With the new CBA allowing owners to add a 17th game to the schedule it will change a lot of records. Both seasonal and career. I expect the 18th game to be added in 10 years with the next CBA.
The extra game is going to devalue many of the benchmarks of excellence. A 1000 yard season in both rushing and receptions won't be as important. It will mean D Adams will probably finally break through the barrier. š
Adding games to the season is not new. Even though it seems like it's been here forever, the 16 game season started in 1978. The 14 game season began in 1960.
People rave at the records that Jerry Rice set. And rightfully so. As times change I have noticed there are not as many people who wonder what Don Hutson would have done if he played the game today. (Mainly Packer fans and occasionally someone writing an article.) The only season that he played 12 games was in 1936. All the other years were 10 or 11 game seasons. Ok Don played 9 game his rookie year of 1935 but GB played 12 games.