It seems inevitable that the NFL will eventually switch to an 18-game regular season. Once that happens, the schedule rotation will need to be adjusted.
One possible solution would be to add a non-conference rival as a yearly opponent. John Sigler of Saints Wire recently came up with a list of hypothetical non-conference rivals who could face off every year during an 18-game NFL season.
For the Denver Broncos, Sigler picked the Arizona Cardinals, a common preseason opponent due in large part to their proximity to Colorado. Despite their close proximity, the Cardinals have only faced the Broncos 12 times in the regular season. Only three other teams — Tampa Bay (10), Houston (9) and Carolina (7) — have had fewer matchups against Denver.
Under Sigler’s proposition, the Broncos and Cards would face off every season in addition to Denver facing every AFC West team each year.
Based solely on location, the Cardinals are a logical fit. Based on history, though, the Seattle Seahawks would be the best option. After the three current AFC West clubs, the team Denver has faced the most is the Seahawks (55 times). That’s because the Seahawks previously played in the AFC West from 1977-2001.
In addition to playing in the same division for 24 years, the Broncos and Seattle also have the history of having faced off in a Super Bowl. The Russell Wilson trade could also be marked as a key moment in the history of both franchises down the road.
Sigler did give a nod to the old AFC West affiliation by tabbing the Las Vegas Raiders as Seattle’s non-conference rival. Once again, a logical pick based on location, but we’d like to see them matched with the Broncos instead (and the Raiders matched with the San Francisco 49ers).
To view the full list of potential non-conference rivals, visit Saints Wire.
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