Quote:
Originally posted by sttfrk
Also, I am tired of records being artificially broken because today's players play more games.
|
Quote:
Originally posted by Eric
The problem with 18 games is that lots of records may wind up with asterisks because of the extra two games.
|
The NFL started playing a 16 game schedule in 1978; it played a 14 game schedule from 1961-1977; and it played a 12 game schedule from 1947-1960.
This means the NFL spent 14 seasons playing 12 games, 17 seasons playing 14 games, and 26 seasons (including the season just underway) playing 16 games.
In comparison, baseball has been using a 162 game schedule in both leagues since 1962, which works out to 42 seasons.
Given these numbers, baseball has had a lot more stability in its season lengths that football has. I wonder if there was a big outcry about statistical continuity in 1978 when the NFL season jumped from 14 to 16 games...