The NFL and NFLPA are closing in on a new collective bargaining agreement and the details regarding what the new CBA will look like are starting to come out.
One of the most notable changes is the changes to the regular season with each team now playing 17 regular season games instead of 16. In addition, there are expected to be major changes to the playoffs structure as well, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Per the report:
Under the current CBA proposal that NFL owners are pushing for, the playoff field would be expanded to seven teams from each conference, while the regular season would be increased to 17 games per team and the preseason shortened to three games per team, sources said.
As part of the proposed playoff format, only one team from each conference would receive a first-round bye as opposed to the two that currently do, league sources said. That would mean a revised postseason schedule that includes six games on wild-card weekend, with three on Saturday and three on Sunday.
The changes to the NFL’s playoff format would take effect for the 2020 season, assuming the new CBA is ratified beforehand.
The additional games would benefit the players’ pockets as well, as the players on the teams that earn a first-round bye will receive postseason pay for that weekend. That was not the case under the current CBA, which has always rankled some players.
