NFL expands to historic 17-game season

REGULAR SEASON: SEP 9, 2021 - JAN 9, 2022 	SUPER BOWL LVI: FEB 13, 2022

The NFL schedule has expanded for the first time since 1978, with each team playing one additional game during the regular season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers,  the defending Super Bowl champions, take on the Dallas Cowboys in the traditional Kickoff Game to launch the 102nd NFL season


NFL FRANCHISES

Two conferences, each with 16 teams divided into four divisions:
National League 
American League

Regular season games
272

Patrick Mahomes Kansas City Chiefs. Arguably best quarterback of his generation


Seahawks
Division: West

49ers
West

Rams
West

Chargers
West

Raiders
West

Cardinals
West

Broncos
West

Cowboys
East

Vikings
North

Packers
North

Bears
North

Colts
South

Chiefs
West

Saints
South

Texans
South

Lions
North

Browns
North

Bills
East

Patriots
East

Jets, East
Giants, East 
Eagles, East 
Ravens, North 
Washington, East

Steelers
North

Bengals
North

Panthers
South

Titans
South

Falcons
South

Jaguars
South

Buccaneers
South

Dolphins
East


Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 7-time Super Bowl champion starts 22nd NFL season, aged 44


OPENING DAY 2021
Six interleague matches. Defending AFC champions Kansas City Chiefs host Cleveland Browns

Away team 		All games Sep 12 except where indicated	Home team
Dallas Cowboys 		Raymond James Stadium (Sep 9)		TB Buccaneers
Jacksonville Jaguars 	NRG Stadium				Houston Texans
Los Angeles Chargers* 	FedExField				Washington Football Team
Seattle Seahawks* 	Lucas Oil Stadium			Indianapolis Colts
New York Jets* 		Bank of America Stadium			Carolina Panthers
Minnesota Vikings* 	Paul Brown Stadium			Cincinnati Bengals
Arizona Cardinals*	Nissan Stadium				Tennessee Titans
San Francisco 49ers 	Ford Field				Detroit Lions
Pittsburgh Steelers 	Highmark Stadium			Buffalo Bills
Philadelphia Eagles 	Mercedes-Benz Stadium			Atlanta Falcons
Cleveland Browns 	Arrowhead Stadium			Kansas City Chiefs
Green Bay Packers 	Caesars Superdome			New Orleans Saints
Denver Broncos* 	MetLife Stadium				New York Giants
Miami Dolphins 		Gillette Stadium			New England Patriots
Chicago Bears 		SoFi Stadium				Los Angeles Rams
Baltimore Ravens	Allegiant Stadium (Sep 13)		Las Vegas Raiders


SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS
National League teams edge series with 28 wins to American League’s 27. New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers hold joint record with six titles apiece

1966: Green Bay beat Kansas City in first Super Bowl
1972: Miami win first title – only team in NFL history to finish season undefeated
1984-96: National League domination, inspired by MVP’s† Joe Montana and Jerry Rice
2001: Tom Brady wins first title as New England edge St Louis Rams
2008: Pittsburgh are first team to claim six titles
2015: Denver beat Carolina in Super Bowl 50


*Interleague game
†Most Valuable Player


Source: NFL 
Pictures: Getty Images
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