show in Cleveland? The ‘long awaited’ Terrelle Pryor debut? The ‘Who Wants to be an NFL quarterback this week’ reality show in Arizona? > > A lot of the games are going to be nothing more than week 3 preseason games. With a longer schedule, there would still be 2 more weeks of these types of games. Completely disagree. First, 4 preseason games is stupid and a rip off. Second, a compromise would be to take 16 teams to playoffs which would have resulted in Falcons vs. Giants this as an example. Add to this that 16 teams to the playoffs mean that more teams are still in it in the last 3-4 games of the season so they do not mail it in, making more compelling late season games instead of rookies starting for 7-8 teams who are looking toward next year. IMO and YMMV of course 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DKW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dkw/32/3118_2.png) [@DKW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DKW)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426/27 "2013-01-05T18:43:24Z")
Hey, anyone remember the idea of changing two preseason games into normal games? That still on the table? I mean, other than making the playoff race a little more exciting for the teams that have a puncher’s chance in a sumo tournament of winning the Super Bowl, I really don’t see the benefit of an 18-game season…but if we are going that route, can we at least do it sensibly? ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2013, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426/28 "2013-01-05T19:41:45Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Completely disagree. > > First, 4 preseason games is stupid and a rip off. > > Second, a compromise would be to take 16 teams to playoffs which would have resulted in Falcons vs. Giants this as an example. > > Add to this that 16 teams to the playoffs mean that more teams are still in it in the last 3-4 games of the season so they do not mail it in, making more compelling late season games instead of rookies starting for 7-8 teams who are looking toward next year. > > IMO and YMMV of course 😃 I think having having 16 teams in the postseason is an absolutely terrible idea. If we did that this year, for example, we’d have the Steelers at .500 and either the Dolphins or the Chargers at 7-9 slipping into the AFC playoffs - does anybody (outside of Pittsburgh, Florida, or SoCal\*) think those teams should be in a competition to determine the best of the NFL? Making the playoffs should mean more than just finishing in the top half of your conference. ETA: \*Hmm… **chargerrich** might be the wrong person to ask here. 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roger-godell-take-a-look-at-these-pathetic-games-and-screw-the-18-game-schedule/645426.md?page=1)