Patriots owner Robert Kraft states the obvious about possible 18-game NFL season

For years, it has seemed to be a matter of when and not if the NFL and the NFL Players Association will come to an agreement for a schedule format that involves teams playing 18 regular-season games and two preseason contests each campaign. 

During a Tuesday appearance on Boston area sports radio station 98.5 The Sports Hub, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft basically confirmed what everybody knows to be true.

Robert Kraft thinks every team may have at least one international matchup during 18-game NFL season

"I want to tell you guys that we're going to push like the dickens now to make international [games] more important with us," Kraft said during the segment, per Matt Dolloff of 98.5 The Sports Hub. "Every team will go to 18 [regular season games] and two [preseason games] and eliminate one of the preseason games, and every team every year will play one game overseas." 

Back in September, NFLPA interim executive director David White insisted that "it’s not inevitable" that the union will agree to expanding the regular season to 18 games. Per the terms of the collective bargaining agreement that expires in 2031, the NFLPA must consent to such a shift. 

That said, a study from this past fall showed that a majority of respondents among football fans supported the NFL adding at least one week of meaningful games to each season. It's believed the union will ask to receive expanded rosters/practice squads, an altered schedule for the offseason program and an increased share of league revenue in return for accepting an 18-game calendar. Additionally, the NFL may have to offer the players a second bye week. 

Expanding the season will grow revenue for players and owners

"Part of the reason is so we can continue to grow the cap and keep our labor happy, because we're sort of getting near the top here," Kraft added about the NFL going to 18 regular-season games. "You know, with the coverage, 93 of the top 100 programs on television, our NFL games, think about that. It's really amazing. And you look at the size of our crowds versus the other sports. We had that Amazon game on Thursday a couple of weeks ago, 31 million people streamed in. And so as long as we can keep growing revenue, we can keep long-term labor peace."

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk is among NFL insiders who have suggested for years that the league's ultimate goal is to get to a format of 20 regular-season games and zero preseason contests. It appears the football world may be inching toward that reality, as the NFL and NFLPA could discuss expanding the regular season as soon as during the upcoming offseason meetings.