Comish question: How to deal with extra NFL game?? (1 Viewer)

I'm commissioner of two leagues.  One a 3 division 12 team league and a 2 division 10 team league.  The old NFL schedule worked well for  both leagues. 12 team league had 14 regular season games and a 4 team two round playoff in weeks 15 and 16.  the 10 team league had a 13 game regular schedule and a 6 team (division winners got week 14 BYE)  three round playoff in weeks 14, 15 & 16.

Now with the extra NFL regular season game playoffs could continue to week 17, so I'm trying to think of creative ways to create more competition in the late season by expanding playoffs to more teams and one more week.   Simply adding a "random" regular season is not an equitable or acceptable option.

I have a few ideas, but I think I can get some great input from the group here.

For the 10-team league, my first thought would be to just do a double-bye situation. Sorry for linking but a picture is the best way to show it:  https://ibb.co/7RpB0bc.

Or, if you want to go a little crazy with it, I think something like this would be fun: https://ibb.co/4fc3FRP.

Then, even the 9 and 10 have a shot at 3rd place, but they're locked out of the championship.

The most important thing to do is eliminate week 14 from your playoffs as there are 4 teams on a bye that week. If you dont want to expand to 6 playoff teams in the 12 team league which would allow for weeks, 15, 16, 17 playoffs you could always go to a 2 week championship game in week 16 and 17 or a 2 week game for weeks 15 amd 16.

thawkprime21 said:

The most important thing to do is eliminate week 14 from your playoffs as there are 4 teams on a bye that week.

Click to expand...

Ah, didn't realize that. Yes, that is critical then.

I believe there was already a thread in the Shark Pool discussing this.  I will try and find it to link it here

ETA:  Here is the thread https://forums.footballguys.com/topic/777231-nfl-owners-nflpa-approve-a-17-game-season-details-fantasy-football-discussion-thread/page/4/

thawkprime21 said:

The most important thing to do is eliminate week 14 from your playoffs as there are 4 teams on a bye that week. If you dont want to expand to 6 playoff teams in the 12 team league which would allow for weeks, 15, 16, 17 playoffs you could always go to a 2 week championship game in week 16 and 17 or a 2 week game for weeks 15 amd 16.

Click to expand...

I see your point, but wouldn't that actually give a team whose rosters have players with week 14 byes an unfair advantage during regular season?? I'm envisioning that week 14 in the 10 team league is round 1 of play-in tournament involving lower ranked teams that will actually have a rough road anyway to make it to finals. 

eighsse said:

For the 10-team league, my first thought would be to just do a double-bye situation. Sorry for linking but a picture is the best way to show it:  https://ibb.co/7RpB0bc.

Or, if you want to go a little crazy with it, I think something like this would be fun: https://ibb.co/4fc3FRP.

Then, even the 9 and 10 have a shot at 3rd place, but they're locked out of the championship.

Click to expand...

I was thinking along the same lines, but only considered the double bye weeks for division winners.  Offering a one week bye to division runner-up's is intriguing