NFL releases full 2020 schedule, but says adjustments can be made
The coronavirus pandemic still has the NFL shutdown, but the league is planning for a full 2020 season in the fall and, as evidenced by the schedule released Thursday night, it should kick off with a bang.
The Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs open the regular season at home on Thursday, Sept. 10, against the Houston Texans in a re-match of last season’s epic playoff game in which they rallied from a 24-0 deficit to pull out a 51-31 victory in the AFC divisional round.
The NFL didn’t waste time withholding the drama on opening weekend by having the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and new quarterback Tom Brady visit NFC South foe Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 13.
The New England Patriots will start their post-Brady era at home against the Tua Tagovailoa-led Miami Dolphins.
The release of the schedule comes one day after NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo to the clubs laying out protocols on how facilities may reopen, which includes consent from state government officials, establishment of a club infection response team, social distancing and other measures.
Club facilities of all 32 NFL teams have been closed since March 25 in an effort of combat the spread of the COVID-19 virus, which has killed more than 76,000 people and infected another 1.2 million in the United States alone.
No team can reopen unless every team is eligible — something that presently seems unlikely based upon the stance of some state governments. Assuming clubs were able to, they must have protocols in place by May 15 and those plans must meet with the approval of the appropriate state and local officials. After that, clubs would be advised as to when they could re-open their facilities.
Among the protocols would be the wearing a cloth face covering or medical-style mask, and daily screening of employees and visitors who must submit to temperature checks and answer relevant questions about their health.
Goodell said the NFL is actively working with the NFL Players Association on the protocols that would enable the sport to return.
All of the safety measures and the release of the schedule have created a level of excitement about the return of the sport, but the league maintains that its schedule can be adjusted should the conditions surrounding the pandemic dictate.
“The release of the NFL schedule is something our fans eagerly anticipate every year, as they look forward with hope and optimism to the season ahead,” Goodell said. “In preparing to play the season as scheduled, we will continue to make our decisions based on the latest medical and public health advice, in compliance with government regulations, and with appropriate safety protocols to protect the health of our fans, players, club and league personnel, and our communities.
“We will be prepared to make adjustments as necessary, as we have during this offseason in safely and efficiently conducting key activities such as free agency, the virtual offseason program, and the 2020 NFL draft.”
But Thursday night was mainly about the prospect of players returning to the field, and fans’ desire to see some of the marquee match-ups the league unveiled.
The Cowboys are one of seven teams with five prime-time appearances, joining the Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Chiefs, Rams, Patriots, San Francisco 49ers and Buccaneers.
The league will christen a second new stadium in 2020. The Las Vegas Raiders first home game at Allegiant Stadium will be a Monday Night Football contest against the Saints in Week 2. The Sept. 21 game will be broadcast both by ESPN and ABC, and it will be the first Monday night game on ABC since the 2005 season.
Thanksgiving will feature a triple-header on Nov. 26. The first game will send the Texans to Detroit to face the Lions. The late afternoon game will feature the Washington Redskins visiting the Cowboys. And in the nightcap, the Ravens will meet the Steelers in Pittsburgh in an AFC North battle.
