NFL approves expansion of playoffs starting in 2020 season

The NFL postseason just got even bigger. The league officially expanded the postseason from 12 to 14 teams Tuesday.

The NFL postseason just got even bigger. The league officially expanded the postseason from 12 to 14 teams Tuesday.

NFL owners voted to expand the playoff field making official a move that had been expected since the approval of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement. Owners voted during a remote league meeting due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak.

The two extra teams will play in the wild-card round, one each from the AFC and NFC. Only the top seed in each conference will receive a first-round bye. Previously the top-two teams had a bye.

The wild-card round will proceed as follows: No. 2 seed will host the No. 7 seed, the No. 3 seed will host the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed will host No. 5.

This is the first time since 1990 the NFL has expanded the playoffs. Changing the format required approval from three-quarters of the 32 NFL owners.

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