NFL 'looking at' expanding playoffs to 14 or 16 teams

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12-12-2012, 05:58 PM
The Benjamin

NFL 'looking at' expanding playoffs to 14 or 16 teams

By Jeff Briggs on Dec 12, 6:35p +
http://cdn1.sbnation.com/uploads/cho...dard_709.0.jpg The Star-Ledger-US PRESSWIRE

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is looking into expanding the NFL playoffs from 12 to either 14 or 16 teams.
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In his press conference today NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is looking into expanding the NFL playoffs to include either 14 or 16 teams

Quote:

https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images...bc_normal.jpeg Ian RapoportVerified ‏@RapSheet

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says they committee is looking at 14 or 16 teams in the playoffs. OK then.

. The current playoff model features 12 teams, six from each conference with each conference sending four division winners and two Wild Cards to the playoffs.

The NFL expanded to a 12-team playoff prior to the 1990 season. Before that the league used a 10-team format that was instituted in 1978, the same year the league expanded to a 16-game season. That format featured three division winners and two Wild Card teams in each conference.
In recent years the NFL has also discussed expanding the season from 16 games to an 18-game season. That possible change was brought up again on Tuesday, but Goodell said the owners would not push for an 18-game season, unless it was done "the right way."

Quote:

https://si0.twimg.com/profile_images...bc_normal.jpeg Ian RapoportVerified ‏@RapSheet

Roger Goodell reiterates that he won't push for an 18-game season unless "we do it the right way"

There was no discussion on what either a 14-team or 16-team playoff would look like.
12-12-2012, 06:09 PM
bearsinhouston

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

There was no discussion on what either a 14-team or 16-team playoff would look like.

It would look like either one or two more playoff games to generate money for the league.
12-12-2012, 06:11 PM
The Benjamin

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

It would look like either one or two more playoff games to generate money for the league.

Adding two teams would almost eliminate the first round bye.
12-12-2012, 06:13 PM
bearsinhouston

I doubt that. I think they would find a format that would add extra games and therefore more revenue. I think that is the whole goal anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Benjamin

Adding two teams would almost eliminate the first round bye.
12-12-2012, 06:16 PM
The Benjamin

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

I doubt that. I think they would find a format that would add extra games and therefore more revenue. I think that is the whole goal anyway.

What I could see them doing, is what baseball recently did. Add a "play in game" where the six and the 7th team play each other to see who plays the 3 seed. You could do the same by having the fifth and the eight seed play each other to see who gets the 4th seed.
12-12-2012, 06:34 PM
MPBears68

Quote:

Originally Posted by bearsinhouston

I doubt that. I think they would find a format that would add extra games and therefore more revenue. I think that is the whole goal anyway.

I think you're right and this is the "warning shot across the bow" before resuming the push for an expanded 18 week schedule. This is just my speculation but I could see something like this being proposed:

A) 16 game regular season with one bye week per team just like now. Maybe starting one weekend earlier at Labor Day.

B) An off week for everyone followed by a 2 week "extension" (call it whatever you want) for say only the top 10 seeded teams in each conference. In other words, eliminate the bottom 12 teams who are out of it completely anyway with the top 7 or so per conference reaching the playoffs after 2 more games, based on their 18 week records.

C) Single elimination playoffs like now with maybe 3-4 WCs per conference (a 3 week tournament to make the SB).

I could see the NFL wanting to push the playoffs/SB well into February. It's a very untapped TV market there. There's nothing exciting going on in sports in February between the time the SB usually ends in late Jan/early Feb. and the time the NCAA BB Tourney gets rolling in March. Owners see dollars to be mined there.