The 2020 NFL Draft begins on April 23, and in normal circumstances the league would release the regular-season schedule the week before. Needless to say, there are no normal circumstances in the USA right now with the coronavirus pandemic. Now the schedule is expected to be released no later than May 9.
According to NBC Sports' Peter King, there was "anticipation" for a marquee Week 1 matchup between the Dallas Cowboys, the most popular team (both from a TV ratings and betting perspective) in the NFL, and the Los Angeles Rams at the new $5 billion-plus SoFi Stadium in L.A. It was expected to be either the Sunday night game or part of the Monday night doubleheader. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was instrumental in helping to move the NFL back to Los Angeles.
That may still happen, but the coronavirus could change the NFL's plans as construction is ongoing at SoFi Stadium and could be delayed. Employees are still at work for now on the project despite at least one confirmed COVID-19 positive test.
California governor Gavin Newsom already has publicly said he is "not anticipating" sports events with full stadiums in his state in September. NFL games could be played with no fans for much of if not the entire 2020 regular season.
Jeff Pash, general counsel for the NFL, recently told the Los Angeles Times that both the Rams and Chargers "have options" if the stadium isn't ready. The league absolutely has to have contingency plans and thus it may simply be easier to not give either Los Angeles team a home game until a few weeks into the season.
If it were a Cowboys-Rams Week 1 matchup, early projections are that Los Angeles would be a very slight favorite at William Hill sportsbook. The teams played in Week 15 last year at AT&T Stadium and Dallas was a 1-point underdog. The Cowboys rolled, though, 44-21, thanks to 263 yards rushing. Both Tony Pollard (131) and Ezekiel Elliott (117) had 100-yard games.
