The 256-game schedule is expected to be seen across the sports world as a vote of confidence that a full season can be played, though sources admit that some of it has to do with the fact that the first regular season game is still four months away (Sept. 10).
But behind the scenes, teams have been modeling out shortened seasons. One particular scenario that has taken hold, according to team sources, is a 14-game schedule that would start in October and result in the Super Bowl being pushed back just one week to Feb. 14. Under this scenario, the two games that would be cut would be cross-conference matchups.