NFL: NFL proposes 14-team playoffs, 17-game season, 3-game preseason (CBA approved)

[Taro Tsujimoto]

7 teams and one bye per conference. Using this past season’s standings as an example:

AFC:

1. Baltimore gets the bye

7. Pittsburgh at 2. Kansas City
6. Tennessee at 3. New England
5. Buffalo at 4. Houston

NFC:

1. San Francisco gets the bye

7. LA Rams at 2. Green Bay
6. Minnesota at 3. New Orleans
5. Seattle at 4. Philadelphia

Click to read more...

 

[weastern bias]

I hate this

I understand why they'd do it, more playoff gate revenue, but more teams making the playoffs cheapens the accomplishment

Does anyone really think that the 2019 Steelers or Rams were playoff caliber teams? Because that's who would have made it this year

Edit: To add insult to injury, doing this to the playoff bracket AND adding a 17th regular season game is offensive

Both moves are money hungry cash grabs by the richest owners in North American sports, give your players guaranteed contracts you f***ing ghouls

 

[Kel Varnson]

Seems weird to change all of a sudden but I'll gladly swap a preseason game for another playoff game.

 

[Mightygoose]

At least the proposal doesn't include teams picking their opponents.

 

[BergyTime37]

Not really loving this idea much at first glance. It only waters down calibre of teams that get into the playoffs, even if is just one team per conference.

Also seeing that they are going to add a 17th regular season game, cut down on preseason games, reduce training camp practices, and reduce regular season practices. These ideas are bad for the players. Reducing practices even more will only diminish the quality of play on the field, and a 17th game only increases risk of injury for the players.

The NFLPA shouldn't agree to this, but they likely will for less practices, and probably a weaker weed policy. This is dumb on their part. Future me will definitely be pumped for another weekend of regular season football, and two extra games on Wild Card weekend.

 

[Avs_19]

I can't bring myself to complain about more meaningful football and less meaningless football. Getting the #1 seed will also mean even more now under this proposal and could make the race for that spot more compelling towards the end of the season.

 

[Kel Varnson]

I can't bring myself to complain about more meaningful football and less meaningless football. Getting the #1 seed will also mean even more now under this proposal and could make the race for that spot more compelling towards the end of the season.

Yeah finishing top of your conference would give you a huge advantage with a week off.

 

[GKJ]

Players better be fighting like hell for an extra bye week.

I don't like one team getting a bye either, would rather it be 3 or 4 even if that meant going to 8 teams.

 

[GKJ]

 

[Big Poppa Puck]

Another sport breaking a playoff system that wasn't broken.

I know the answer to "Why?" is of course money and we'll all still watch but I hate this change for the sake of change. Added more playoff teams just makes your regular season more meaningless, waters down your postseason and despite what people might say, it will not stop tanking. Maybe an extra team or 2 in the dreaded purgatory range try a little harder, but your Bengals, Dolphins, etc-esque teams are still gonna tank.


The NHL started this by going back to an antiquated divisional format, the NBA is discussing some stupid play in tournament to be the jobber 8 seed, the MLB wants to add another 2 teams to water down their playoffs and have the World Series played in the cold in November (and the laughable draft your opponent TV show), and now this.

It's almost perfect the way it is. The only changes I'd make is either A) eliminate winning the division = automatic birth or B) said division winner must go on the road if they WC team has a better record.

 

[nilan30]

So do they start Labour Day weekend, get rid of the off week before Super Bowl, or have Super Bowl the second Sunday in February? Either way I like it. Move the Super Bowl to Saturday and I’m all in

 

[Didalee Hed]

I can't bring myself to complain about more meaningful football and less meaningless football. Getting the #1 seed will also mean even more now under this proposal and could make the race for that spot more compelling towards the end of the season.

I’m with you brother. I kinda really love the idea of the one seed standing alone for a week. A cool reward for leading your conference.

 

[Didalee Hed]

Another sport breaking a playoff system that wasn't broken.

I know the answer to "Why?" is of course money and we'll all still watch but I hate this change for the sake of change. Added more playoff teams just makes your regular season more meaningless, waters down your postseason and despite what people might say, it will not stop tanking. Maybe an extra team or 2 in the dreaded purgatory range try a little harder, but your Bengals, Dolphins, etc-esque teams are still gonna tank.


The NHL started this by going back to an antiquated divisional format, the NBA is discussing some stupid play in tournament to be the jobber 8 seed, the MLB wants to add another 2 teams to water down their playoffs and have the World Series played in the cold in November (and the laughable draft your opponent TV show), and now this.

It's almost perfect the way it is. The only changes I'd make is either A) eliminate winning the division = automatic birth or B) said division winner must go on the road if they WC team has a better record.

How about making the nfl even more exclusive playoff wise?

8 divisions, 8 playoff teams.

It would be nice to not have to have “kirk” around an extra week or two.

You like that?

 

[Tuggy]

I don't necessarily hate the idea but I'd rather just leave it the way it is.

I do like the idea of less preseason games though.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

So do they start Labour Day weekend, get rid of the off week before Super Bowl, or have Super Bowl the second Sunday in February? Either way I like it. Move the Super Bowl to Saturday and I’m all in

The stated goal for awhile has been to push the Super Bowl back 2 weeks to President's Day weekend. They'll add an extra bye and make it a 19 week season.

 

[GKJ]

One problem with moving to start Labor Day weekend (again, this is how it was for a while in the 90s) is that college football has to move their schedules up as well with all of their neutral site games.

 

[tony d]

Saw that. Of all the recent playoff format changes proposed by the leagues (MLB, CFL and now NFL) this 1 is my favorite by far.

 

[Blackhawkswincup]

The playoffs are great setup way it is now

Dont screw with it and keep 16 game season

Ugh

 

[b1e9a8r5s]

I don't think the current system needed to be changed, but I don't think this is the end of the world either.

 

[Say Hey Kid]

Owners approve proposed CBA; player vote next

 

[EpochLink]

TBH, I don’t mind this at all.

 

[YEM]

I like it and usually hate these changes [really dislike the NHL going away from 1v8]
I think this makes things a bit more fair, there's usually a clear difference between the #1 seeds and the #3 seeds. I'm not so sure that there's often a big difference between #2s and #3s, and the bye week is a huge advantage. There have been years when a #2 seed has a worse record than a #3 but still gets a bye. I also think it makes more regular season games more meaningful and more relevant, which is good.

 

[IU Hawks fan]

I'd almost rather see them go to 8 per. If you're going to water it down to the point of #2 not getting a bye, take away 1st's too. The advantage is too great for something that comes down to a tiebreaker about half of the time.

 

[Didalee Hed]

If it still goes-

6 vs your 3 divisional buddies
4 vs another division in conference
4 vs another division out of conference
2 vs other same finish team in conference divisions you don’t play

Where does your 17th game come from?

 

[c9777666]

Way to devalue the 2 seed.

this is going to make the playoffs worse.