Extra gridiron games, 2002-2020

Ever since the NFL chose to move to a 17-game season for 2021 — which I discovered much later because I never desire to obsess myself — I have wanted to tabulate what the American gridiron schedule would have been if the 17-game schedule had been introduced in the original 32-team season of 2002. The extra game for 2021 and beyond is played against a team in the division of the opposite conference that was played in full (all four teams) two years previously and again two seasons subsequently. Which team is played is determined, as with the two extra intraconference games since 2002, by position the previous season.

The ultimate goal of this blog post is to see which teams would have been paired most often in the “extra game” had it been played between 2002 and 2020, and which least often.

AFC East and AFC North:

	Bills	Dolphins	Patriots	Jets	Ravens	Bengals	Browns	Steelers
2002	Cardinals	49ers	Rams	Seahawks	Redskins	Cowboys	Giants	Eagles
2003	Panthers	Saints	Falcons	Buccaneers	Bears	Lions	Vikings	Packers
2004	Bears	Vikings	Packers	Lions	Panthers	Saints	Falcons	Buccaneers
2005	Cowboys	Redskins	Eagles	Giants	Rams	Cardinals	49ers	Seahawks
2006	Cardinals	Rams	Seahawks	49ers	Cowboys	Giants	Eagles	Redskins
2007	Falcons	Buccaneers	Saints	Panthers	Bears	Packers	Lions	Vikings
2008	Vikings	Bears	Packers	Lions	Falcons	Saints	Panthers	Buccaneers
2009	Redskins	Giants	Eagles	Cowboys	49ers	Seahawks	Rams	Cardinals
2010	Rams	Seahawks	Cardinals	49ers	Eagles	Cowboys	Redskins	Giants
2011	Panthers	Buccaneers	Falcons	Saints	Packers	Vikings	Lions	Bears
2012	Vikings	Bears	Packers	Lions	Saints	Panthers	Buccaneers	Falcons
2013	Eagles	Giants	Redskins	Cowboys	49ers	Seahawks	Cardinals	Rams
2014	Rams	Cardinals	Seahawks	49ers	Giants	Eagles	Redskins	Cowboys
2015	Saints	Falcons	Panthers	Buccaneers	Vikings	Lions	Bears	Packers
2016	Lions	Bears	Vikings	Packers	Saints	Panthers	Buccaneers	Falcons
2017	Redskins	Giants	Cowboys	Eagles	Cardinals	Rams	49ers	Seahawks
2018	Seahawks	Cardinals	Rams	49ers	Cowboys	Redskins	Giants	Eagles
2019	Panthers	Falcons	Saints	Buccaneers	Bears	Lions	Packers	Vikings
2020	Vikings	Lions	Packers	Bears	Saints	Panthers	Buccaneers	Falcons

AFC South and AFC West:

	Texans	Colts	Jaguars	Titans	Broncos	Chiefs	Raiders	Chargers
2002	Lions	Packers	Vikings	Bears	Saints	Falcons	Buccaneers	Panthers
2003	Cardinals	Rams	Seahawks	49ers	Giants	Cowboys	Eagles	Redskins
2004	Giants	Eagles	Redskins	Cowboys	Seahawks	Rams	49ers	Cardinals
2005	Panthers	Falcons	Saints	Buccaneers	Vikings	Lions	Bears	Packers
2006	Packers	Bears	Vikings	Lions	Buccaneers	Panthers	Saints	Falcons
2007	Cardinals	Seahawks	49ers	Rams	Giants	Cowboys	Redskins	Eagles
2008	Eagles	Cowboys	Giants	Redskins	Cardinals	49ers	Rams	Seahawks
2009	Buccaneers	Falcons	Saints	Panthers	Bears	Lions	Packers	Vikings
2010	Packers	Vikings	Lions	Bears	Falcons	Buccaneers	Panthers	Saints
2011	49ers	Seahawks	Rams	Cardinals	Redskins	Eagles	Cowboys	Giants
2012	Giants	Redskins	Cowboys	Eagles	49ers	Rams	Seahawks	Cardinals
2013	Falcons	Panthers	Buccaneers	Saints	Packers	Lions	Bears	Vikings
2014	Vikings	Packers	Lions	Bears	Panthers	Saints	Buccaneers	Falcons
2015	Cardinals	Seahawks	49ers	Rams	Cowboys	Eagles	Redskins	Giants
2016	Redskins	Eagles	Giants	Cowboys	Cardinals	Seahawks	Rams	49ers
2017	Falcons	Saints	Panthers	Buccaneers	Vikings	Packers	Lions	Bears
2018	Bears	Packers	Vikings	Lions	Buccaneers	Saints	Falcons	Panthers
2019	Rams	Seahawks	Cardinals	49ers	Redskins	Cowboys	Giants	Eagles
2020	Eagles	Giants	Redskins	Cowboys	Seahawks	49ers	Rams	Cardinals

