It has been looking like a foregone conclusion for a few months now that the NFL would be expanding to a 17-game season. Soon the official schedule will be released and with it the NFL is expected to make the 17th game official as well.
NFL is expected to expand the regular season schedule this week to 17 games. The league had played a 16-game regular season schedule since 1978, by far the longest stretch without a change in NFL history.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 28, 2021
Who will play whom in this additional game?
The Raiders are expected to face the Chicago Bears in their game. The question has been *where* that game would take place. And thus which team will get an extra home game.
Barring neutral site game, half the teams in the NFL will get an extra home game.
Peter King reported it will be all AFC teams that will host this year with the NFC hosting in 2022. If that report is accurate, the Raiders vs Bears extra home game will go to Allegiant Stadium.
Using the formula reported by @peter_king (https://t.co/LAbNkZCi5p), here are the expected matchups for the NFL's 17th game for each team in 2021. pic.twitter.com/x4D4uF4jue
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) March 28, 2021
Many Raiders fans probably assumed if there was a question as to where the game would be played, the Raiders would get the short end of the stick. But these things always have a formula in order to eliminate any teams or their fans from feeling like they got treated unfairly.
Here is what the Raiders home and away opponents look like this season:
Home:
Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Ravens, Bengals, Eagles, Washington, Dolphins, Bears
Away:
Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs, Browns, Cowboys, Giants, Steelers, Colts
