The NFL Playoffs Are About to Change Dramatically
The NFL playoffs are about to change pretty dramatically.
ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting the NFL is proposing to add another playoff team from each conference. That means seven teams will reach the postseason from the AFC and the NFC, bringing the total to 14 playoff teams. Why is one extra team such a dramatic change? Because the league would then only award one first-round bye per conference.
NFL playoff structure is about to be changed. Under the current CBA proposal, seven teams from each conference will make the playoffs, with only bye per conference, sources tell ESPN. It would go into effect this upcoming season. More coming on https://t.co/rDZaVFhcDQ.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 19, 2020
Under the current transformational CBA proposal that NFL owners are pushing for, there would be more drama at the end of the regular season...and six - six! - games on wild-card weekend. Imagine three wild-card games on Saturday, then three more Sunday.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 20, 2020
More details: Under the current CBA proposal that NFL owners are pushing for, the playoff field would be expanded to seven teams, while the regular season would be increased to 17 games per team, and the preseason shortened to three games per team, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 19, 2020
Schefter says the latest CBA proposal has seven teams from each conference making the postseason. That means the league must be adding a third wild card team to the mix. So now, we would have six wild card weekend games instead of four, with the top team in each conference being the only squad to get a first-round bye.
That change would give an enormous advantage to the top-ranked team in each conference and would, frankly, make winning regular season games far more important. And it appears the change will take place as soon as next season.
Obviously this all needs to be agreed to by the league and the NFLPA, but it certainly looks like we're moving towards a changed playoff system.