NFC East and NFC North:

	Cowboys	Giants	Eagles	Redskins	Bears	Lions	Packers	Vikings
2002	Bengals	Browns	Steelers	Ravens	Titans	Texans	Colts	Jaguars
2003	Chiefs	Broncos	Raiders	Chargers	Ravens	Bengals	Steelers	Browns
2004	Titans	Texans	Colts	Jaguars	Bills	Jets	Patriots	Dolphins
2005	Bills	Jets	Patriots	Dolphins	Raiders	Chiefs	Chargers	Broncos
2006	Ravens	Bengals	Browns	Steelers	Colts	Titans	Texans	Jaguars
2007	Chiefs	Broncos	Chargers	Raiders	Ravens	Browns	Bengals	Steelers
2008	Colts	Jaguars	Texans	Titans	Dolphins	Jets	Patriots	Bills
2009	Jets	Dolphins	Patriots	Bills	Broncos	Chiefs	Raiders	Chargers
2010	Bengals	Steelers	Ravens	Browns	Titans	Jaguars	Texans	Colts
2011	Raiders	Chargers	Chiefs	Broncos	Steelers	Browns	Ravens	Bengals
2012	Jaguars	Texans	Titans	Colts	Dolphins	Jets	Patriots	Bills
2013	Jets	Dolphins	Bills	Patriots	Raiders	Chiefs	Broncos	Chargers
2014	Steelers	Ravens	Bengals	Browns	Titans	Jaguars	Colts	Texans
2015	Broncos	Chargers	Chiefs	Raiders	Browns	Bengals	Steelers	Ravens
2016	Titans	Jaguars	Colts	Texans	Dolphins	Bills	Jets	Patriots
2017	Patriots	Dolphins	Jets	Bills	Chargers	Raiders	Chiefs	Broncos
2018	Ravens	Browns	Steelers	Bengals	Texans	Titans	Colts	Jaguars
2019	Chiefs	Raiders	Chargers	Broncos	Ravens	Bengals	Browns	Steelers
2020	Titans	Colts	Texans	Jaguars	Jets	Dolphins	Patriots	Bills

NFC South and NFC West:

	Falcons	Panthers	Saints	Buccaneers	Cardinals	Rams	49ers	Seahawks
2002	Chiefs	Chargers	Broncos	Raiders	Bills	Patriots	Dolphins	Jets
2003	Patriots	Bills	Dolphins	Jets	Texans	Colts	Titans	Jaguars
2004	Browns	Ravens	Bengals	Steelers	Chargers	Chiefs	Raiders	Broncos
2005	Colts	Texans	Jaguars	Titans	Bengals	Ravens	Browns	Steelers
2006	Chargers	Chiefs	Raiders	Broncos	Bills	Dolphins	Jets	Patriots
2007	Bills	Jets	Patriots	Dolphins	Texans	Titans	Jaguars	Colts
2008	Ravens	Browns	Bengals	Steelers	Broncos	Raiders	Chiefs	Chargers
2009	Colts	Titans	Jaguars	Texans	Steelers	Browns	Ravens	Bengals
2010	Broncos	Raiders	Chargers	Chiefs	Patriots	Bills	Jets	Dolphins
2011	Patriots	Bills	Jets	Dolphins	Titans	Jaguars	Texans	Colts
2012	Steelers	Bengals	Ravens	Browns	Chargers	Chiefs	Broncos	Raiders
2013	Texans	Colts	Titans	Jaguars	Browns	Steelers	Ravens	Bengals
2014	Chargers	Broncos	Chiefs	Raiders	Dolphins	Bills	Jets	Patriots
2015	Dolphins	Patriots	Bills	Jets	Texans	Titans	Jaguars	Colts
2016	Steelers	Bengals	Ravens	Browns	Broncos	Raiders	Chargers	Chiefs
2017	Texans	Jaguars	Colts	Titans	Ravens	Bengals	Browns	Steelers
2018	Raiders	Chargers	Chiefs	Broncos	Dolphins	Patriots	Jets	Bills
2019	Dolphins	Bills	Patriots	Jets	Jaguars	Texans	Titans	Colts
2020	Steelers	Bengals	Ravens	Browns	Chargers	Raiders	Chiefs	Broncos

