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I think it should be a divisional opponent on a rotational basis. For instance one year the Saints play a 3rd game against Atlanta. Then the following year play a 3rd contest against Carolina, Tampa, then back to Atlanta.
Also rotate road/home games. For example, if you played Atlanta on the road then on the next 3rd face off against them you get a home game. Since your first 17th game was a road game the next 17th game the following year will be a home contest.
This will work well. One it keeps the schedule clean and simple. Two, it garuantees that the final game each year for every team will be a divisional one. Hence the game is likely to be meaningful and a high interest one. Best of all it will eliminate a Ram vs Jaguars game the final week which has a high likelihood of being meaningless.
Also rotate road/home games. For example, if you played Atlanta on the road then on the next 3rd face off against them you get a home game. Since your first 17th game was a road game the next 17th game the following year will be a home contest.
This will work well. One it keeps the schedule clean and simple. Two, it garuantees that the final game each year for every team will be a divisional one. Hence the game is likely to be meaningful and a high interest one. Best of all it will eliminate a Ram vs Jaguars game the final week which has a high likelihood of being meaningless.