NFL Schedule 2021: 17th Game For Cowboys, Packers, Steelers Creates Marquee Matchups

NFL owners have voted to expand the regular-season schedule from 16 to 17 games. The change will be implemented for the 2021 season and create additional marquee matchups between some of the league’s top contenders.

Arguably the top two quarterbacks in football will go head-to-head as a result of the expanded schedule. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are now set to visit Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Rodgers won his third NFL MVP award in the 2020 season and led Green Bay to the NFC Championship Game. A year after winning the Super Bowl LIV MVP award, Mahomes took Kansas City to a second straight Super Bowl.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Packers and Chiefs in consecutive games for Tom Brady’s seventh career title. The defending Super Bowl champs will visit the Indianapolis Colts in the 17th game added to their schedule.

A matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots has been added to the 2021 NFL schedule. Both teams are coming off disappointing campaigns. Dallas missed the playoffs after Dak Prescott suffered a season-ending injury. New England finished in third place with Brady no longer under center.

The additional 17th game means the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Seattle Seahawks. Both Pittsburgh and Seattle were division champions in 2020 and upset in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

Other intriguing games added to the NFL schedule include the Chicago Bears against the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams against the Baltimore Ravens. The Tennessee Titans and New Orleans Saints are now set to meet in 2021.

With an 18th week added to the schedule, Super Bowl LVI is expected to be moved from Feb. 6 to Feb. 13, 2022.