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No, the move to an 18 game regular season seems purely designed to make more money for the NFL and the TV networks that carry the games.
First of all, with 32 teams, a 16 game schedule with 1 bye week has been well organized and maintained for years now. Second, the season is a war of attrition. The NFL would have to expand roster sizes and you're looking at more injuries, especially season ending ones at that. Third, the NFL and the NFLPA would have to work out an agreement for paying the players more, and the deal that they have to get done already is likely going to be difficult to iron out. Fourth, the quality of play may be slightly diluted due to the injury aspect and increased roster size. Fifth, the importance of every week of the season becomes slightly less due to the increase in the schedule.
I also think that if there were to be a move to 18 games, the NFL would likely look at making every team play one game abroad. I'm okay with teams playing in North America, but travel and such would dictate that teams would need a bye week immediately after their game abroad if the game was overseas. As much as the NFL is going to be about expanding their global appeal, I really think they should stick to North America not for just logistical purposes, but because thats where the broadest appeal remains and will remain on a consistent basis.
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