Joe Burrow’s perfect breakdown of a 18-game NFL schedule makes so much sense

Since expanding to 17 games back in 2021, the NFL has talked about adding more regular season games and Bengals Joe Burrow is open to the idea with some inputs of his own.

Joe Burrow’s perfect breakdown of a 18-game NFL schedule makes so much sense

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow on NFL expanding to 18 games (Image via IMAGO)

Joe Burrow threw in his take on the much-discussed 18-game NFL season. The Cincinnati Bengals quarterback has no qualms about the league playing more games, but he also put forward a condition that should make the season more interesting.

Whether the NFL or the NFL Players’ Association agree on expansion is another question. Burrow, on the other hand, would welcome the decision, including floating the idea of playing the Super Bowl during President’s Day weekend.

Burrow theorized that it would be ‘cool to have the normal bye week’ remain as it is, but around week 13, he would like to see a mock Pro Bowl contest similar to the NBA.

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The Pro Bowl break [is] where you’re doing the 7-on-7 and all the skills challenges like the NBA does.
Joe Burrow said during a recent interview on Pardon My Take (Barstool Sports)

According to the 27-year-old, this would increase the interest of fans who rarely turn up for the Pro Bowl after the season ends, citing that the intensity level doesn’t exit like back in the day.

I think that would get more ratings for the Pro Bowl, and then it would also give everybody that bye week going into the last six games of the year.
Joe Burrow added

Previously, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell proposed that they were in talks of adding one more game while appearing on the Pat McAfee Show. Goodell wanted to scrape one or maybe more pre-season games to make way for an extra regular-season week.

The reality is, I'd rather replace a preseason game with a regular-season game any day. That's just picking quality.
Roger Goodell told Pat McAfee

Joe Burrow isn’t opposed to an 18-game NFL Season

Earlier this year, Burrow piqued the interest of everyone by posting a reply to Goodell’s remarks, “18 games, 2 Bye Weeks.”

Joe Burrow's perfect breakdown of a 18-game NFL schedule makes so much sense
Joe Burrow (Image via IMAGO)

The NFL season expanded to 17 games in 2021. Even then, adding one more game was discussed internally, CBS Sports‘ Cody Benjamin wrote. If everything goes well, then the league could see that happening in the 2025 season.

As for Joe Burrow, his main focus remains to play every game for the Bengals. Following an injury-laden 2023 season, the Pro Bowler focused on rehabbing by learning the piano. While speaking with Complex Sports, he revealed that learning the piano helped him heal his injured right wrist more quickly than usual.

If the Bengals want to challenge a stacked AFC North, then Burrow’s fitness should be a top priority. He is the only player besides Josh Allen who went toe to toe against the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes and won in recent years.

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