The NFL schedule is a 256-piece jigsaw puzzle, with everything having to go into place exactly right for it to fit perfectly. Piece by piece, or game by game, a team led by NFL Senior VP of Broadcast and Media Operations Howard Katz maps out how the 17-week slate will take shape. The process takes several months, as the group has to take apart and then puts back together a complex web that involves both known and unforeseen challenges. The goal is to find a perfect schedule that pleases all 32 teams and the league's five broadcast partners. The problem is that what pleases one of those entities may not be optimal for another, with various obstacles popping up that prevent easy fixes.
Creating NFL schedule complex process
