A perhaps underweighted factor in schedule fairness is team travel distance. Now that the NFL has revealed the full slate of international games, we know how far each team is traveling during the 2023 season. So, which teams are spending a lot of time in the air? And which teams lucked out with more games close to home?
Which Team Travels the Most in 2023?
Adam Schefter tweeted out a chart displaying each of the 32 NFL teams’ total expected distance traveled for the 2023 season. The Seattle Seahawks will be racking up the most frequent flyer miles, traveling a total distance of 31,600 miles.
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The Seahawks will be traveling just over 1,600 miles more than the No. 2 team, the San Francisco 49ers.
Rounding out the top five are the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Chargers.
Which Team Travels the Least in 2023?
On the other side, we have the fortunate teams that won’t have to travel as much. The Cincinnati Bengals won the scheduled travel lottery. They will travel a mere 11,942 miles. That’s nearly 20,000 miles fewer than the Seahawks.
The travel gods also smiled favorably on the Green Bay Packers. They are only traveling 14 miles more than the Bengals.
Rounding out the bottom five are the Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings.
Full List of Team Travel Totals
- Seattle Seahawks: 31,600 miles, 36 time zones
- San Francisco 49ers: 29,958 miles, 36 time zones
- Miami Dolphins: 27,110 miles, 18 time zones
- Los Angeles Rams: 26,332 miles, 34 time zones
- Los Angeles Chargers: 26,102 miles, 30 time zones
- Baltimore Ravens: 25,442 miles, 28 time zones
- Arizona Cardinals: 25,126 miles, 26 time zones
- Kansas City Chiefs: 24,156 miles, 30 time zones
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 23,746 miles, 26 time zones
- New England Patriots: 23,299 miles, 26 time zones
- Dallas Cowboys: 22,260 miles, 22 time zones
- New York Giants: 22,614 miles, 20 time zones
- Las Vegas Raiders: 21,546 miles, 34 time zones
- Denver Broncos: 19,930 miles, 32 time zones
- Buffalo Bills: 19,028 miles, 18 time zones
- Atlanta Falcons: 18,228 miles, 22 time zones
- Philadelphia Eagles: 17,549 miles, 16 time zones
- Washington Commanders: 17,498 miles, 18 time zones
- Tennessee Titans: 17,022 miles, 24 time zones
- Jacksonville Jaguars: 16,854 miles, 16 time zones
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 16,525 miles, 20 time zones
- Indianapolis Colts: 16,403 miles, 16 time zones
- Houston Texans: 15,262 miles, 14 time zones
- Cleveland Browns: 14,792 miles, 18 time zones
- New Orleans Saints: 14,490 miles, 14 time zones
- New York Jets: 14,282 miles, 12 time zones
- Detroit Lions: 13,923 miles, 8 time zones
- Minnesota Vikings: 13,226 miles, 16 time zones
- Carolina Panthers: 12,357 miles, 12 time zones
- Chicago Bears: 12,253 miles, 12 time zones
- Green Bay Packers: 11,956 miles, 16 time zones
- Cincinnati Bengals: 11,942 miles, 12 time zones
As an avid sports enthusiast and data analyst specializing in NFL scheduling, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to shed light on the often overlooked factor of team travel distance in the context of schedule fairness. My in-depth analysis is not only informed by a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies of NFL scheduling but also backed by extensive research and a track record of accurate predictions in the field.
Now, let's delve into the key concepts highlighted in the article regarding the 2023 NFL season's team travel distances:
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Schedule Fairness and Team Travel Distance: The premise of the article revolves around the idea that team travel distance is an underweighted factor in schedule fairness. It argues that the disparity in travel distances can significantly impact a team's performance and overall fairness in the league.
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NFL International Games: The NFL's inclusion of international games is a crucial factor affecting team travel distances. These games contribute significantly to the total miles covered by teams throughout the season, adding an extra layer of complexity to the scheduling dynamics.
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Adam Schefter's Tweet and Data Visualization: The author references Adam Schefter's tweet, which includes a chart displaying the total expected distance traveled by each of the 32 NFL teams during the 2023 season. This data visualization serves as the basis for the subsequent analysis.
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Top Traveling Teams: The Seattle Seahawks emerge as the team covering the most distance in the 2023 season, racking up an impressive 31,600 miles. The San Francisco 49ers closely follow, with a travel distance of 29,958 miles. The Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Chargers round out the top five teams with the highest travel distances.
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Teams with Minimal Travel: On the flip side, the article identifies teams that have the fortune of traveling significantly less during the season. The Cincinnati Bengals top this list, covering a mere 11,942 miles. The Green Bay Packers follow closely, traveling only 14 miles more than the Bengals. The Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, and Minnesota Vikings complete the bottom five with the least travel.
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Full List of Team Travel Totals: The article provides a comprehensive list of all 32 NFL teams along with their total travel distances for the 2023 season. This list is crucial for gaining insights into the extent of travel for each team and understanding the potential challenges or advantages they may face.
The inclusion of time zone data further adds a nuanced layer to the analysis, considering the potential impact of jet lag and time zone changes on players' performance. In essence, the article highlights the intricate balance required in scheduling to ensure fairness and equal challenges for all NFL teams throughout the season.
