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The NFL postseason could be getting a facelift next season.
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the NFLPA proposal for a new playoff format would expand the number of teams per conference to make the playoffs from six to seven, with only one team receiving a bye week as opposed to two. In addition, the regular season would expand to 17 games and the preseason would be reduced to three games.
The NFL and the NFLPA are said to be close to an agreement, with many believing it could come as early as next week.
Under the new format, the schedule would change slightly. There would be six games on wild-card weekend, with three games on both Saturday and Sunday. In addition, unlike in the current collective bargaining agreement that is in place, players who earn the playoff bye week would earn postseason pay.
While the playoff format has been agreed upon for some time, the two sides are in the final discussions regarding the 17 game regular season. The earliest that could take into effect would be the 2021 season.
Had this new format been implemented last year, the Los Angeles Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers would have made the playoffs.
