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NFL expands playoff field, number of playoff games

NFL expands playoff field, number of playoff games
Posted at 4:04 PM, Mar 31, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-31 17:04:59-04

The NFL announced on Tuesday that the number of teams that will qualify for the playoffs will expand from 12 to 14, which will also increase the number of Wild Card Round games from four to six.

NFL owners and the Players Association came to the agreement on Tuesday, which will go into effect this season.

The format will mean that only the top team in each conference will earn a bye into the Divisional Round. The six division winners will then play the six wild card teams.

The new format marks the first time the NFL has expanded the playoffs since 1990, when the league increased the number of teams that qualified from 10 to 12.

Per the new format, three playoff games will be played on Saturday, Jan. 9, and another three games will be played on Sunday, Jan. 10. NBC and CBS have been the selected networks to air the added two showdowns.

Had this year's format been in place in 2019, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Rams would have earned playoff bids.