A change could be coming to the NFL’s current playoff format thanks to the new pending Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the upcoming CBA that is currently being worked on will add an additional team to the current playoff format, moving the total from six to seven teams. That will put a combined total of 14 teams in the postseason with three games being played on wildcard weekend. One team per conference would be granted a bye instead of two like in the current format.
The playoff format that is currently being used was adopted in 2002 when the divisions were realigned.
If the new CBA is finalized before the start of the new league year, the new playoff format will be utilized during the 2020 season — something Schefter said there is “mounting optimism” surrounding.
When looking back on the 2019 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-8) and Los Angeles Rams (9-7) would’ve been the additional teams in the postseason as the seventh seeds. That could indicate that the Jacksonville Jaguars have a better chance to crack the mix the closer they are to .500.
Unfortunately, the Jags have only made the playoffs twice since 2007 (2007, 2017). The also haven’t really been close to registering any .500 seasons since Shad Khan has been owner, though in 2019 they registered a 6-10 record. That was good for Khan’s second-best record, so then again, the new format may not benefit the Jags that much.
Of course, the reasoning behind the league adding more playoff games is to generate more revenue. Per Schefter, the players will go from a 47% revenue share under the current CBA to a 48% share at 16 games, then to a 48.5% share if the season is moved to a 17 game format. That would shift more revenue to the player’s side ($5 billion), which is something the work at in each CBA.
