Tag: playoff format

The NFL is considering a change to the current playoff format as part of their ongoing with the NFLPA regarding the new collective bargaining agreement.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the NFL playoff format would be expanded to include a seventh team per conference. As a result, there would only be one team per conference that would have a first-round bye. The NFL plans to implement these new postseason changes in the 2020 season.

Currently, there are six teams per conference with the top two seeds earning a first-round bye. The current playoff format has been in place since 1990 when a second wild-card was added 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

Furthermore, as part of the playoff field expanding to seven teams, the regular season would be expanded to 17 games per team and the preseason would go from four games to three.

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

If the playoff field is expanded to seven teams and the byes are one per conference, it makes the prospect of earning a first-round bye all the more challenging for the Houston Texans, who have not clinched a first-round bye yet in their 18-season franchise history.