the nfl will release the 2020 game schedule next week and despite talk of alternative scheduling or a late start because of the coronavirus it is expected to be a businessasusual slateespn reported saturday that the 17week season will open sept 10 and close with the super bowl on feb 7 in tampa fla citing league spokesman brian mccarthywe plan to start on time mccarthy saidthe league has discussed contingency plans howeversports business daily reported monday that the nfl was forming contingency plans in case its schedule of games needs to be altered including delaying season openers by more than a month and moving the super bowl to the end of februaryits unclear whether the coronavirus outbreak will ease enough to allow fans in the stands espn said the nfl wont hunker players in specific locations to play the season as the nhl mlb and nba have discussedespn also reported that the schedule isnt expected to include early season saturday games it had been speculated the nfl might schedule games on saturday since the college football season remains up in the airin the meantime nfl facilities remain closed and teams have begun holding virtual workouts