The NFL will have two additional playoffs teams beginning this coming season. Part of the new collective bargaining agreement included playoff expansion. The league made that official on Tuesday, approving the expansion on a teleconference.
The league made the announcement and gave details.
Beginning this season, only the top seed in the AFC and NFC will have a bye week. The No. 2 seed in each conference will host the No. 7 seed, while the other two games will be as they always have been.
Wild card weekend will now have three Saturday games and three Sunday games. CBS will air the extra Saturday game, streaming it on CBS All Access and also airing it on Nickelodeon, tailoring the broadcast for a younger audience.
NBC will air the extra Sunday game. It will also air on Telemundo and stream on Peacock, NBC’s streaming service.
This will give the Arizona Cardinals an additional shot at the postseason. Had the new format existed before now, Arizona would have had one more playoff appearance — in 2013 when they finished the season 10-6 in Bruce Arians’ first season as head coach Carson Palmer’s first year with the team.
It is all the more reason for general manager Steve Keim’s aggressiveness in trying to build a strong team that can succeed now while quarterback Kyler Murray’s contract is manageable.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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