Overall Total of Extra Games Between Each Pair of Teams, 2002-2020

	Bills	Dolphins	Patriots	Jets	Ravens	Bengals	Browns	Steelers	Texans	Colts	Jaguars	Titans	Broncos	Chiefs	Raiders	Chargers
Cowboys	1	0	1	2	2	2	0	1	0	1	1	3	1	3	1	0
Giants	0	3	0	1	1	1	2	1	2	1	2	0	2	0	1	2
Eagles	1	0	2	1	1	1	1	2	2	2	0	1	0	2	1	2
Redskins	2	1	1	0	1	1	2	1	1	1	2	1	2	0	2	1
Bears	1	3	0	1	3	0	1	1	1	1	0	3	1	0	2	1
Lions	1	1	0	3	0	3	2	0	1	0	2	2	0	3	1	0
Packers	0	0	4	1	1	1	1	2	2	3	0	0	1	1	1	1
Vikings	3	1	1	0	1	1	1	2	1	1	3	0	2	0	0	2
Falcons	1	2	2	0	1	0	1	3	2	2	0	0	1	1	1	2
Panthers	3	0	1	1	1	3	1	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2
Saints	1	1	2	1	3	2	0	0	0	1	2	1	1	2	1	1
Buccaneers	0	2	0	3	0	0	3	2	1	0	1	2	2	1	2	0
Cardinals	2	2	1	0	1	1	1	1	3	0	1	1	2	0	0	3
Rams	2	1	2	0	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	2	0	2	3	0
49ers	0	1	0	4	2	0	2	0	1	0	2	2	1	2	1	1
Seahawks	1	1	2	1	0	2	0	2	0	4	1	0	2	1	1	1

Comparative notes:

The following sixty-two pairings would never have occurred as the extra game between 2004 and 2020:

1. Bills v. Giants
2. Bills v. Packers
3. Bills v. Buccaneers
4. Bills v. 49ers
5. Dolphins v. Cowboys
6. Dolphins v. Eagles
7. Dolphins v. Packers
8. Dolphins v. Panthers
9. Patriots v. Giants
10. Patriots v. Bears
11. Patriots v. Giants
12. Patriots v. Buccaneers
13. Patriots v. 49ers
14. Jets v. Redskins
15. Jets v. Vikings
16. Jets v. Falcons
17. Jets v. Cardinals
18. Jets v. Rams
19. Ravens v. Lions
20. Ravens v. Buccaneers
21. Ravens v. Seahawks
22. Bengals v. Bears
23. Bengals v. Falcons
24. Bengals v. Buccaneers
25. Bengals v, 49ers
26. Browns v. Cowboys
27. Browns v. Saints
28. Browns v. Seahawks
29. Steelers v. Lions
30. Steelers v. Panthers
31. Steelers v. Saints
32. Steelers v. 49ers
33. Texans v. Cowboys
34. Texans v. Saints
35. Texans v. Seahawks
36. Colts v. Lions
37. Colts v. Buccaneers
38. Colts v. Cardinals
39. Colts v. 49ers
40. Jaguars v. Eagles
41. Jaguars v. Bears
42. Jaguars v. Packers
43. Jaguars v. Falcons
44. Titans v. Giants
45. Titans v. Packers
46. Titans v. Vikings
47. Titans v. Falcons
48. Titans v. Seahawks
49. Broncos v. Eagles
50. Broncos v. Lions
51. Broncos v. Rams
52. Chiefs v. Giants
53. Chiefs v. Redskins
54. Chiefs v. Bears
55. Chiefs v. Vikings
56. Chiefs v. Cardinals
57. Raiders v. Vikings
58. Raiders v. Cardinals
59. Chargers v. Cowboys
60. Chargers v. Lions
61. Chargers v. Buccaneers
62. Chargers v. Rams

The theoretical maximum of occurrences for any pair is five, but no pairs would have occured five times. The following three pairs would have occurred four times however:

1. Patriots v. Packers
2. Jets v. 49ers
3. Colts v. Seahawks
• this is a little ironic given that the two teams did not play at all between 1979 and 1990 inclusive when the Seahawks were in the AFC.

The following eighteen would have occurred three times:

1. Bills v. Vikings
2. Bills v. Panthers
3. Dolphins v. Giants
• an extremely ironic one as the teams would with the seventeen-game schedule have been opposed every odd year since 2007
• only the Jets v. the 49ers, who would have met every even year from 2004 to 2016, rival this
• yet historically they did not meet at all between 1973 and 1989 inclusive
4. Dolphins v. Bears
5. Jets v. Lions
• amongst these the extra game for the 0–16 2008 Lions — unlikely they would have avoided 0–17 if it had been played
6. Jets v. Buccaneers
7. Ravens v. Bears
8. Ravens v. Saints
9. Bengals v. Panthers
10. Browns v. Buccaneers
11. Steelers v. Falcons
12. Texans v. Cardinals
13. Jaguars v. Vikings
14. Titans v. Cowboys
15. Titans v. Bears
16. Chiefs v. Cowboys
17. Raiders v. Rams
18. Chargers v. Cardinals

Except for the Titans against the Bears, the last five are a little ironic too as they are local interconference matchups. It’s notable that the Broncos, the Eagles and the Redskins would not have played three extra games against any one opponent over the nineteen years examined. The Redskins, Panthers, and Raiders would have played extra games against the greatest number of different opponents — fourteen — whilst the Lions and Buccaneers would have had only ten different extra-game opponents.