The NFL and NFLPA have come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) ahead of the start of the 2020 NFL season.
We’ve heard about the contentious negotiations between both sides and things have been rather stagnant while the debate over a new CBA has been ongoing. Now that there is an agreement, fans should be some action ahead of the new league year.
What does the new CBA mean for the Kansas City Chiefs? You can find a summary of changes to the CBA here. Here are six things that Chiefs fans should know about the new CBA:
New playoff system hurt and helps Kansas City
The new CBA includes an expanded playoff field and some new changes that hurt and help Kansas City.
Beginning in 2020 there will be an increase to seven teams from each conference that make the playoffs. The new format would add an extra game for each conference during the wild-card weekend, with the No. 7 seeded team playing the No. 2 seed. This means that only the No. 1 seed will receive a first-round bye week, placing an increased emphasis on landing the No. 1 seed in your respective conference. The Chiefs would have played on wild-card weekend in 2019 under the new playoff rules.
In the last decade, this type of playoff expansion wouldn’t have earned the Chiefs any extra playoff appearances. Now that Kansas City has finally become a perennial playoff winner, things are becoming more difficult in terms of securing a bye week and an easier path to the Super Bowl. At the same time, it’s hard to imagine this team missing the playoffs often with this new system.