The NFL schedule has consisted of 16 regular-season games and four preseason contests since 1978, with the current 12-team postseason structure existing for the past 29 years.
That structure may change, however, after a report from Mark Maske of the Washington Post revealed that owners are pushing an expanded postseason or an expanded regular season in lieu of dropping one or two preseason contests during current collective bargaining agreement negotiations with the NFLPA.
"Amid mounting criticism of an uncompelling exhibition-season product with sparsely attended stadiums and star players being withheld from games to avoid injury, there is increasing conviction within the NFL to shorten the preseason.