The NFL announced that the playoffs will expand next season from 12 teams to 14, meaning there will be a total of three wild-card teams per conference. Only the top seeds in the AFC and NFC will receive a bye. It’s a big win for fans who want to see more football, and it could make for some exciting early-round match-ups.
Many fans in Tampa Bay are hoping the 2020 season will bring with it their first postseason berth since 2007. With six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady now the man under center, the Bucs’ playoff-drought could easily end next season. In fact, Stephen A. Smith of ESPN said on “First Take” that he believes the expanded playoffs benefits Tampa Bay the most.
Here’s an excerpt of Stephen A.’s reasoning:
“The NFC South is still the New Orleans Saints’ to lose. Drew Brees re-upped, they acquired Emmanuel Sanders. They still have Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara, and you still have Sean Payton.”
Stephen A. says even if Brady and the Bucs don’t win the division, they’ll still have a good shot of making the playoffs as a wild-card team. The Saints will certainly be the favorites in the NFC South next season, but let’s not sleep on the Atlanta Falcons, either. Not only do they still have Matt Ryan and Julio Jones, but running back Todd Gurley is expected to sign with them… eventually.
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