NFL playoffs to include 14 teams in 2020, per ESPN report

A report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter states the NFL playoffs will be increased from 12 teams to 14, starting as soon as the upcoming postseason picture in 2021.

Things look like they’ll get a bit more provocative in the NFL playoffs picture this upcoming season.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the league is likely to expand the postseason picture from 12 teams to 14 teams, kicking off as soon as this upcoming season as soon as the new collective bargaining agreement is reached.

Per Schefter:

"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."

Schefter also reported only one team in each conference, the No. 1 seed, would receive a first-round playoff bye with six games being played on Wild Card weekend.

Insofar as the 17-game regular-season schedule, Schefter reported the NFL players union has yet to sign off on that part of the CBA. And if it was agreed upon, that particular change wouldn’t be implemented until the 2021 season.

The San Francisco 49ers achieved the No. 1 seed in the NFC last year, using the opening bye in the NFL playoffs and home-field advantage to an appearance in Super Bowl LIV. The Baltimore Ravens, meanwhile, achieved the same feat in the AFC, eventually falling to the Tennessee Titans in the divisional round.

Had this NFL playoffs change taken effect last season, the Los Angeles Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers would have been the No. 7 seed in both the NFC and AFC, respectively.

Schefter quoted the source, which said, “The new CBA’s not done, there’s no term sheet yet, there still are issues being negotiated, but I’d be very surprised if there’s not a new CBA for the new league year.”

This figures to benefit a team like the 49ers, who might find it difficult to reach a conference-high 13 wins in 2020, at least as Pro Football Focus‘ prediction felt the Niners would fall under the projected 10.5 wins mark. At the same time, though, the pending format would have meant three teams from the NFC West — the 49ers, Rams and Seattle Seahawks — would have been in the NFL playoffs.

At least no one can call San Francisco’s own division the laughingstock of the league anymore.

As far as the league goes, it seems to be an attempt to generate some more revenue, especially with the 17-game schedule. And the extra playoff seed keeps other markets interested, whereas the attention might not quite be there upon a would-be No. 7 seed’s elimination under the previous format.

If you want to figure out what the NFL wants to do, just follow the revenue stream. It’s pretty apparent here.