Is the NFL Season Even Going To Finish?

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American football on field with goal post in background.

The coronavirus pandemic has impacted everyone and this includes the sports world. When the first positive case was reported in the NBA last spring, there were lots of people wondering what this meant for sports. This was immediately followed by a suspension of the NBA season in addition to the cancellation of the March Madness basketball tournament. Furthermore, the start of Major League Baseball was delayed, the NBA did not resume until the spring, and the NFL was forced to cancel its preseason games. Now, in the midst of the NFL season, many are wondering if the season is ever going to finish.

It is important to note that the NFL has done a relatively good job managing the coronavirus in its locker rooms been compared to other sports. For example, college football is in dire straits. With dozens of games already having been canceled, many people are wondering if the college football playoff is ever going to happen. Teams in the Big Ten might on the end up playing a few games in the PAC-12 might play even fewer games. At the same time, it is unfair to compare the NFL to college football given the differences in the way these leagues operate.

There have already been a lot of coronavirus issues in the NFL that have impacted free picks and betting. These issues have led to NFL games being played on Tuesday, the schedule being reshuffled, and numerous fines being handed down. For example, the Tennessee Titans had one of the biggest outbreaks of coronavirus and this led to significant penalties due to coronavirus issues. Even the Las Vegas Raiders were given severe punishments due to brazen, repeated violations. Most recently, the New Orleans Saints were seen in the locker room celebrating without masks. Given the fact that a coronavirus vaccine will probably not be ready until next summer, it is fair to wonder if the season is even going to finish.

Already, the NFL is planning for a Super Bowl that does not have any fans. This makes it a lot easier to pull off, given that one of the biggest logistical challenges of hosting the Super Bowl involves restaurant and hotel capacity. Without any fans, this provides the NFL with added flexibility that it usually does not have. For example, if games continue to get pushed back and bye weeks continue to get moved, it is possible to Super Bowl might be pushed back. It would be impossible to push the Super Bowl back if greater hotel capacity is needed to accommodate fans; however, it gets much easier to move the Super Bowl without any fans.

Therefore, it is likely that the NFL is going to finish in some capacity; however, do not be surprised at the Super Bowl date gets moved. This might have to be done in order to accommodate changes in the NFL schedule as players continue to test positive and games continue to get postponed. It will be interesting to see how the season unfolds.

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