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Robert Kraft explained potential changes coming to NFL schedule
“You know, with the coverage, 93 of the top 100 programs on television [are] our NFL games. Think about that."
Robert Kraft on the possibility of NFL schedule changes: Alongside his comments on Tuesday about “never” wanting to build a domed stadium for the Patriots, team owner Robert Kraft also dropped some tidbits about potential changes to the NFL’s annual schedule.
Speaking with 98.5 The Sports Hub’s “Zolak & Bertrand,” Kraft acknowledged the growing chorus of owners who are intent on expanding the regular season schedule from 17 to 18 games (while simultaneously eliminating one of the three preseason games that each team plays).
“I want to tell you guys that we’re going to push like the dickens now to make international [games] more important with us,” he told the show. “Every team will go to 18 [regular-season games] and two [preseason games] and eliminate one of the preseason games, and every team — every year — will play one game overseas.”
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Kraft attributed part of the motivation for the push to the need to maintain positive relations with the NFL Players Association.
“Part of the reason is so we can continue to grow the cap and keep our labor happy, because we’re sort of getting near the top here,” Kraft said. “You know, with the coverage, 93 of the top 100 programs on television [are] our NFL games. Think about that. It’s really amazing. And you look at the size of our crowds versus the other sports. We had that Amazon game on Thursday a couple of weeks ago — 31 million people streamed in.”
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“As long as we can keep growing revenue, we can keep long-term labor peace,” he explained.
According to multiple reports, league owners and the NFLPA have broached the subject of an 18th regular season game at a “very high level,” and the conversation continues.
The NFL moved from 14 regular season games to 16 in 1978. In 2021, the league expanded again to 17.
Trivia: Since the NFL expanded to 17 regular season games in 2021, what two teams have achieved the highest number of wins in a single season?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: They both went 15-2 in 2024.
Scores and schedules:
The Bruins lost to the Stars 6-2 on Tuesday. Boston will host the Golden Knights on Thursday at 7 p.m.
Tonight, the Celtics play the Pacers at TD Garden at 7:30 p.m.
And on Sunday, the Patriots play the Broncos in Denver in the AFC Championship game at 3 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
- Stars end Bruins’ 6-game winning streak with a dominant 6-2 victory
- A dramatic overtime goal and an incredible goaltending performance lift Harvard in women’s Beanpot final
- Robert Kraft explained how AFC East rival convinced him to ‘never’ build a dome stadium for the Patriots
- New 2026 NFL mock draft has Patriots adding eventual starter on offensive line
- What the Patriots are saying about preparing for Denver’s high altitude
- Former Bruins goalie Linus Ullmark talks leave of absence, social media rumors
- ‘Plays like a 10-year vet’: Patriots rookie Craig Woodson is turning heads this postseason
- Joe Mazzulla produced another humorous quote when asked about Jayson Tatum’s return timeline
- Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame
- Bill O’Brien replenishes BC’s football roster with 27 mid-year transfers
- Revolution announce signing of winger Griffin Yow
Some Red Sox news: Boston made a trade with the Twins.
A Crimson tide: Harvard won the Women’s Beanpot final 2-1 over Boston University on Tuesday.
On this day: In 1994, Robert Kraft officially bought the Patriots. It ended an increasingly loud amount of speculation that the team could be relocated outside of New England, and ushered in what became a golden age for the hitherto peripheral franchise.
Daily highlight: Auburn’s Tahaad Pettiford absolutely threw it down in a 78-66 win over Ole Miss on Tuesday.
Trivia answer: Chiefs, Lions
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