NFL owners have voted in favor of an expanded playoff format, the league announced Tuesday. Beginning this season, the NFL will have two extra teams make the playoffs — one from the AFC and one from the NFC.
Instead of the usual 12 teams reaching the postseason, 14 teams will now qualify. Players agreed to the expanded playoffs in the new collective bargaining agreement with owners.
“Players and clubs both recognized that nothing energizes fans like the chance to see their team qualify for the playoffs and compete for the Super Bowl,” the league said in a statement.
Instead of the top two seeds in each conference earning a bye week, only the No. 1 seed in the AFC and NFC will have a playoff bye now.
CBS, NBC, Telemundo and Nickelodeon will air the additional Wild Card games. The Nickelodeon broadcast will be “tailored for a younger audience,” according to a press release from the NFL.
This marks the first time since 1990 that the NFL has expanded the playoff format. Thirty years ago, the playoffs increased from 10 teams to 12.
