Reports: NFL Playoffs to Expand, Extra Regular Season Game with Proposed CBA

An extra playoff team for each conference in 2020, a longer regular season in 2021 and even a shorter preseason could be coming to the NFL.

The latest proposed Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) from the owners would expand the playoffs to seven teams from both the AFC and NFC, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. What this means, is there would be six Wild Card games between Saturday and Sunday of Wild Card Weekend.

Also, Schefter reports only the top seed from each conference would earn a first-round bye, unlike the current format where the top two seeds earn opening round byes.

One source, reportedly told Schefter, “that’s been agreed to for a long time.” The playoff changes would take effect this upcoming season, if the CBA is agreed on.

What hasn’t been agreed to is a longer regular season, yet. The owner-proposed CBA would lengthen the regular season to 17 games, and it would cut the preseason from four games to three, according to Schefter. However, Schefter reports the expanded regular season wouldn’t take effect until 2021 at the earliest.

Finally, the players would also get additional money of the revenue share, according to Schefter.

Schefter’s source also says the CBA is not done, but “I’d be very surprised if there’s not a new CBA for the new league year,” which starts on March 18.

Follow 750 The Game on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

More about: