NFL Seeks To Change Rules About Short Week Games

NFL teams can currently only play 2 "short-week" games a season. A policy is in place designed to prevent one team from having multiple weeks of extra short rest. But as the NFL takes over more and more days, that rule is starting to become an obstacle. An obstacle the NFL is seeking to remove. The NFL plans to vote on a new rule that would exempt Friday Games from that rule, allowing a team, for instance, to play two Thursday games and a Friday Game.

The NFL now plays games on Black Friday and on Christmas. Christmas just so happens to fall on a Friday this year. That alone is at least 3 combined Friday games, and maybe 4. Throw in the fact that they played a game on Friday during Opening Week, and they may have 5 total Friday games this year.

All of those extra Short Rest games have made it harder to fill out the Thursday Night Football schedule for Amazon. Amazon obvioulsy wants good games, but if the good teams are scheduled for Friday games, it takes away a game they can play on Thursday night, forcing Amazon to settle for less exciting matchups.

So as the NFL takes over more and more days on the Calendar, they need a way to stay flexible. Their solution is to stop considering Friday a 'Short-Week" game. Even though it takes place with just 5 days' rest.

The measure is one of several that will be considered at the NFL League Meetings. If passed, it would open the door for one team to have to play multiple Thursday games, along with a Friday game.